A Park ranger’s selfie with two orphaned gorillas posing like humans has gone viral. Ranger Mathieu Shamavu snapped a selfie at Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which they photo-bombed. This picture has generated more than 48,000 likes on the social media platform.
The park officials described the gorillas, Ndakazi and Ndeze, as always “acting cheeky”. In the selfie, one leans into the shot, while the other stands proudly like a human. These gorillas have resided at the Senkwekwe Centre for Gorilla Orphans since they were small. According to the park rangers, many staff members care for them.
A lot of people questioned the authenticity of the picture, asking “Is this real?” Also, some queried if it was photo-shopped. The national park has received dozens of messages about the photo. In response, the park official answered the questions with a post on Instagram. Check it out below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BwjjJmoFLWz/
He wrote:
“YES, it’s real! Those gorilla gals are always acting cheeky, so this was the perfect shot of their true personalities! Also, it’s no surprise to see these girls on their two feet either. Most primates are comfortable walking upright (bipedalism) for short bursts of time.”
The park is home to 22 primate species, including three great apes. The national park posted the gorilla selfie post and also urged viewers to donate to help with wildlife conservation.
Also, he explained that,
“Conserving Virunga’s amazing wildlife is a constant challenge for the Park, and our work wouldn’t be possible without your support. Matching funds have been pledged on every donation to the Park today, up to a total of $25,000—giving us the opportunity to raise $50,000 for Virunga!
“Visit virunga.org/donate or click the link in our bio to get involved and keep sharing our posts! Thank you!”
An estimated1,000 mountain gorillas live at the site.
“We want to emphasise that these gorillas are in an enclosed sanctuary for orphans to which they have lived since infancy. The caretakers at Senkwekwe take great care to not put the health of the gorillas in danger. These are exceptional circumstances in which the photo was taken. It is never permitted to approach a gorilla in the wild.”