Heartbreaking picture shows man hugging devastated orphaned gorilla baby

A heartbreaking photo of a young gorilla being comforted by a park ranger has gone viral, after it was revealed the animal’s parents had just been killed by poachers.

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by Ellie Hooper |
Published on

In the image, the orphaned mountain gorilla can be seen looking sad and frightened as he sits in the jungle in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Beside him sits Park Ranger Patrick Karabaranga, who puts a comforting arm around the infant’s shoulders, while holding onto his wrist.

In return, the gorilla shows he appreciates his solidarity, lightly gripping the Ranger's leg.

The Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo

The image, which shows beautifully the bond between human and animal, has made waves across the net for its pure tenderness.

Taken on July 17 this year, the small gorilla had just lost his parents to poachers who were trying to smuggle them out of Virunga National Park.

The protected wildlife park - which houses about a quarter of the world’s mountain gorilla population - is looked after by many Rangers like Patrick, who care for the abundance of animals within its boundaries.

Africa’s oldest national park, Virunga is a UNESCO World Heritage site with many protected species.

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