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Rescued gorilla with one arm becomes mom
The orphaned gorilla was twice rescued from snares and later reintroduced to the wild, where she is now raising a newborn, charity staff said.
Lengui, a one-armed western lowland gorilla, gave birth to a healthy baby in the Congo, with footage capturing the pair in February. Charity bosses said the arrival, thought to be on Valentine's Day, was "wonderful news."
Orphaned over 30 years ago when her mother was caught in a hunter's snare, Lengui later lost her hand to another trap eight years later. She was rehabilitated by The Aspinall Foundation before being released into the wild.
Following her rehabilitation, Lengui lived out of the spotlight for around 20 years in the Lesio-Louna gorilla reserve. Researchers confirmed her pregnancy in late 2025 after capturing video footage using motion-sensor camera traps.
Gorilla researcher Elie Djoli Camara sent word of the birth in April. King, The Aspinall Foundation's reintroduction coordinator, said, "We've been waiting for this news for months."
Courage, The Aspinall Foundation's director of overseas projects, said the survival story inspires authorities to continue rewilding efforts. "We remain committed to providing those that are rescued with the opportunity to return to the wild.