Heartwarming selfie captures endangered mountain gorillas kicking back with human pals

Two orphaned mountain gorillas struck a pose recently that looks like it could have been a scene from any backyard barbecue or house party. Virunga National Park ranger Mathieu Shamavu took the selfie and posted it to social media with the caption, “another day at the office.” The image immediately went viral.

The Virunga wildlife preserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo calls itself “Africa’s oldest and most biologically diverse protected area” and its rangers “heroes who risk their lives to protect the park’s wildlife and local communities.”

Mountain gorillas are among the most endangered species in the world, with around 1,000 left in the wild. Shamavu hopes the popular photo will help raise awareness for the gorillas’ plight. While mountain gorillas continue to face the threat of poachers and habitat loss, their numbers are on the upswing thanks to conservation efforts.

“What might have been a bleak outlook for the species just a couple of decades ago,” states the World Wide Fund for Nature, “has brightened in recent years due to conservation efforts.”

-- Douglas Perry

@douglasmperry

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