Virunga National Park, is a UNESCO world heritage site in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There, some really photogenic gorillas and the park’s rangers posed for some unique selfies.
A photo posted by a Congolese anti-poaching ranger showing he and a colleague with two posing gorillas in the Virunga National Park, has gone viral online. What’s special about this photo is that the gorillas in the background are not just in the frame, but seem to be actually posing for the camera.
There is a sweet but sad little story behind the picture. The rangers were captured comforting a gorilla that was incredibly sad after becoming an orphan. Just like many others, his parents were the victims of gorilla pᴏᴀching that many rangers fight against.
The two gorillas named Ndakasi and Matabishi are mountain gorillas, critically endangered species. It is impossible not to notice how naturally they act in front of the camera. And of course, how happy and safe they feel in the presence of their protectors.
“Virunga is protected by a dedicated team of over 600 rangers. These local men and women are going through intensive training, ʀɪsᴋɪɴɢ their lives on a daily basis to safeguard the park’s exceptional wildlife, including the last of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas,” the park’s website reads.
Virunga national park is one of the world’s most biodiverse protected areas in the world and is home to 218 mammals, 706 birds, 109 reptiles, 78 amphibia, and 22 primate species. Around one-third of the world’s population of critically endangered mountain gorillas live in the park. Rangers fight every day to keep the area safe; in total, 179 rangers have lost their lives while protecting these animals.
