At home with the world's gentlest giants

Ranger Andre Baunma with a gorilla who has been orphaned and is now being cared for at the Mikeno Lodge, Virunga National Park

 Revered as sacred by the African communities that have shared their forest home for centuries, mountain gorilla numbers plummeted following their discovery by Europeans. In the 100 years since their ‘discovery’ they endured uncontrolled hunting, disease, capture as zoo exhibits and pets, destruction of their habitat and war. In 1989, with only 620 mountain gorillas in the world, this unique animal faced extinction by the end of the 20th century. However, thanks to determined conservation efforts, their population has now grown to 880. Their last refuge is the four national parks that straddle the mountain boundaries of DRC, Rwanda and Uganda. continue