The African wildlife workers celebrated the rare birth of a baby mountain gorilla in Virunga National Park in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where rebel forces have been accused of slaughtering and eating the critically endangered species of these rare apes. The birth of baby gorilla evoked sad memories of the killing of its many elder relatives few weeks back. In January last, the carcasses of two adult male gorillas were found in the same area of Virunga National Park after armed rebels had launched attack. Rangers fear that four of the missing gorillas were also shot and eaten by the rebels. Named Ndeze, after a powerful local tribal chief Rene Ndeze, the infant gorilla was born on February 17, 2007 bringing his family group up to 12 members, said Director Wildlife Conservation.
According to recent survey, nearly 700 mountain gorillas remain worldwide. More than half of which live in that volcanic region of Virunga that is commonly shared by Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.
The Wildlife Director & Chairman, Richard Leakey, in his recent statement to the press said. "The mountain gorillas have been under enormous pressure for many years, and a newborn is always a positive step toward protecting these animals.” He added, “ We should not forget that this is the product of enormous effort and sacrifice on the part of African rangers"