Another Mtn Gorilla baby confiscated

On the 7th August, Rwandan police arrested Congolese and Rwandan men trying to smuggle an 8mth old mountain gorilla baby across the DRC border into Rwanda. Dr Jan Ramer of the Mountain Gorilla veterinary Project says: “He will go through a 30 day quarantine period, and hopefully will return to DR Congo at Virunga National Park’s Senkwekwe Center where he can join orphan gorillas Maisha, Kaboko, Ndeze and Ndakasi. We are cautiously optimistic for this little guy – he is tense, but accepting of people, and is eating. All good signs for his eventual recovery.”

It is not yet known if the baby is from one of the habituated groups in Virunga or a wild group. It goes to show the pressure the rangers are under trying to protect the gorillas with men obviously still trespassing into the National Park to poach youngsters. Eleven rangers have been killed this year in Virunga National Park……..

Fingers crossed for this latest little gorilla.

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