Gorilla Orphanage, Senkwekwe
One of the sites in Virunga National Park near Mikeno Lodge where orphaned gorillas get another chance to flourish is Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage. Unquestionably the most remarkable creatures on Earth are mountain gorillas. Seeing them anywhere is a memory to treasure. Only the three nations of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have these mountain gorillas. From any of these three nations, visitors can choose to go on a gorilla trekking safari; specifically, the Virunga National Park in the Congo offers an option to visit a gorilla orphanage center- Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage. There is just one gorilla orphanage center worldwide.
Just next to Mikeno Lodge, at the headquarters of Virunga National Park, sits Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage. Senkwekwe is named for the big silverback that led the Rugendo gorilla group through the carnage in which rebel factions sheltering in the game park in 2007 claimed most of the members dead. The Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage was founded to offer a suitable residence or site for the rehabilitation of the orphaned gorillas Ndakisi and Ndezi. Made and has since been the only known location known to have mountain gorillas in captivity and they do actually survive. The center was set up to serve the young mountain gorillas that have lost their parents and family due to poaching, animal trafficking, and the waging war between the rebels and the government forces.
The orphanage employs veterinary doctors, well-trained caretakers, and other staff members who form a superb team to look after these orphaned and injured mountain gorillas. Every single mountain gorilla has caretakers who provide food and other kind of assistance. Fulltime, the caretakers remain with the mountain gorilla orphans and make sure they are fed and watched over for any mood swings or symptoms of illness.
For enthusiasts of these primates, the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage presents a unique chance to personally help to preserve them while seeing and watching them. Visiting this orphanage allows visitors to interact with these gorillas, learn about their activities, get amazing pictures and films of them.
Apart from mountain gorillas, the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage also treats juvenile Eastern lowland gorillas usually from Kahuzi Biega National Park that ae rescued from poachers and wildlife traffickers. After a designated amount of time, these gorillas are sent to the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education center, which houses lowland gorillas who have become orphans. Through its outreach and educational programs, Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage has also affected the nearby areas.
Since mountain gorillas cannot really survive in captivity, maintaining them there is quite difficult and costly. Given the unpredictable circumstances affecting the area from time to time, Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage finds it difficult to pull off. The project could not have been successful without the major funding from well-wishers, kind people and several gorilla conservation organizations like Gorilla Doctors, Dian Fossey Foundation, Gearing Up 4 Gorillas, the World Heritage Organisation among so many others.
Since its opening in 2010, there are more than six (6) orphaned mountain gorillas living at the orphanage. These gorillas spend their entire life in the orphanage; from here, they start their own families for reasons among others that they get too used to humans and depend on greatly. The comfort and privileged life of the enclosed orphanage that they are so used to cannot favor their adapting to the wild. Given the different dynamics of the wild gorilla families and their own, it could be challenging for them to go for food alone. Since then, some of the mountain gorillas housed in Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage consist in the following:
Ngakasi
Ten years old female mountain gorilla survived the 2007 Rugendo family massacre by rebels hiding in the park. Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage had not yet developed when this gorilla became orphaned with her sister Ndeze. They were saved and taken under cover in a Goma town house. The place was noisy and dusty for the gorilla, thus the conditions were not good since it was not large and it was difficult to keep good hygiene. They were moved to the orphanage upon its completion and have since lived there in total harmony and comfort.
ndeze
Along with surviving the 2007 massacre of their family, Ndeze is a sibling of Ndakishi. Particularly this gorilla was discovered clinging to the breast of her dead mother Safari, a beloved member of the Rugendo family under Senkwekwe’s leadership. Later, once the orphanage was finished in Goma town, they were moved to it.
Maisha
Maisha was born in 2001 and was the first orphan to be admitted at the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage when completed. Maisha, which means life was born at a very turbulent period where rebels were hiding in the Virunga National Park and they kept cutting vegetation for their hiding.
This gorilla was transported as captive in 2004 to a cave in Rwanda. The rumors of her existence their reached the Rwanda police and the workers of Volcanoes National Park and they headed out to rescue her. At the time of the rescue, she was very underweight and in poor health and it is because to the Gorilla Doctors that she survived.
When she recovered from her poor health and trauma, she was transported to the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage in 2010 when it was completed and she was 9 years old. As the eldest member that was in the group, she took up the leadership role and was always defending and kept order in the group. With time, Maisha started suffering a low appetite and diarrhea which lingered for a long period that she succumbed to it.
Yalala
Belonging to the Kabirizi family, Yalala, a female gorilla, was discovered lying on her back following poacher-induced capture in a snare. Her relatives tried to free her but failed, thereby deserting her. Her foot had been badly damaged and had to be removed upon arrival at Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage.
Orphanage Kaboko Senkwekwe Gorilla
Another male gorilla, Kaboko, was also nabbed ensnared in a poacher-set trap. His right hand had suffered a severe cut from the snare, which likewise demanded and immediate amputation. Playful and mischievous as Kaboko was, he suffered stomach and intestinal problems. But it is thought that his tension was exacerbated by the 2012 disturbance in the park and intense gunshots, which resulted in his early five-year-old death. Unable to save him at that time, the Gorilla Doctors had returned to Rwanda from conflict in the Congo.
Magabishi
June 2010 saw the rescue of this young man and his placement into the orphanage. Found in an abandoned corn field next to the park, it is thought that poachers left him there. Maisha took great care of Matabishi as though she were birthing him and harboured a soft place for him. She raised him on her back, pampering and shielding him from the recalcitrant orphanage children.
Those who would want to help the orphanage might get in touch with Virunga National Park management. Guests at Mikeno Lodge pay nothing to visit the orphanage. People living with other lodges get in touch with the park for a visiting arrangement. While visiting and engaging in any park activity, you might have this included into your agenda.
At the same time helping with their recovery and conservation and rehabilitation, a visit to the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage offers an opportunity to closely interact with these gentle hurt and orphaned mountain gorillas whose behaviors differ greatly from those in the wild. Either have a trustworthy tour operator book for you or reserve a visit to the orphanage at the Mikeno Lodge.
