That’s when I first met Ndakasi, in a heavy downpour. She was a few months old and clinging to her mother’s dead body,
Ndakasi and a caregiver, Baboo, are pictured in October 2013. The caregivers live and sleep with orphaned gorillas in three-week shifts, with one week off a month to see their families.
She was fragile and unlikely to survive long. Ranger Andre Bauma took her out of the rain, using the warmth of his body to keep her alive until morning. It was the start of a loving relationship that was to last 14 years. Andre remains the head caregiver at the Senkwekwe Center in Virunga, Africa’s first national park, which is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ndakasi moved to Senkwekwe where she lived with other mountain gorilla orphans, all cared for 24/7 by the staff. Veterinarian Eddy Syaluha and the Gorilla Doctors team [a group of veterinarians who care for the endangered apes] have been performing miracles there since day one
Despite a lifetime of extraordinary care, Ndakasi developed a mysterious illness about six months ago. eventually succumbing last week after crawling into Andre’s arms, 14 years after being embraced for the first time.“Ndakasi breathed his last in the loving arms of his lifelong friend and caretaker, Andre Bauma,” he added.
Ndakasi, the Congolese gorilla famous for selfie with rangers,
Ndakasi with her carer, Andre Bauma, a few days before her death in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. at the age of 14, “after a protracted illness,” said the park where she lived.
In between those two hugs, Ndakasi, a mountain gorilla from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has become globally famous.
