Janja means “he who is lucky” in Kinyabwisha - but she has not been so lucky. In 1995, when she was 4, she was caught in a snare and a vet from Rwanda called John Cooper came and had to amputate the toes on her left foot. So today she only has a thumb (or big toe) on that foot.

Despite this procedure, Janja has no difficulty getting about and keeping up with the rest of the family. She does however find it difficult to climb trees, which is what gorillas like to do.

Janja was lucky – her foot could have become totally infected and she could have died. The job of vets is very difficult with Mountain Gorillas as they must only intervene in life-threatening cases. It makes for a challenging job and we are grateful for the work they do and the expertise they bring.