Ndeze & Ndakasi have moved to their new, lush, forest home in Virunga National Park - the Senkwekwe Center!

The gorilla girls are now with Andre and the other carers in the 40 x 40 meter holding facility, within what will eventually be a 2.5 acre (1 hectare) plot of lush forest, a stone’s throw from their habitat in the Gorilla Sector.

Yesterday started at dawn, with Emmanuel, myself, Katya, Eddy, Andre, the carers and the Gorilla Doctors - Dr Mike, Dr Jan, Dr Eddy, and Dr Jacques, and also Sandy from DFGFI, a carer for confiscated gorillas. First - Ndeze & Ndakasi had to be tranquilised to put them in the truck. The truck had been parked in the house for a week, so they had had the chance to get used to it.

At 6.30am we started winding through the streets of Goma, a convoy of 3 cars. Although it was still early, people were already out. It was strange to think the gorillas were in the back of the truck - with Andre and another carer.

Eventually we left Goma and headed north to begin the 45km journey to Rumangabo park station. This usually takes about 1h but it took us about 1h30. The roads are all dirt roads, and basically follow the Congo/Rwanda border - previously a hotbed of tension. You can see the Nyiragongo volcano smoking in the background.

After a very very long 1h30 we arrived at Rumangabo park station - again, no one knew the gorillas were in the truck. We had kept the moving date confidential.

Emmanuel parked at the top of the little path heading down toward the Senkwekwe Centre, and then Ndeze & Ndakasi got their first peekat the forest.

Andre and the other carers carried Ndeze & Ndakasi the short walk to their new home.

Once inside Ndeze and Ndakasi stuck to their carers and would not leave their side.

But after a very short time - literally 5 minutes - they started to gain confidence with their new surroundings. Remember they have not been in this habitat since mid 2007 when they were orphaned.

Gradually they started to leave their carers sides and explore…

Until a banana tree planted diligently by Innocent & Diddy took their fancy.

And that was it. Home at last.

It was a tense day, that went very smoothly. The Gorilla Doctors had thought of all the contingency plans from a veterinary perspective and Sandy brought her invaluable carer experience to the team. Andre and the 3 carers were the stars - along with Ndeze & Ndakasi of course.

It was also an emotional day. For everyone. Ndeze & Ndakasi are the only 2 baby mountain gorillas in captivity in the world. And we were all so desperate for them to return to their natural habitat.

Yesterday was a great day. And we all hope that soon there will be an even greater one when the Senkwekwe Center is finally finished.

We cannot do anything about the July 2007 massacre. What has passed is past. But we can all do something now to help Ndeze (Senkwekwe’s daughter) and Ndakasi.

Thank you all.