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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Buhanga, Solitary Silverback: 1987-2010
Buhanga, the 23 year old solitary Silverback of Congo’s Gorilla Sector, has died. He was found yesterday near Gatovu patrol post, his favorite haunt, lying face down in a stream struggling to breath. Innocent, Dr Magda and the Rangers were with him when he took his last breaths some 30 minutes later. Today Dr Jan will perform the necropsy to determine the cause of death, which we believe to be natural. He will then be buried in the Gorilla Cemetary at Rumangabo.
(See Update with new photos at the end of this entry, posted 6 hours later).
Buhanga had been a solitary gorilla for many years, and did not have any offspring that we knew of. His father was killed in crossfire in 1997.
As you may recall Buhanga was sick at the beginning of March, but he appeared to make a recovery. Innocent and Magda commented though on how thin he seemed yesterday. It will be interesting to know the results of the necropsy.
Buhanga, Karateka’s brother, had been a solitary for many years, and could often be spotted near Gatovu chomping on bamboo. He was videoed in August 2008 by Innocent. This was an incredibly special moment, and one that has stuck in the hearts of all Rangers in the Gorilla Sector, because it was the first time in a year that a gorilla had been seen. It was just a couple of months before the war reached a climax, and really represented a moment of hope that the gorillas of Mikeno would be okay, despite all the fighting so close to their habitat.
Buhanga will be missed.
This may take some time...
Update at 1500 Congo time:
Magda has just emailed these 2 photos from yesterday. It is her hand on Buhanga, as he takes his final breaths.
Buhanga lying in the stream. © Gorilla Doctors
Taking his last breaths in Virunga. © Gorilla Doctors
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45 Responses to “Buhanga, Solitary Silverback: 1987-2010”
R.I.P. Buhanga. You passed away in your forest home, the Virungas. Thankyou to Innocent, Dr Magda and the many rangers for being there! Your dedication is admired across the planet.
Very very sorry to hear - at least someone was with him during his last struggle and hopefully that brought him some comfort.
Really a shame …
I am completely distraught. Buhanga is my favourite gorilla. I just cannot come to term right now.
I’m so very sorry.
Rest in peace Buhanga. You are one of Virungas mighty silverbacks that will never be forgotten. You will always have a place in our hearts.
RIP Buhanga, thank you for being a part of our world. You are now free, and will be missed…xx000xxx
I’m very sad. I just did look one more time at the “August 2008-video”. What a beautiful guy he was, Buhanga. The forest will miss him.
Maybe he did feel less sad that he was not completely alone when he died. It must be terrible to look at such a beautiful animal dying
To all staff-members of Virunga, keep Buhanga in your memories and please keep struggling for all his living brothers and sisters.
I wish you all the best and many many thanks
Thankyou to all the Virunga rangers for evertything you do for these wonderful animals. I hope you were able to give some comfort at the end. This has made me cry……these gorillas are so precious to us all.
He made the world a better place. Sleep in peace beautiful friend.
Goodbye Buhanga, you will be missed.
Ah so sad to hear of his passing… At least it was on his terms and not by a bullet! RIP handsome!! Please let us know what the necropsy reveals ! Thank u to all who are so passionate about these creatures!
This is so sad. Sweet Buhanga is at peace, roaming the forests in a better place without having to worry about man and the war.He was in the prime of his life. so very sad. Thank you to all the brave men and women who are doing their best to keep these beautiful creatures with us, putting their lives on the line so that the gorillas have a fighting chance.
What is the lifespan of a gorilla? 23 seems young. It is comforting to know that he did not die alone, and a bittersweet memory for the rangers, but one they will cherish. RIP Buhanga
Rest in peace you beautiful darling. So pleased someone was with him as he passed on to the next stage of his journey. God bless his soul…………
hi Tory. Mountain gorillas have an average lifespan of 35 years. So yes, Buhanga was young. He went before his time.
Thank you all for being there to comfort him in his final moments. Buhanga was a majestic silverback and will remain in our hearts forever. He is now with Senkwekwe and the others in a bigger forest free from all threats. RIP beautiful guy. You will be sorely missed.
Too sad! Every Gorilla leaving this earth is missed so badly! Rest in peace!
So sorry to receive this news but, yes, at least it was a natural death. Thanks for all you do out there in Virunga.
Certainly a sad sight. It’ll be interesting to see what the necropsy shows.
So very sad. I’m relieved he wasn’t killed by humans and had Innocent and Dr. Magna at his side during his final moments. RIP big buddy. We love you.
I am sorry to hear he has left us, but I am so grateful he lived his life in freedom, that he died of natural causes, and that his final resting spot was in his favorite place, in peace, and with love. Goodbye Buhanga!
Thank you Innocent, Dr Magda and all the rangers who fearlessly protected him to live his life, fully, in the manner in which our creator intended, may you all be blessed with many more of these successes.
rest in peace, wonderful creature……..
I’ll make Karen’s words mine.
