Born in April 2007, Ndakasi had become orphan at two months after the death of his mother killed by militia. Vulnerable, she could not return to the wild.
Le Monde with AFP
The Virunga National Park (NPV) announced Tuesday, 5 October the death of a gorilla, one of the attractions of this natural and tourist jewel of the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) made famous by its history and personality.
“It is with deep sadness that [the Parc des] virunga announces the death of the Orphan Ndakasi mountain gorilla, which resided in the center Senkwekwe for more than a decade”, read in a PNVI communiqué.
“In the evening of September 26, following a long illness, his condition deteriorated quickly and Ndakasi returned his last breath in the arms of his guardian and friend of always André Bauma”, read again.
“The life of Ndakasi is well documented and his warm personality figured in many emissions and films (…). She also knew a reputation on the internet in 2019, when a selfie of her became viral during the day of the Earth, “says the PNVI.
A little more than 1,000 individuals
This mountain gorilla was born in April 2007 and became orphan at two months after the death of his mother killed by militia. Vulnerable, she could not return to the wild and became a resident of a center designed by the PNV where she benefited, with another gorilla, ndeze, of particular care for eleven years.
The PNVI mountain gorilla population is estimated at 1,063 in this region (Rwanda, Uganda and DRC), according to a census made from 2016 to 2018, while in the NIV, this population is estimated at 350 individuals, according to the latest estimates of 2021.
Located on the border with Rwanda and Uganda, the Virunga National Park covers 7,800 km 2 in the North Kivu Province (East). Older African Nature Reserve inaugurated in 1925, the park is a sanctuary for the very rare mountain gorillas, also present in Rwanda and Uganda.