The Mountain Gorillas Of Virunga (PHOTOS)
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Virunga National Park is home to a quarter of the world's endangered mountain gorillas—along with the country's deadliest rebel groups. To keep the gorillas healthy and safe, two veterinarians from an organization called Gorilla Doctors frequently trek into the jungle to check on them. Periodically, they are forced to negotiate access with the rebel groups who occupy the park. Virunga also cares for four orphaned gorillas, which are kept in the Senkwekwe Center at headquarters. Here, Dr. Eddy Kambale greets one of the captive gorillas.
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
The orphaned gorillas play in their sanctuary enclosure.
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
Eddy Kambale, who has been with the organization for more than a decade, takes a look at the teeth of one of the gorillas.
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
Jean-Paul Lukusa, the Gorilla Doctor's lab technician, examines samples from the gorilla.
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
The gorilla doctors and their trackers search for a gorilla family in the mountains of Virunga National Park.
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
A family of gorillas appear amidst the brush.
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
A baby gorilla checks out the visitors.
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
By using a series of gutteral grunts, the doctors and trackers can signal friendly intentions to the gorillas.
A playful youngster hangs off a tree.
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
From afar, the doctors check for abnormal breathing and any physical signs of injury.
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
One of the group's three silverbacks.
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
The doctors' truck awaits their return at the base of the jungle.
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
The drive down from the gorilla sector of Virunga back to the headquarters is a downhill journey through stunning scenery but sickeningly bumpy roads. Once out of the forest, the roads are covered in lava rock spilled from a devastating volcanic eruption in 2002.
Nina Strochlic/The Daily Beast
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