This Man Comforted A Gorilla Who Just Lost His Mother

Losing your mom or dad is one of the most tragic things that can happen to you. The sadness involved in loss isn’t just experienced my humans. Many animals experience the same pain as photographer Phil Moore perfectly demonstrates.

This mountain gorilla, housed in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, lost his mother to poachers. The clearly dismayed and mourning gorilla was photographed in July 2012 holding onto Patrick Karabaranga, a park ranger, for support.

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Mountain gorillas are a critically endangered species, a result of deforestation and severe habitat loss. Each day, 80,000 acres of rainforest are destroyed for profitable industries, such as logging and mining.

Conservation efforts are helping to bring the gorilla populations back from the brink, but there’s no doubt a lot of work left to do. This heartbreaking moment puts a face to the name of the atrocities we commit against the natural world.