Meet Shamavu, the baby gorilla rescued from poachers - in pictures

Undercover rangers arrested three poachers in the town of Kirumba once they had possession of the gorilla, which was being hidden in a small backpack Photograph: LuAnne Cadd

The sting operation was the fourth such incident since April. Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga national park, said: "Four baby gorillas seized in less than a year is unusually high... [but] it's only the tip of the iceberg." Photograph: LuAnne Cadd

The rescued gorilla's hand Photograph: LuAnne Cadd

The animal will be named Shamavu after the ranger who rescued it Photograph: LuAnne Cadd

Mountain gorillas are critically endangered, with around 790 remaining in the world Photograph: LuAnne Cadd

Around 480 of these live in the Virunga volcanoes conservation area (shared by DRC, Rwanda and Uganda) and just over 300 in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda Photograph: LuAnne Cadd

Dr Jan Ramer, a vet with the Mountain Gorilla Veterinarian Project (MGVP) said "Many of these infants are injured from the ropes around their hands, feet or waist, and some are quite ill." Photograph: LuAnne Cadd

Poached gorillas are sold for up to $40,000 (£25,350) Photograph: LuAnne Cadd

The gorilla will stay in Rumangabo for a 30-day quarantine period before moving to the Grace centre for rescued gorillas, west of Butembo Photograph: LuAnne Cadd