Two gorillas have been photographed happily posing for a selfie with the rangers who rescued them as infants. The heartwarming image was captured at a gorilla orphanage in Virunga National Park, DR Congo, where these animals were raised after poachers killed their mothers.

The park’s deputy director, Innocent Mburanumwe, shared with BBC Newsday that the gorillas have learned to mimic their caretakers, whom they regard as their parental figures.

The gorillas’ mothers were both killed in July 2007, when the animals were just two and four months old. Shortly after the tragic events, they were discovered and taken to the Senkwekwe Sanctuary in Virunga, where they have lived ever since.

Growing up alongside the rangers has influenced their behavior; Mr. Mburanumwe noted, “They are imitating the humans,” with their upright stance reflecting their attempt to “learn to be human beings.” He remarked that such behavior is unusual for gorillas, saying, “I was very surprised to see it… it’s very funny and curious to observe how a gorilla can imitate a human and stand up.”

However, being a ranger in Virunga is far from easy. The work is fraught with danger, as evidenced by the tragic loss of five rangers last year in an ambush by suspected rebels. Since 1996, over 130 rangers have been killed in the park. The eastern DR Congo region continues to be plagued by conflict between the government and various armed groups, some of which operate within the park and engage in poaching activities.