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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Who Wants to Care for this Gorilla?
Shamavu, 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 and Janvier. Both have experience in looking after baby gorillas, and when I checked in on Shamavu yesterday, he seemed clearly comfortable with his two humans. At one point, Foster set the baby down on the ground, and within 30 seconds, he was reaching up, asking to be picked up again. He clearly did not feel the same about me. When I came near, he let out little coughs (apparently not a sign of affection), and leaned away from my direction or hugged his caretaker tighter. Oh well…
Two caretakers are necessary at this point because the gorilla is too young and vulnerable to be left alone, so 24 hour care is needed. The two caretakers will trade off on the hours spent with the baby, but at this stage, they will even sleep with him at night on the same bed. If you can imagine a human one-and-a-half year old, this baby is in a similar stage of life, and he needs some consistency in care in order to bond and feel safe. He’s lost his entire gorilla family and the world that he knew in the forest. It will take some time to adjust.
The cost of caring for the baby is not enormous, but it is still an added expense for the park in care, food, medicine, fixing up the building (as it has not been in use since January), and a flight at the end of his quarantine and adjustment period to take him to the orphan Grauer’s gorilla facility called GRACE. If you would like to help with the care expenses for this baby gorilla, click on the donate button of the barometer on this page. Think of yourself as one of Shamavu’s caretakers, which in a way you will be.
Here is a video from Friday when the baby arrived at Rumangabo:
This may take some time...
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15 Responses to “Who Wants to Care for this Gorilla?”
Such a lovely animal and so trusting of his human caretakers even after losing his gorilla family.The look on his face on the second picture says more than any words.It breaks my heart to know how humans are treating the primate species,which are so close to us..
Pirjo, your words always inspire me, whenever I read them! Whether on Wildlife Direct or gorilla.cd. We can only try our best and encourage others to help and assist! Yes, I pray for the day that our primate brothers and sisters will be treated with the dignity and respect that they so deserve for their kind!
Pass by, i have learned your story, it is very impressive, i hope you can provide more information about gorilla here.
[...] is the kind that has poachers capturing the animals out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park at a record [...]
sad to hear that the baby was separated from its parents and home.. i’m thankful for the two caretakers and the undercover rescuers who rescued this small bundle of joy from the poachers.. hats off to you folks.. hope this baby finds a new home soon!!
[...] Shamavu, who was rescued one week ago, is now under the care of experienced gorilla handlers at the Virunga National Park. [...]
[...] Photo Virunga National Park. [...]
[...] Gorilla ‘Shamavu’ Saved From Poachers (Video) Photo Virunga National Park. According to MSNBC, illegal baby gorilla poaching in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is [...]
[...] Saved From Poachers (Video) Posted on October 13, 2011 by TreeHugger Photo Virunga National Park. According to MSNBC, illegal baby gorilla poaching in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is [...]
[...] that lead the rescue)Â is now under the watchful eye of two expert caretakers. According to a post on the Virunga National Park’s blog, two caretakers are necessary at this point because the gorilla is too young and vulnerable to be [...]
[...] Gorilla ‘Shamavu’ Saved From Poachers (Video) Photo Virunga National Park. According to MSNBC, illegal baby gorilla poaching in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is [...]
[...] Photo Virunga National Park. [...]
[...] kind that has poachers capturing the animals out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park at a record [...]
[...] The baby gorilla, Shamavu is doing well, and has already bonded with his caretakers, Foster and Javier Kakule, who seem to truly care for him as well. I’ve watched this baby wrap his arms around Foster’s neck and kiss him, just like a human child. It brings home the fact of how special these animals are, how like humans, and why we connect with them. If you would like to help support the care of this baby, you can do so to the right of this blog post using the barometer donate button. We do need your support. [...]
I want to do what they do when i am older but i have no idea how… can some one help me out