Life as a One Armed Silverback: Shufai’s Story

In 2006, a young western lowland gorilla arrived at our sanctuary in Cameroon with gunshot wounds to his head and arm.

He was an infant. His mother had been killed by hunters.

We named him Shufai.

The injuries he sustained that day never fully healed. For years, he lived with chronic pain in his left arm. Despite ongoing veterinary care, the damage caused by the bullet left us with limited options. In 2013, after careful assessment and consultation, we made the decision to amputate his left arm in order to relieve that pain.

It was not a decision taken lightly. Amputation is never simple. But leaving him in constant discomfort was not an option.

Shufai adapted.

Over time, he learned to move, climb, feed, and interact using one arm. His balance adjusted. His strength compensated. What did not change was his presence within the group.

Today, Shufai is the silverback of his gorilla troop at Ape Action Africa. Leadership in a gorilla group is not based on physical perfection. It is built on confidence, stability, and social control. Despite his injury, Shufai holds that position.

His story reflects a difficult reality. Many rescued gorillas arrive after violent encounters linked to the illegal wildlife trade and bushmeat hunting. The injuries are often permanent. Sanctuary care does not erase that history. It manages it.

Long term rehabilitation for a gorilla like Shufai means ongoing monitoring, regular veterinary assessments, and careful group management. Adaptation does not mean the injury disappears. It means the individual learns to live with it.

More than a decade after his amputation, Shufai continues to lead his group.

His presence is steady. His authority is clear. His life did not follow the path it should have, but it did not end in 2006.

At our sanctuary in Cameroon, his care continues every day

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