I am feeling much sadness about the loss of this beautiful individual. My heart goes out in sympathy to the rangers, doctors and other personnel who care for the mountain gorillas and their habitat. I salute you for your courage, hard work and compassion. Love and blessings to you all and farewell prayers to Buhunga.
I am wondering if Buhunga might have contracted a virus from humans, perhaps during the time the area was occupied by militia, in which case one could say he died a “natural” death, i.e. not from an injury inflicted by a human, but nevertheless human-caused.
I am so saddened, yet relieved that he was with people who obviously cared about him so much when he passed. Your memory will live on, Buhanga, and thanks so much to the Gorilla Doctors for all that you do.
Sorry, I meant to say thanks to everyone, including the rangers. I’m having a tough time with my emotions right now, so my apologies.
The demise of these creatures is always sad, but at least it was peaceful.
My heart is breaking for all of you at this terrible loss. I am grateful however that Buhanga was able to live his life in the wild. Thank you to Innocent, Dr, Magda and all the rangers who look after and protect these magnificent creatures.
My husband (Andrew, above) called me from work crying this morning to tell me about this profoundly sad news. Truly Buhanga means so much to us and we are reeling from his untimely death.
The photos of his last moments are so heartbreaking, and they evoke such emotion. But there is much comfort in the fact that even though he was alone for most of his life, he was not at the very end. Thank you for watching over him and loving him and for simply being there with him.
There is no doubt we will be grieving this most beloved silverback for a long time to come. Rest in peace our dear, sweet Buhanga.
Thanks, Samantha. Such sad news these days! However, I’m glad that Buhanga had loving company for his passing and that we have the video from Innocent. Thanks, as always, to all of you for the work that you do.
I am sorry to learn of Buhanga’s death. But at least he died of natural causes and was not senselessly butchered like so many of his mates.
I am truly grateful Magda and others where there with him in his last moments… one final comfort. He shall not be missed. Such a beautiful, beautiful boy- gone too soon.
rest peacefully Buranga…
*he shall be missed*… dearly
sad news…
By the way the report for french tv (”sept à huit”) can be watched on line :
http://videos.tf1.fr/sept-a-huit/le-sanctuaire-des-gorilles-5699805.html
This is how I discovered your action. Thank you for protecting these beautiful animals. I hope you will be able to buy your aircraft soon. I have already made a little donation and wish I could give more. Keep up the great work.
BYE BUHANGA ……………..SEE YOU LATER.. and thanks to Samantha, to clarify his age , he was still young wait for the autopsy
Death often takes with her those who don´t deserve it yet. Buhanga, a strong, charismatic, charmy silverback left us. And this is unfair! Why Buhanga? Everybody loved him, he was an emblem for the GorillaCD community. So sweet, so peaceful, so… so Buhanga.
He´ll live in our hearts just as he used to, and please, Virunga people, keep on doing what you´re doing for the park, the gorillas and the people.
R.I.P. Buhanga, lonely silverback, pure soul.
Thanks to all of the team that protected Buhanga throughout these years. R.I.P. you beautiful Gorilla-Man. We never met, but I loved you just the same.
Thank you everyone for your comments. The Gorilla Doctors have conducted the necropsy and said “We believe he likely had such bad dental disease that he could not effectively process food. His dental disease could also have resulted in septicemia. We will know more once the tissues are processed. In the end, there was really nothing that could have been done to save him short of reconstructive surgery and long term antibiotics, which as we all know is completely unrealistic in this situation. He died from natural causes, and is certainly in a better place now.”
Dr Jan also sent photos of Buhanga’s teeth and they really were in a terrible terrible state.
Thanks for the update Sam…..poor fella! can’t imagine doing dental work on a gorilla! RIP big guy you are now with your fellow gorilla families and no longer alone!
[...] will perform the necropsy to establish cause of death, which we believe to be natural. Click here to read [...]
How devastating…that photo of him laying there has really moved me, so much so I can’t help but shed tears at the sight. Such a majestic animal, so innocent and helpless…it really is heartbreaking to see especially when they are so needed in the wild, such a shame he died before his time, but that’s life, I suppose and at least it was on his terms rather than cross fire, war or poachers…he looks peaceful and even if he wasn’t aware the doctors and rangers were there, he wasn’t alone…I don’t know if I would have been as strong as them to see him pass from this world, but….makes me feel so helpless to see such a huge gorilla laying there, so still…makes me realise just how small we are and how we must understand our need to co-exist together in peace…what an amazing animal, proud to be his relative…Goodbye beautiful silverback, may peace be yours forever more and your life remembered…
Pooorr Buhunga
He will be missed
what a beautiful animal <33
i think he looked adorable and will be greatly missed rip
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Very sad. Gorilla doctors GOD bless you for your hard work and devotion.
I hope this gentleman of a gorilla rests in peace. I did not really know that some gorillas live a solitary life. That seems so lonely. Anyhow, two thumbs up to you doctors, staff and supporters.