“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,” the statement said.
“Ndakasi took her final breath in the loving arms of her caretaker and lifelong friend, Andre Bauma,” it added according to Insider.
In 2007 when Ndakasi was rescued, she was only two months old. Rangers recovered the vulnerable baby gorilla clinging to her dead mother, killed by armed militia.
Though Ndakasi survived, she was too fragile to be left in the wild all by herself. She was transferred along with other orphaned gorillas to Senkwekwe Center inside Virunga National Park.
“All night long, Andre held the baby close to him, keeping her tiny body tightly against his bare chest for warmth and comfort,” the park
said.“She went on to live a peaceful life with her caretakers and other orphaned mountain gorillas for over 11 years,” the park’s obituary said.
Bauma, who considers the gorilla a friend to him, said he felt privileged to support and care for Ndakasi throughout her life, adding that his relationship with her allowed him to understand the connection between humans and Great Apes.
“I loved her like a child, and her cheerful personality brought a smile to my face every time I interacted with her,” Bauma said. “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.”
According to the park, Ndakasi was born during a perilous time for the global population of mountain gorillas. Despite this, Congolese authorities have taken measures necessary to help protect the species, leading to a nearly 50% increase in mountain gorillas throughout Ndakasi’s life.