Gorillias pose with Anti-Poaching Officers

[Cattledog]

The gorillas live in Virunga National Park – a UNESCO world heritage site in the Democratic Republic of Congo – and can be seen posing in pics with anti-poaching officers. This is their sanctuary; the magnificent creatures live a dangerous life and are constantly under threat of being hunted and illegally sold as ‘bushmeat’. Unfortunately, over the last 20 years, the area has been ‘deeply’ impacted by war. ‘Virunga is protected by a dedicated team of over 600 rangers,’ a statement reads on the Virguna website.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/20/gorillas-put-selfie-game-shame-pose-anti-poaching-officers-9276776/

[rurallib]

1. That is just an incredible photo

[hlthe2b]

2. Bless those there to protect them...

and, like the poachers stomped by elephants and eaten by lions in other areas of Africa, may THESE poachers similarly receive their own just karma.

[Demovictory9]

3. Great photo

[donkeypoofed]

4. They're smart and know who's helping them and who isn't

What a fantastic photo! I'll never forget it.

[Cracklin Charlie]

5. I followed my granddaughter into a gorilla exhibit at my local zoo.

Before I get close to the glass, I see a female gorilla looking intently at me. I start walking to the glass, and she starts heading to the glass, too, but from inside the enclosure. We get to the glass at the same time, and while still looking at me, she turned her back to me, and slumped down next to the glass.

In her arms was a tiny gorilla baby! She was coming to show me her baby! Of course, I told her how beautiful her baby was, and what a fine mommy she was, and thank you for showing me your baby.

I walked out of that exhibit with tears streaming down my face.

This picture is wonderful!

[erronis]

8. That's a wonderful image. Thank you. And I *KNOW* that most animals share our

abilities, feelings, motivations.

It's our fault if we can't understand them. Not the other way around.

[BigmanPigman]

9. I can't forget a TV show I saw a while ago where one died.

It was a mother primate and all the others from the group came to where her body was and they stayed there for a couple of days mourning and then moved on.

Her child was not an adult yet and was so sad that he built a hammock of leaves in the tree's branches over where his mother's body was. He stayed there for three weeks, never leaving, and died himself...he died indirectly from grief.

[RiverStone]

10. While radically cute, sad both mother & baby will never know freedom

Or at least life in a jungle gorilla sanctuary or nature preserve.

I appreciate some zoos have educational value, but seeing such bright and social animals locked into enclosures is depressing (particularly for them).

Check out:

http://www.janegoodall.org/our-work/our-approach/

[red dog 1]

14. Great story!

[donkeypoofed]

19. Awwww, what a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing it

[RandySF]

12. I wonder how self-actualization they nay have.

[murielm99]

6. The one on the left is adorable.

He reminds me of some of the old men around here, standing with their hands in their pockets and their bellies sticking out.

[RandySF]

13. He has my figure!!

[paleotn]

24. Well, they are our part of our extended family.

[Farmer-Rick]

7. Are those females?

The females always remind me of cuddly bears, though the young males look similar.

[RiverStone]

11. Anti-poaching hero! Great pic

Thanks for sharing

[red dog 1]

15. Outstanding photo!

K&R, thanks for posting.

[crazytown]

16. Another photo

[blueseas]

32. That is a great photo!!

How much does it weigh?

[mountain grammy]

17. Best thing I've seen all day..

Thank you!!

[soryang]

18. Ranger killed weeks after reopening of Virunga national park

Last edited Sat Apr 20, 2019, 06:33 PM - Edit history (1)

Ranger killed weeks after reopening of Virunga national park
March 8, 2019

Park in DRC was shut last year for more than eight months after series of attacks on staff

A statement from the park said the ranger, Freddy Mahamba Muliro, died during an attack on a ranger position in its central sector. It gave no further details.
“We are in deep mourning for Ranger Freddy. It is a tragedy that his young life has been cut short in dedicated service to Virunga. Now more than ever, Ranger Freddy’s death highlights the very real threats to our rangers in their protection of Virunga national park,” said Emmanuel de Merode, the park’s director. More than 170 rangers have been killed in Virunga in recent decades. At least 12 died in clashes with militia and smugglers in Virunga in the months before the closure, one of the bloodiest periods in the park’s history.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/08/ranger-killed-weeks-after-reopening-of-virunga-national-park

I recall having seen a documentary about this park a fews years ago, that proposed that it wasn't just poachers who were a threat to the environment, animals and staff there but also the militia forces who were secretly supported by outside commercial interests who see the preserve as an obstacle to resource exploitation in the region.

[Pepsidog]

20. That's crazy. Never saw gorillas stand up

[nuxvomica]

21. It looks like a publicity photo for an 80s British rock band

Very cool that the gorillas are so cool around their protectors.

[JohnnyRingo]

22. I saw Jim Jefffords' show about these heroes.

It's always nice to hear from the good people of Earth.

Thanx for posting.

[flvegan]

23. The only good poacher is a dead poacher.

If anyone wants to talk about "good guys with guns" here you go.

[lostnfound]

25. Does anyone else wonder if these are either fake or dangerous?

Ithe source is a Facebook page.

[Dream Girl]

30. I didn't think gorillas outdo stand upright like that.

Does seem fake to me. Sorry...hope I’m wrong.

[Me.]

26. Stunning

[tblue37]

27. How charming! K&R. nt

[MuseRider]

28. I worked with gorillas a little.

I was not intimately involved with them or their care but spent enough time around them to say that other than their way of communicating they are almost just like us. We do communicate much like they do however.

The story above about the mother showing her baby is typical (but what an experience that was!). What we have done to the animal kingdom, mostly because we have been told we are the best and the brightest and they are here to be ruled by us, is the most disgusting part of our character. I feel less upset when we do it to ourselves. We really are very badly equipped to be the kingdom rulers and seemingly have little mind to change in a large way.

If we had more time with the Internet some of it would have gotten better I think but we do not have enough time left to actually change enough not to stop the torture and trophy needs of the many.

[keithbvadu2]

29. Killed for bushmeat. What a waste!

[Nitram]

31. The apes look like bored gangsters in suits with their hands in their pockets. Its a beautiful

photogaph of humanity at its finest: protecting the weak and vulnerable from harm.