In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Virunga National Park is home to a quarter of the world's endangered mountain gorillas—along with the country's deadliest rebel groups. To keep the gorillas healthy and safe, two veterinarians from an organization called Gorilla Doctors frequently trek into the jungle to check on them. Periodically, they are forced to negotiate access with the rebel groups who occupy the park. Virunga also cares for four orphaned gorillas, which are kept in the Senkwekwe Center at headquarters. Here, Dr. Eddy Kambale greets one of the captive gorillas.
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The orphaned gorillas play in their sanctuary enclosure.
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Eddy Kambale, who has been with the organization for more than a decade, takes a look at the teeth of one of the gorillas.
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Jean-Paul Lukusa, the Gorilla Doctor's lab technician, examines samples from the gorilla.
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The gorilla doctors and their trackers search for a gorilla family in the mountains of Virunga National Park.
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A family of gorillas appear amidst the brush.
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A baby gorilla checks out the visitors.
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By using a series of gutteral grunts, the doctors and trackers can signal friendly intentions to the gorillas.
A playful youngster hangs off a tree.
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From afar, the doctors check for abnormal breathing and any physical signs of injury.
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One of the group's three silverbacks.
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The doctors' truck awaits their return at the base of the jungle.
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The drive down from the gorilla sector of Virunga back to the headquarters is a downhill journey through stunning scenery but sickeningly bumpy roads. Once out of the forest, the roads are covered in lava rock spilled from a devastating volcanic eruption in 2002.
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