Rangers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been posting some fantastic selfies with the gorillas they help protect.
The Rangers
The Elite Anti-Poaching Units And Combat Trackers is a group of roughly 600 park rangers in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Most Diverse Park
According to the park’s website , it is the oldest and most biologically diverse protected park in Africa. It also has been impacted by war over the past two decades, and is a target for poachers.
Thousands Of Species
It is home to thousands of different animal species, including 22 different species of gorilla. The 600 rangers go to great lengths to protect the animals.
Risk Their Lives
“These local men and women go through intensive training, risking their lives on a daily basis to safeguard the park’s exceptional wildlife, including the last of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas.”
Selfies With Animals
It isn’t uncommon to see selfies with the wildlife these rangers interact with, as they share many on their Facebook page.
Rhinos
They’ve even shared images taken with some of the rarest animals on the planet. Pictured here is Sudan, the world’s last male white rhino. Unfortunately he passed away from age-related issues in 2018.
BBC Interview
In an interview with the BBC , a park ranger explained a little bit more about how these selfies came to be. The two gorillas pictured below are orphaned gorillas that were raised by the park rangers.
The Backstory
The rangers work tirelessly to ensure the gorillas remain within specific areas of the park where they will not be in danger. In the interview, the ranger explains how these gorillas view their caretakers as their parents.
Orphans
The gorillas’ biological parents were massacred in 2007 by poachers. When the two were rescued they were small babies. Now, they are fully grown adult gorillas.
Why They Stand
In the photographs shown below, the ranger explains that the gorillas were curious about a car passing by, as they had never seen one. As a result, they stood up tall on two legs — this is not typical behavior for them, but definitely makes for a good selfie!
Amazing Selfie
It seems the rangers have created a close bond with some of the gorillas. Ranger Mathieu Shamavu posted this amazing selfie on their Facebook page .
Not Camera Shy
The two gorillas don’t seem camera shy at all, as they pose with their stomachs puffed out and their hands on their hips.
Not The First Time
This isn’t the first time the group has posted a great photo with gorillas on Facebook . This one is from last year with the caption:
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“When one is still young, it seems very simple to be a hero or a martyr. But as one marches on in life, one understands the price of a simple act of virtue, and only God can give us the strength to achieve this.”
Another Selfie
And last August they posted this “family portrait.”
Let’s hope these brave rangers keep the gorilla selfies coming.
