The Dallas Zoo recently named their new gorilla “Saambili” (sahm-BEE-lee) in honor of GRACE caregiver Aldegonde Saambili. The infant, a female, was born on June 25 and is the first gorilla born at the zoo in 20 years.
“We are thrilled about the GRACE namesake,” said Dr. Sonya Kahlenberg, GRACE Executive Director. “Aldegonde plays a critical role on our animal care team, and this is a beautiful way to recognize her hard work and that of our entire Congo team. It also underscores the zoo’s strong commitment to our partnership and helping gorillas in the wild.”
Dallas Zoo was among GRACE’s earliest supporters, and has played a key role in helping to grow the project. Zoo staff members have served as technical advisors, on GRACE’s board of directors, and even traveled to Congo to help build capacity at GRACE. Keith Zdrojewski, Dallas Zoo’s Curator of Primates and Carnivores and a member of GRACE’s Animal Care and Welfare Advisory Group, helped GRACE open its first gorilla forest enclosure in 2015. “GRACE is so close to my heart,” he said. “The caretakers there are some of the most selfless people I’ve ever met. I’m proud to honor Aldegonde with the recognition she deserves,” said Zdrojewski.
Watch the moment Aldegonde found out about her namesake:
Aldegonde Saambili is one of GRACE’s most experienced caregivers. She specializes in helping newly orphaned infants. This is a challenging job as this is when gorillas are most vulnerable and likely to succumb to stress. Most gorillas that are confiscated are younger than 3 years, which is before they would be weaned from their mothers in the wild. Thus, they require intense, around-the-clock care.
Though it’s impossible to replace a mother’s support and affection, Aldegonde provides the best substitute care possible. She attends to her charge’s every need and walks the gorillas into the forest every day where they begin to re-familiarize themselves with their natural habitat. She also stays with infants through the night, just as their gorilla mother would. As a mother of three older children, Aldegonde draws on her maternal experience during the long days and nights with the gorillas. She says, “I am their family, I take care of them like a parent, like my own kids.” Aldegonde has been a surrogate mother for nearly all of the infants at GRACE. She is also now a mentor to younger caregivers, teaching them the specialized skills needed for this important job.
While human care is necessary in this initial period of dependency, gorillas are integrated into a group with other orphans as soon as possible so they can begin the process of relearning social skills. But caregivers like Aldegonde play a crucial role in the critical period between a gorilla’s arrival at GRACE and their integration into a gorilla group.
Since coming to GRACE in 2010, Aldegonde has made the nearby village of Katoyo her family’s home. There, she is a leader in the women’s association, a group of local women who help each other provide for their families through agricultural initiatives and other projects. Aldegonde also helps organize annual festivities for International Women’s Day, an event that recognizes the many achievements of women and is highly celebrated in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Aldegonde is a hard worker and fast learner. Since arriving at GRACE, she has taught herself French and is now learning English and computer skills. Thanks to her job as a caregiver, Aldegonde has been able to send her children to school as well as help provide for other family members.
Life here can sometimes be difficult, however. Last year, warring armed groups caused villagers to flee their homes to seek safety. Aldegonde also once fell seriously ill after being bitten by a snake while working on her farm. But she is committed to her work, which she considers very important. Working with gorillas at GRACE has given Aldegonde an appreciation for how special these endangered great apes are. She calls them “beautiful animals”. Her experience has also made her a conservation advocate. She says, “I believe that gorillas are very important for the world and would like people to care that they exist and not poach them. I wish that we do everything we can to protect them. For the world to see them and our children to still see them, we have to protect them.”
SaveSave