In 2007, an infant mountain gorilla was discovered clinging to the body of her dead mother, who had been killed by militia who were hunting for bushmeat. The two-month-old baby, dubbed Ndakasi, was whisked to safety by Andre Bauma, a ranger who became her life-long friend.

Ndakasi was brought to the Senkwekwe Center in Virunga National Park, where she stayed for the remainder of her life.

On October 5, Virunga National Park broke the news of Ndaski’s passing to Facebook followers, writing:

It is with heartfelt sadness that Virunga announces the death of beloved orphaned mountain gorilla, Ndakasi, who had been under the care of the Park’s Senkwekwe Center for more than a decade. On the evening of 26 September, following a prolonged illness in which her condition rapidly deteriorated, Ndakasi took her final breath in the loving arms of her caretaker and lifelong friend, Andre Bauma.

In a release from the national park, Ndakasi’s friend, Andre Bauma, commented on the impact the gorilla made in his life:

“It was a privilege to support and care for such a loving creature, especially knowing the trauma Ndakasi suffered at a very young age. One could say that she took after her mother, Nyiransekuye, whose name means “someone happy to welcome others.” It was Ndakasi’s sweet nature and intelligence that helped me to understand the connection between humans and Great Apes and why we should do everything in our power to protect them. I am proud to have called Ndakasi my friend. I loved her like a child and her cheerful personality brought a smile to my face every time I interacted with her. She will be missed by all of us at Virunga but we are forever grateful for the richness Ndakasi brought to our lives during her time at Senkwekwe.”

You can learn more about supporting gorilla conservation at this link.

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