Pictures: Baby Gorilla Rescued From Poachers

Orphaned

Photograph courtesy MGVP, Inc.

Once the infant leaves quarantine at the veterinary project's orphan-care facility in Kinigi, Rwanda, she'll join the other orphans at another orphanage, Senkwekwe, which is part of Virunga National Park and managed by the Congolese National Park Authority.

"There are currently four other orphans at the center, and the goal is to rehabilitate them for a return to the wild. But it's highly unpredictable whether that will be successful or not," Lewis noted.

The smugglers are still in custody, and an investigation is underway to see if a larger operation was involved in the poaching, Virunga National Park Director Emmanuel de Merode wrote on his blog.

"That the infant mountain gorilla was recovered and the suspected poachers arrested is a remarkable achievement by the Rwandan authorities," de Merode said in a statement.

"Nevertheless, the incident is unacceptable and deeply worrying for us, and reflects the enormous pressures faced by our rangers, 11 of whom have been killed this year protecting the park.

"Efforts are underway to strengthen the protection measures through de-snaring, increased anti-poaching, and tight collaboration with the local community."

(See "Inside the Gorilla Wars: Rangers on Risking It All.")

Published August 19, 2011

Reaching Out

Photograph courtesy MGVP, Inc.

The pet trade is rampant among eastern lowland gorillas, a related subspecies, and Lewis is concerned it could be spilling over into mountain gorillas (pictured, the rescued baby rests with an unidentified worker). (Read more about the Virunga gorillas.)

"It seems mind-boggling that someone would want to keep a gorilla that could mature to 400 pounds [180 kilograms]," Lewis said.

In many cases, when pet apes become adults, they become uncontrollable and are either confined in cages or euthanized. "These stories always seem to end up in tragedy."

All it takes to set a poaching expedition in motion is one wealthy person deciding he or she wants a gorilla, Lewis added. By contrast, finding these buyers is tough for antipoaching forces, since black market transactions are tough to trace.

(See "Mountain Gorillas Eaten by Congolese Rebels.")

Published August 19, 2011

Companionship Required

Photograph courtesy MGVP, Inc.

At such a young age, the baby gorilla (pictured sitting on a worker) would normally still be clinging nonstop to his mother's back.

"If there isn't someone who's physically with her, she would feel terrified—she needs that presence of a warm body," Lewis said.

On top of that, she's likely traumatized by being separated from her mother.

"Mountain gorillas share 97 percent of our genes, so it's safe to assume they have complex emotions and may experience very similar feelings to humans."

(See pictures: "Gorilla Mother 'Mourns' Dead Baby.")

Published August 19, 2011

Gaining a Foothold

Photograph courtesy MGVP, Inc.

Baby gorillas (pictured, a foot of the rescued infant) are basically helpless and rely on their mothers for at least a couple of years, Lewis said.

Though it's unknown how the baby was poached, the mother would not have surrendered her infant without a fight, he said. The group's silverback—or head male—would also have tried to defend his family if threatened.

In the past, poachers have first shot mothers and any other nearby gorillas to gain access to babies, he said.

(See "Gorilla Orphaned After Mom Shot 'Execution Style.'")

Published August 19, 2011

Gorilla Checkup

Photograph courtesy MGVP, Inc.

Workers at the orphanage examine Ihirwe earlier this month.

Tourism is part of the reason that mountain gorillas are growing in number, Lewis noted.

"Habituation of these gorillas for tourism has been a boost to their conservation—it's brought in millions of dollars to Rwanda and Uganda," he said. For example, one gorilla that becomes used to people can bring in about four million U.S. dollars in its lifetime.

There's also a trade-off. When gorillas accept people in their presence, they also lose their fear, which can leave them vulnerable to humans who would do them harm, he said.

As for the rescued gorilla, "We are cautiously optimistic for this little guy," gorilla veterinarian Jan Ramer said in a statement.

She "is tense, but accepting of people, and is eating. All good signs for [her] eventual recovery."

(Read "Who Murdered the Virunga Gorillas?" in National Geographic magazine.)

Published August 19, 2011