Virunga National Park rangers bravely risked their lives to save Theodore, a baby mountain gorilla entangled in an illegal poacher’s trap, perilously distracting Mahindure, a massive 600-pound silverback, so doctors could free and treat the infant.
Theodore’s left hand and forearm swelled up from the tight snare restricting his blood flow. If left untreated, this could have caused infection and possibly death, so the team had to act quickly.
The rangers immediately contacted Gorilla Doctors for an emergency intervention. When the team arrived, they anesthetized three-year-0ld Theodore and his mother, Kanyalire, with darts, while the rangers kept Mahindure’s attention.

Theodore being treated by the Gorilla Doctors team
“There was a lot of commotion, the silverback wasn’t happy,” said director of Virunga National Park Emmanuel De Merode, “but they were able to move fast and effectively enough to apply antibiotics and treat the baby gorilla.”
When Dr. Eddy Kambale Syaluha from Gorilla Doctors woke Theodore back up, Mahindure charged at the team. Nzabonimba, Theodore’s sister, who ran into the forest when the other gorillas were anesthetized, picked up the three-year-old and carried him away. Syaluha examined Theodore’s mom before reversing her anesthesia as well. She quickly rejoined the rest of the group and reclaimed her baby son.
This is a happy ending to what could have been a tragic story, and De Merode warned that illegal poaching has been on the rise since the COVID-19 crisis due to a loss of revenue, reduction in tourism, and lack of resources.
The rangers are planning a widespread search of the park to find and remove any other traps and ensure the safety of the gorillas and all wildlife living in Virunga National Park.
Lady Freethinker applauds the selfless work of these rangers and doctors to save Theodore’s life.

BECAUSE THE GORILLAS
DON´T KNOW THE METAL MATERIALS . . . . . .
BECAUSE THE GORILLAS
DON´T KNOW THE METAL MATERIALS . . . . . .
BECAUSE THE GORILLAS
DON´T KNOW THE METAL MATERIALS . . . . . .
Stop animal abusers and punish them. They also need to be warch to never approch animals again.
They are evil.
Stop animal abusers and punish them. They also need to be warch to never approch animals again.
They are evil.
Stop animal abusers and punish them. They also need to be warch to never approch animals again.
They are evil.
Thank you so much.
How can we be friendly and peaceful when these things are making your heart bleed out of pain and frustration…?
When these heartless evil bastards are found, they need to receive the DEATH PENALTY. Or this will NEVER stop and we will loose many species. I would rather live on this earth with a diversity of creatures, than with these soulless stupid evil assholes. This planet has far too many assholes, and not enough wildlife. You tell me to keep my comments pe3aceful and family – are you kidding me?! This kind of senseless evil cruelty cries out for outrage and rage.
What brave people. God bless them!
Rangers are Brave heroes! Death to all poachers! Let them lay where they fall! Vile scum!
Thank You !!
It makes my heart so happy that there’s people who want to help so badly and people who are actually helping two wonderful things happening for this precious innocent animals who deserve to be free safe and happy!
Thank you to the courageous rangers and doctors who took such great care of these gorillas, and saved Theodore’s life.
WOE TO YOU AND ALL YOURS AND ALL YOUR GENERATIONS FAMILY TO COME FOREVER
We need to stop this. They need to go to jail. Please stop this mos
Confinement and cruelty to animals need to stop, now!
Thank you so much to the wonderful rangers and doctors! I love you!
You are great people. Thank you so much for saving the baby. You are their last hope.
BAN THE BLOODY WICKED CONTRAPTIONS !!!!
BAN THE BLOODY WICKED CONTRAPTIONS !!!!
thank you so much for saving little theodore, and keeping the family together
So muscular horror as I scroll down. The rangers who protect wildlife go unnoticed by much of the world while athletes are lauded as heroes. These guys and all rangers are the real heroOnes.
We went to Virunga National Park in Rwanda to see a Gorilla Family, they were amazing. At that time it was $400 US dollars for one hour of watching a family. Worth every penny.
I was told the Park hires the poachers giving them a constant source of revenue, they follow and protect the Gorilla’s and also inform home base, so our guides can locate them for us to watch. While we were there some poachers had killed a Gorilla so they could chop the hands off and sell them to the oriental market for good luck.
These creatures are not aggressive unless they feel threatened, they are better than we humans who kill for pleasure. We need to take lessons from them.
After our hour was up, our guide said OK we must leave now and the Big Male got up, walked right passed us. Straight armed my husband for not respecting him but absolutely did not even hurt my husband. But what a memory we have.
Thank God for the Carring Men that help this little guy !! We all love you !!
Heros!! Thanks to the rangers
Merci pour votre courage et votre gentillesse
Without these wonderful people the animal kingdom would be a sad place to live in.
Great job Thank you
So great to see Gorilla Doctors work being highlighted – they are the only organization in the world providing hands-on veterinary care to gorillas in the wild – looks like you pulled images from their blog but didn’t link to their website so here you go readers, they are a non-profit – https://gorilladoctors.org
Thank you for the link!
Thank you Rangers for risking your lives to save this precious life!!
Thanku for helping Theodore 🦍🐾.
I am so please for this baby one of the few lucky ones..
More Rangers needed WITH KILL POACHERS POLICY ON SITE asking questions later.
This must stop now before it’s too late such as hanging poachers dead of alive in public as a message to poachers.
Dog Bless. [email protected]
Thanku for helping Theodore. 🦍🐾
Thank you to all you kind people who helped this innocent victim.
You did so good.
Thank you
Thank you to all the Rangers and Doctors who risked their own lives to save this baby’s life. May you find and destroy all traps and find the poachers and have them arrested. Thanks again for being wonderful humans.
Thank you to all the Rangers and Doctors who risked their own lives to save this baby’s life. May you find and destroy all traps and find the poachers and have them arrested. Thanks again for being wonderful humans.
Brilliant work on the part of the Virunga National Park rangers. Thank you for your service. You are indispensable heroes for wildlife. Poachers’ traps are heinous.
Good work!! Thank you for saving this baby!
Thank you Virunga National Park rangers and Gorilla Doctors!! May God keep you safe and strong as you work to help the animals!!
Just LOVE…LOVE..LOVE the stories with happy ending
Thank you for sharing
I just wish we didn’t need to have the sad ones : (
Maybe one day the world will be a better place… sigh
We can pray….
May God bless the brave rangers and keep them safe.
Wonderful work by these good kind men!!!
Thank you Park Rangers for your heroic deeds and saving the baby gorilla from certain death. The world needs more courageous people like you
Heroes – thank you for saving that precious baby.
Such heroes! Thank you for saving that precious baby.
Thank you for saving little Theodore.
Thank you to the rangers. They’ve done a wonderful job. May God keep them safe.
Bless the rangers and keep them safe.
They’re wonderful, dedicated people putting their lives on the line every day.