© LuAnne Cadd / Virunga National Park

One month ago, the staff at Virunga National Park decided that the electric fence surrounding the gorilla orphan’s enclosure at Senkwekwe Center simply had to be replaced – using broken tree limbs as ladders, the three mischievous mountain gorillas, Ndeze, Ndakasi and Maisha, were repeatedly escaping their yard, requiring their caretakers and Park personnel to act fast. In a remarkable display of support, more than 70 people made on-line donations to help pay for the replacement of the electric fence, and then Gorilla Doctors donors, Patsy and Cleve Moler, helped seal the deal by providing a generous gift to raise all the funds we needed to complete the project, helping to ensure that the orphans will remain safe inside their enclosure.

The Moler’s passion for gorilla conservation was sparked during a 2011 trip to Rwanda. An inspirational presentation by Gorilla Doctors’ veterinarian Jan Ramer at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge moved Patsy to write a check, on-the-spot, for $10,000. Her generous and unexpected donation allowed the Gorilla Doctors to purchase a much-needed truck for our DR Congo veterinarians, and was just the beginning of what has become a very heartfelt commitment to supporting Gorilla Doctors.  

Sitting next to Dr. Jan at dinner after the presentation, Patsy recalls that they “really hit it off”, adding “Dr. Jan is just such a compelling person, she did such a fabulous job of presenting the important work that the Gorilla Doctors do. We are grateful to her because she really opened up a very exciting and meaningful aspect of our lives.”

In 2011 the Molers matched every end of year donation made, dollar for dollar, to help Gorilla Doctors raise almost $100,000 in just one month.. And when Patsy got word that the orphans at Senkwekwe were breaking out of their enclosure—and that funding was desperately needed to construct a new electric fence—she didn’t hesitate to provide the $4,000 needed to complete construction. 

Thank you, Patsy and Cleve Moler, for your generous support of the Gorilla Doctors!

© LuAnne Cadd / Virunga National Park
© LuAnne Cadd / Virunga National Park