Try as you might, no selfie, will ever top these selfies.
No seriously, don’t try to match this. Especially with wild animals.
Yes, these gorilla selfies are the real deal taken at Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ranger Mathieu Shamavu snapped an incredible image of himself, a colleague and two orphaned mountain gorillas, named Ndakazi and Ndeze, at the park’s Senkwekwe sanctuary.
“We’ve received dozens of messages about the photo,” the park explains in a Facebook post, fittingly on Earth DAy. “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.”
The gorillas are housed in a safe, secure enclosure for orphans.
All the resident gorillas have lived there since infancy, the park explained.
“The caretakers at Senkwekwe take great care to not put the health of the gorillas in danger,” officials noted. “These are exceptional circumstances in which the photo was taken. It is never permitted to approach a gorilla in the wild.”
Patrick Sadiki Sadiki, another anti-poaching unit ranger, also posted some selfies.
And, they are also wonderfully moving.
Virunga is truly a magical place.
People like Mathieu and Patrick are trying to keep it that way as industry encroaches and poachers move in.
The gorilla selfies have been shared and liked tens of thousands of times.
Officials hope the interest turns into donations to help keep the park wild and protect the wildlife that is left.
Photos Mathieu Shamavu/Patrick Sadiki Sadiki/Virunga National Park/Facebook
