Animals can become orphaned and become dependent on humans for existence. Fortunately, there are many people who devote their lives to caring for these animals and may even take on the role of their parents.
One viral shot showed two orphaned gorillas posing for a "selfie" with one of their rescuers, demonstrating the animals' trust in their caretakers.
Unfortunately, one of those gorillas passed away recently, and another shot shows that her friendship with her human companions endured till the end.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's Virunga National Park is dedicated to protecting native species, particularly a population of endangered mountain gorillas who are constantly threatened by poaching.
In April 2007, park officials discovered a two-month-old baby gorilla clinging to the lifeless bones of her mother, who had been slain by an armed group.
The orphaned young gorilla was taken in, and ranger Andre Bauma formed an instant bond with her: "All night long, Andre held the baby close to him, keeping her tiny body tightly against his bare chest for warmth and comfort," Virunga said in a news release.
Ndakasi, the orphaned gorilla, settled into a happy life in the park, living with another orphan, Ndeze, and establishing a close bond with her caretakers.
In 2019, a stunning shot of the gorillas went viral, allowing the entire world to witness their bond.
In the shot, Ndakasi and Ndeze pose for a "selfie" with their companion and caretaker Mathieu Shamavu. Both gorillas appear to be standing straight and simply posing for the hilarious photograph:
Until the photo became viral, many people couldn't believe it was real. The photograph, on the other hand, revealed the deep and trusting relationship between these gorillas and their human caretakers.
The park captioned the photo on Instagram, "Those gorilla gals are always acting cheeky, so this was the perfect shot of their true personalities!"
"I'm still close to them, and they're feeling good," Mathieu told The Dodo.
According to the park, Ndakasi died on September 26 after a long illness.
But, as one gorgeous, heartbreaking photograph shows, she died in the arms of her lifelong friend Andre Bauma, the same ranger who had taken her in as an orphan so many years ago.
"It was a privilege to support and care for such a loving creature, especially knowing the trauma Ndakasi suffered at a very young age," Andre said in a news statement. "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 consider myself fortunate to call Ndakasi a buddy. I cherished her like a child, and her cheerful demeanour made me smile every time I interacted with her."
The park also fondly recalls her famous selfie, claiming it helped spread a positive message about gorillas and their guards.
"Their playful nature was a reminder to the world of how much we see ourselves in these animals and it's one of the reasons Andre Bauma will miss her so dearly," Virunga said in a letter to the editor.
Rest in peace, Ndakasi. Two amazing photos demonstrate the tight and caring attachment that orphaned animals have with their human caretakers. Everyone who knew and loved her will miss her greatly.
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