In June of 2007, five gorillas were shot to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their bodies were left to rot where they fell and the motherless infant left to starve to death. Ndakasi became the object of world attention when her mother was senselessly killed. Andre Bauma saved the baby by bringing her to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project for medical attention and long term care. Andre carefully gave her the calories she needed, giving her small amounts of milk.  

 Ndakasi went into acute respiratory distress about two weeks after being removed from the forest.  Andre also helped nurse her back to health. They huddled together underneath a heavy blanket. She weighed less than 2 KG and could barely breathe. With a pot of hot water and eucalyptus leaves it was exactly what she needed to stay alive. They soon got oxygen to her and she needed to be placed in a makeshift oxygen tent for one week. If not for the round -the- clock medical attention from the MGVP veterinarians, oxygen therapy and help from the doctors of MONUC (the peace keeping unit of the United Nations security team) Ndakasi would not have survived.

Today, Ndakasi is thriving and it is clearly due to the dedication the veterinarians and caretakers, like Andre Bauma have with their patience.