大象传媒

The habitat of more than half of the world's mountain gorillas is being threatened by a spike in poaching in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Staff at Virunga National Park are highlighting the case of Theodore, a baby gorilla who was found trapped in a snare. Rangers had to sedate his mother and distract his silverback father while a vet worked quickly to save his life.

The park's director Emmanuel De Merode says far more snares are being put out as local people struggle to survive a 'catastrophic' rise in poverty caused by the coronavirus lockdown. But organised gangs are also active in the area, and have killed an 'unprecedented' number of park rangers this year.

(Photo: Mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo Credit: Brent Stirton/Getty Images)