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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Poached Baby Grauer’s Gorilla Rescued by Virunga Rangers
Christian Shamavu, the ranger who led the team in the undercover operation to rescue the baby gorilla, opens the cage door and greets the baby when they arrive at the park headquarters of Rumangabo.
A small team of Virunga rangers played undercover cops this week when they posed as buyers for a poached baby gorilla.
It all started two weeks ago when Christian Shamavu, our dog unit team leader, received a call from some of his contacts about a baby gorilla trafficking ring. Â Sadly, we’ve now had several such incidences, and a system has been set up to track down the offenders, bring them to justice and recover the baby gorilla.
A first undercover team was sent in to Kaina in the Lubero territory at the beginning of last week. This is a dangerous area with a strong militia presence. Shamavu led a team concealed as potential buyers. Â They were dressed in civilian dress but with their weapons at hand. Â Contact was made with the suspects, but unfortunately they were unable to see the gorilla, so they were forced to pull out. Â It was a tense and frustrating moment.
The three poachers who were arrested in the operation hold the small backpack that they had stuffed the gorilla into.
On Thursday, he received a second message that a baby gorilla was in town, so we relaunched the operation. Christian Shamavu and his team of four rangers and one court officer once again drove for eight hours to the remote town in a hired vehicle to avoid being recognized. This time, it all went like clockwork. Â He called in at six thirty last night, announcing that they had made three arrests and recovered the baby gorilla.
Shamavu arrived at Rumangabo with the baby this morning, and the vets arrived an hour or so later. After an examination of the baby’s teeth and size, the Gorilla Doctors guessed the age at about a year and a half and said he appears healthy except for a possible skin fungus and lice. He will stay at the Senkwekwe Center at Rumangabo for a 30-day quarantine, separate from the other orphan gorillas, and then hopefully move to the Grauer’s gorilla sanctuary in Congo called Grace.
The baby will be named Shamavu after the ranger who rescued him.
To see more photos on our Facebook page, click here.
Christian Shamavu takes the infant out of the cage to take him to the Gorilla Orphan Senkwekwe Center.
Baby Grauer’s gorilla.
The infant gorilla seems to feel secure in the arms of his rescuer, Christian Shamavu.
Christian Shamavu carries the baby down to the Senkwekwe Center where the baby will live for the next month.
Christian Shamavu and the infant gorilla.
Infant gorilla
Christian Shamavu plays with the baby while he waits for the vets to arrive.
Two gorilla vets with MGVP arrived from Goma to check on the baby. The teeth were checked first, which tells the age of the gorilla. They estimated the age at about one and a half years old.
Dr. Jan and Dr. Jacques examine the gorilla’s back and under his arms. They found what might be a fungus on his skin, and lice.
Dr. Jan examines the baby while Christian-Shamavu holds it. At first, the baby didn’t want anyone else to hold him.
The infant gorilla appeared to warm up to Dr. Jan Ramer and feel comfortable.
Dr. Jan Ramer set the baby down after he had been held constantly for the previous hour. The baby wasn’t sure if he wanted to be picked up again, but finally gave in.
Warden Emmanuel de Merode holds the baby gorilla.
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30 Responses to “Poached Baby Grauer’s Gorilla Rescued by Virunga Rangers”
Great investigation work by the Virunga rangers in saving this baby gorilla. He is such a beautiful animal.
What a precious soul, and of course he looks scared and confused without his mother. I hope his mother was not murdered in order for the poachers to have kidnapped him.
Thanx friends , good job .
Bon travail pour les Rangers !!!
Mais encore un petit orphelin !!! Qu’il faudra réapprendre à vivre, se défendre, nourrir….Réintégrer un groupe…Lui redonner confiance car il a été perturbé, plus de parents, plus le groupe, il se trouve avec des êtres humains….
congratulation to this wonderful job. Many greetings to Christian and his team
Excellent job! Christian, the team and everybody involved
Congratulations on another rescue! Here’s to a long, healthy life for this young gorilla.
Hi guy’s congratulation for this good result and your effort to rescue this baby
bien travailler les gards
c’est comme ça qu’on gagnera.
Awesome. Well well done
Great work Christian and others! He’s a lucky little guy to have you come to his rescue. Very relieved that it all went smoothly.
[...] the baby gorilla that was rescued in an undercover operation by a team of rangers last Friday, is now under the watchful eye of two expert caretakers, Foster [...]
I am so overwhelmed with emotion….and grateful to the people that care….they are the ones that make a difference between life and death….
Good work to all involved!! I agree with Tory above, but can you imagine what torment she must be going through in seeing her baby taken away. I feel for her. I ask myself what I would do if my son or daughter were taken for me. I feel for her and I hope that the Rangers keep up their good work.
[...] was big news last week when a team of our rangers rescued a baby gorilla from poachers. Since we have written blog posts about it, I won’t go into detail except to say [...]
[...] The incident is the fourth baby gorilla to be saved this year, the highest rate on record, Virunga National Park said in a blog statement. [...]
[...] The incident is the fourth baby gorilla to be saved this year, the highest rate on record, Virunga National Park said in a blog statement. [...]
[...] vierde gorilla die gered wordt van de illegale verkoop, zo berichtte Virunga National Park in een blog. De baby-gorilla met zijn redder. Foto: Virunga National ParkFoto: Virunga National [...]
Gorillas are such amazing creatures and thanks also for the Gorilla Trekking rules and tips which should be common sense for visitors, but so important to remember none the less!
[...] The incident is the fourth baby gorilla to be saved this year, the highest rate on record, Virunga National Park said in a blog statement. [...]
wow, very cute gorilla, it look very good. I saw these gorilla in gorilla safaris
[...] The incident is the fourth baby gorilla to be saved this year, the highest rate on record, Virunga National Park said in a blog statement. [...]
[...] Image Credit: Gorilla. CD [...]
Great news. Hope these poachers are put away forever.
I am a Christian Shamavu fan! What a wonderful kind person, I saw a video about this on another news site and you can see from his interactions with the baby how kind he is. I am very thankful that such people are working to save gorillas.
The pictures of the baby gorilla are heartbreaking. Dear rangers, you are heroes, thank you so much for everything you are doing. People like you surely make the world a better place. Thank you !
very cute child gorilla. Its look like a child human baby.
This blog needs more information about the Gorillas in Uganda, Gorilla Trekking rules other wise its a pretty nice blog…..
[...] more pictures visit this facebook page or website of Virunga National Park. Share/Bookmark Download article as [...]
Gorilla trekking…
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