When little Bobga was found in a wooden crate all by himself earlier in 2018, rescuers realized that something unimaginable might have happened to its family for it to be discovered without one.
Despite being a toddler, a gorilla named little gorilla would grow up stronghas already experienced extreme change and loss that some go through during an entire lifetime. You see, little Bobga was found in a wooden crate all by himself earlier in 2018. Rescuers soon realized that something unimaginable might have happened to its family for it to be discovered without one.
According to The Dodo, mother gorillas are extremely protective of their babies, and no matter what they would never part from them unless they are forced to do so. When baby apes lose their parents, they unfortunately often end up being sold as pets. And when they get too big to be handled, they either end up in derelict zoos, circuses, or worse abandoned.
"The little one had to start his life in a small cage tied to a pole," revealed Pro Wildlife spokesperson Sandra Henoch. "He is probably a victim of the illegal wildlife trade." Pro Wildlife is a Germany-based organization that supports the Limbe Wildlife Center (LWC) in Cameroon.
Bobga, who was rescued back in January 2018, by the Limbe Wildlife Center, has made huge strides since arriving at the rehabilitation center after people at the LWC swore to help the toddler gorilla grows up strong. He's since bonded with his caretakers and in doing so has learned important practical and social skills.
"Bobga has been busy learning skills from his dedicated caretakers as part of his rehabilitation — including foraging, playing, learning social skills, stimulating curiosity, climbing and grooming," shared primate well-being and population manager for LWC, Peggy Motsch, told The Dodo.
Their ultimate goal in bringing him up is to make sure that he is able to survive in a wild environment, despite having had a rough start in life. "Bobga has grown into a playful, confident, and strong gorilla. Every day he exhibits the skills he would need to survive in a semi-free enclosure and, hopefully, one day, for being back in the wild," said Motsch.
The adorable gorilla often plays with soccer balls, which in turn helps with dexterity. He also loves climbing, an important skill which would definitely help him in the forest. "He loves to run and roll around, play, forage and climb the different structures (and people!)," added Motsch.
A recent gesture of Bobga in awe of the little primate. He was recently playing with his caretaker, Alvin, who decided it was time to relax. As Alvin lay on the ground, Bobga snuggled up to him making for a wholesome moment.
"It is important for him to feel safe and secure with his caretakers. This picture captures a tender moment of rest between Bobga and one of his dedicated caretakers, Alvin," wrote LWC on its Facebook page, proving that only a few months of love and care can impact an animal's life greatly.
Cover image source: Facebook Screenshot | Limbe Wildlife Centre
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