A hug is the best way to express love and thanks, and this friendly gorilla knows it! She chose to spend some meaningful moments with the guy who risked his life to protect her – a park ranger. Thankfully, the lovely event was captured on video, and the outcome is nothing short of wonderful.
The wonderful image occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park. Ndazi, a young gorilla, wanted to express her thanks to her guardian angel, Andre, in the cutest way imaginable. Shannon Witz, a Chicago-based photographer, observed the event and photographed it.
“I was quite pleased with the images, particularly the one with Ndazi leaning against Andre,” Shannon told CatersNews. “Her eyes are closed, and there is a sense of quiet and serenity in that moment. [The photographs] demonstrate their true fondness and trust for one another. It was a great moment that I was privileged to witness.”
This is not the first time mountain gorillas have been photographed with their caretakers. A year ago, several humorous selfies of endangered animals and park guards went viral on the internet.
The Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where “the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas” dwell. Over 600 rangers, both men and women, “risk their lives every day to protect the park’s magnificent species!”
