Dying gorilla was cradled in her final moments by the same caregiver who saved her when she was orphaned as a baby.
This is a heartbreaking story. But, reaffirming too, that people like Andre Bauma cared enough for this gorilla to be her friend for almost her entire life.
Ndakasi is cradled by her caretaker, Andre Bauma, shortly before her death. Brent Stirton / Getty Images
For this selfie, Ndakazi and Ndeze wanted to be just as cool as their human. Mathieu Shamavu/Courtesy of Virunga National Park. From the Instagram of Virunga National Park:
You might have recently seen caretakers Mathieu and Patrick’s amazing selfie with female orphaned gorillas Ndakazi and Ndeze inside the Senkwekwe center at Virunga National Park. We’ve received dozens of messages about the photo. YES, it’s real! Those gorilla gals are always acting cheeky so this was the perfect shot of their true personalities! Also, it’s no surprise to see these girls on their two feet either—most primates are comfortable walking upright (bipedalism) for short bursts of time.
Excerpt from this story from Treehugger:
A tiny mountain gorilla was found clinging to her mother's still body more than a decade ago. The 2-month-old baby had just been orphaned in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo after armed militia members had gunned down her mother.
Finding no other family members nearby, Virunga rangers scooped up the baby and took her to their rescue center in Goma. There she met keeper Andre Bauma who would become her caretaker and lifelong friend, according to the park.
Bauma rocked the gorilla—named Ndakasi—and held her close to his bare chest for comfort and warmth. Now, more than a decade later, when Ndakasi was ill, she took her last breath in Bauma's arms.
Ndakasi's condition rapidly deteriorated following a long illness, according to the park. He was with her in the end at the Senkwekwe Center, the only facility in the world that cares for orphaned mountain gorillas.
“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 in a statement.
"One could say that she took after her mother, Nyiransekuye, whose name means 'someone happy to welcome others.' 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.”
