Orphaned Ndakasi was pictured taking her last breath while being held by her caretaker Andre Bauma, 49, in a harrowing scene at the Virunga National Park in eastern Congo.
Ndakasi, who died aged 14, was saved by Virunga rangers when she was just two-months-old after they found her clinging to the lifeless body of her mother who had been gunned down by armed militia hours earlier.
She was later transferred to the park's Senkwekwe Center with a fellow orphaned gorilla Ndeze where the pair pose to internet fame when they appeared in a selfie with park ranger Mathieu Shamavu in 2019.
But after more than a decade of care at the Senkwekwe Centre, the 'beloved' gorilla died following a 'prolonged illness in which her condition rapidly deteriorated', a statement from the park said.
'It was a privilege to support and care for such a loving creature, especially knowing the trauma Ndakasi suffered at a very young age,' Bauma said. 'One could say that she took after her mother, Nyiransekuye, whose name means "someone happy to welcome others".'
He added: 'It was Ndakasi's sweet nature and intelligence that helped me to understand the connection between humans and Great Apes and why we should do everything in our power to protect them.
'I am proud to have called Ndakasi my friend. I loved her like a child and her cheerful personality brought a smile to my face every time I interacted with her.
'She will be missed by all of us at Virunga but we are forever grateful for the richness Ndakasi brought to our lives during her time at Senkwekwe.'
Virunga is billed as Africa's most biodiverse national park, spanning tropical forests, snow-peaked mountains and active volcanoes.
It's also one of the last bastions of wild mountain gorilla populations. Parks in the mountains of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda have the last remaining mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Source: Daily Mail, Facebook
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patryn.worldlatestnews
Ndakasi, who died aged 14, was saved by Virunga rangers when she was just two-months-old after they found her clinging to the lifeless body of her mother who had been gunned down by armed militia hours earlier.
She was later transferred to the park's Senkwekwe Center with a fellow orphaned gorilla Ndeze where the pair pose to internet fame when they appeared in a selfie with park ranger Mathieu Shamavu in 2019.
But after more than a decade of care at the Senkwekwe Centre, the 'beloved' gorilla died following a 'prolonged illness in which her condition rapidly deteriorated', a statement from the park said.
'It was a privilege to support and care for such a loving creature, especially knowing the trauma Ndakasi suffered at a very young age,' Bauma said. 'One could say that she took after her mother, Nyiransekuye, whose name means "someone happy to welcome others".'
He added: 'It was Ndakasi's sweet nature and intelligence that helped me to understand the connection between humans and Great Apes and why we should do everything in our power to protect them.
'I am proud to have called Ndakasi my friend. I loved her like a child and her cheerful personality brought a smile to my face every time I interacted with her.
'She will be missed by all of us at Virunga but we are forever grateful for the richness Ndakasi brought to our lives during her time at Senkwekwe.'
Virunga is billed as Africa's most biodiverse national park, spanning tropical forests, snow-peaked mountains and active volcanoes.
It's also one of the last bastions of wild mountain gorilla populations. Parks in the mountains of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda have the last remaining mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
Visit The Elite AntiPoaching Units And Combat Trackers Facebook: https://bit.ly/1QRtewl
Donate And Visit Virunga: https://virunga.org/donate
Music: Drop - Anno Domini BeatsSource: Daily Mail, Facebook
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patryn.worldlatestnews
Comments
Post a Comment