Gorilla Who Came to World’s Attention via Famous Selfie Dies in Caretaker’s Arms

Ndakasi, a mountain gorilla who went viral when she photobombed a park ranger’s selfie, has died aged 14.

A statement this week from Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo said Ndakasi had died last month in the arms of her caretaker and lifelong friend Andre Bauma following a prolonged illness.

“It is with heartfelt sadness that Virunga announces the death of beloved orphaned mountain gorilla, Ndakasi, who had been under the care of the Park’s Senkwekwe Center for more than a decade,” a statement said. “On the evening of the 26th of September, following a prolonged illness in which her condition rapidly deteriorated, Ndakasi took her final breath in the loving arms of her caretaker and lifelong friend, Andre Bauma.”

Ndakasi was born in 2007 and was only two months old when rangers found her clinging to the body of her dead mother, who had been gunned down by militia. She was too traumatised by her experiences to be returned to the wild. Ndakasi was transferred to the Senkwekwe Centre, located at Virunga National Park’s headquarters in Rumangabo – the only facility in the world that cares for orphaned mountain gorillas – after its creation in 2009.

Ndakasi went viral in 2019 when park ranger Mathieu Shamavu took a selfie with Ndakasi and Ndeze, another gorilla, in the background. The pair appear to be posing for the camera. One is stood with feet apart, head turned towards the camera, while the other leans in to be included in the shot.

Virunga National Park posted the selfie on its Instagram page shortly after it went viral, saying, “YES, it’s real! Those gorilla gals are always acting cheeky so this was the perfect shot of their true personalities!”

“Also, it’s no surprise to see these girls on their two feet either – most primates are comfortable walking upright (bipedalism) for short bursts of time,” it added.

Bauma said, “It was a privilege to support and care for such a loving creature, especially knowing the trauma Ndakasi suffered at a very young age. One could say that she took after her mother, Nyiransekuye, whose name means ‘someone happy to welcome others.’ It was Ndakasi’s sweet nature and intelligence that helped me to understand the connection between humans and Great Apes and why we should do everything in our power to protect them. I am proud to have called Ndakasi my friend. I loved her like a child and her cheerful personality brought a smile to my face every time I interacted with her. She will be missed by all of us at Virunga but we are forever grateful for the richness Ndakasi brought to our lives during her time at Senkwekwe.”