Social media star mountain gorilla Ndakasi aged 14 dies in arms of her caretaker

A mountain gorilla named Ndakasi whose picture went viral after she photobombed a park ranger's selfie has died at the age of 14 years. The gorilla was suffering from prolonged illness. The Virunga National Park situated in the Democratic Republic of Congo published a statement on Tuesday saying the gorilla died on September 26.

Ndakasi took her final breath in the arms of her caretaker and lifelong friend, Andre Bauma. The Senkekwe Centre, located inside the Virunga National Park, is the only facility in the world that looks after orphaned mountain gorillas.

Park ranger Andre Bauma looked after the mountain gorilla ever since the rangers found her clinging to the body of her dead mother in 2007 when she was just two months old. Ndakasi lived with other orphaned mountain gorillas in the Senkekwe Centre until her death. Ndakasi's mother had been shot by armed militia as part of a series of killings of gorilla families.

It is with heartfelt sadness that Virunga announces the death of beloved orphaned mountain gorilla, Ndakasi.

C’est avec une profonde tristese que Virunga annonce le décès du gorille de montagne orpheliné Ndakasi.https://t.co/GdkJbhWESz pic.twitter.com/bsCKdEq8tB

— Virunga NationalPark (@gorillacd) October 5, 2021

"It was a privilege to support and care for such a loving creature, especially knowing the trauma Ndakasi suffered at a very young age. It was Ndakasi's sweet nature and intelligence that helped me to understand the connection between humans and Great Apes and why we should do everything in our power to protect them," Bauma said in the statement.

Ndakazi made headlines in 2019 when she struck a pose with another orphaned mountain gorilla, Ndeze, as park ranger Mathieu Shamavu took a selfie.

Virunga National Park posted the picture on Instagram shortly after it went viral, saying, "YES, it's real!"