Amazing Pictures Shows Two Young Gorillas Breaking Down The Traps By The Poachers That Murdered Their Friend

Many people around the world love animals and work hard to protect them. Unfortunately, there are also those who harm them, such as hunters and poachers, whose actions often raise moral questions. While animals are usually defenseless against human cruelty, there are rare moments when they fight back.

One such moment occurred in 2012 at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Karisoke Research Center. A ranger observed something remarkable: two young mountain gorillas teamed up to find snares set by poachers and break them apart. It’s an impressive display of teamwork for these animals!

Representatives of Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund confirmed seeing gorillas escape the snares

Veronica Vecellio, a gorilla program coordinator at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Karisoke Research Center, stated, “This is absolutely the first time that we’ve seen juveniles doing that. I don’t know of any other reports in the world of juveniles destroying snares.” The research center is situated near the reserve where this event occurred.

Vecellio added, “We have the largest database and observer network of wild gorillas, so I would be very surprised if someone else has seen this.”

Reports indicate that the young mountain gorillas’ behavior was seen just days after one of their own was killed by a poacher’s trap. This tragedy may have motivated them to take action.

Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is a popular area for bushmeat hunters, who set snares to catch antelope and other animals. Unfortunately, these traps can also capture apes. While adult gorillas are usually strong enough to escape, younger gorillas are not as fortunate and can easily get caught.

Just days before the young gorillas were seen tearing down snares set by hunters, a baby gorilla named Ngwino was found by employees at the Karisoke Research Center. Unfortunately, they were too late to save her, as she soon died from injuries related to a snare.

Ngwino had suffered a dislocated shoulder while trying to escape, and gangrene had developed in her leg because the ropes had cut deeply into her skin. Animal conservationists say that hunters often show little concern for trapped gorillas, allowing them to suffer in the snares.

Hunters and poachers often use snares to trap animals because they are easy to set up. A snare is made from a rope that forms a noose, which is held down by a branch or bamboo stalk.

To hide the noose, hunters use local plants to camouflage it, making it hard for animals to see. When an animal moves the stick, it triggers the snare, causing the noose to close and trap the animal.

Trackers at the reserve work hard to search the forest for snares and protect endangered animals from falling into them. However, since there are many snares that are difficult to see, this is not an easy task.

One tracker, John Ndayambaje, found a snare near a gorilla clan and was alerted by a silverback named Vubu, who grunted to warn him. Then, two young gorillas, Rwema and Dukore, both about four years old, jumped into the trap. In an unexpected turn of events, Rwema jumped over and broke the bent tree branch holding the snare, and Dukore followed to free the noose. The two young heroes were soon joined by a third gorilla, Tetero, and together they quickly found another snare and broke it apart just like the first one.

While their actions are truly remarkable, the trackers do not support training gorillas to behave this way. They believe it’s important not to interfere with the natural lives of the gorillas and that introducing foreign activities would go against their principles. Still, it’s hard not to cheer for these animals as they find ways to fight back!