A baby gorilla has arrived
We come with you with the news of a new gorilla infant that was legally confiscated by MINFOF and has been entrusted in our care.
She was found in the town of Lomié where a “Wandering Bus” from Prague Zoo was approached by a man with a baby gorilla he claimed to have found at a plantation. The MINFOF Eco-guard accompanying the bus contacted the MINFOF Chef d’Antenne of Lomié and the Biomonitoring Officer for the African Wildlife Foundation. She was confiscated and brought to our sanctuary.
She was terrified and wouldn’t be touched. She held her head in her tiny hands and ground her teeth (a sign of extreme stress in gorillas). She had been shot, her skull fractured and had many wounds around her waist from rough restraints.
Fortunately, our incredible veterinary term was able to help her and successfully perform surgery to remove the bullet, which had broken apart. Otherwise healthy, she remains under the 24-hour care from one of AAA’s most experienced gorilla caregivers.
She is eating and now enjoys playing and climbing in the forest.
She has been named Barbie, for one of Ape Action Africa’s close supporters
Barbie is estimated to be between 18-24 months old. To be left alone like this, it is likely her family were slaughtered by poachers.
This is all too common, and with gorillas being critically endangered, the survival of every gorilla is vital.
Barbie and our other recent arrivals, Gus and Caesar, all deserve a strong and safe nursery to allow them to recover from their injuries, and begin to heal the emotional wounds from everything they’ve been through.
Will you help them?
