Gorillas 'dropped what they were doing' to have selfie taken, says park ranger

A park ranger who took an astonishing selfie with two gorillas says he and his colleagues are the only people who could capture such an image.

The picture, taken in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, shows two female gorillas, Ndakazi and Ndeze, standing proudly in the background.

Ranger Mathieu Shamavu said he spotted the opportunity after letting the animals loose and noticing they were "at ease".

When he got his phone out the pair "dropped what they were doing, spotted the camera and watched", Mr Shamavu said.

They can "walk one or two metres on two legs" and "like to imitate and do what people do", he added.

"They stood up," he explained. "And when they stood up, I took my phone because I didn't want to lose the shot because it was exceptional."

The secret to such photos is ease and familiarity, Mr Shamavu said.

"We are always together," he continued.

"We feed them, we walk with them, we accompany them in their natural environment, we are in charge of their security.

"This is why these gorillas are used to us. Their guardians and no one else - no journalist, no visitor - would have been able to take this photo."

Ndakazi and Ndeze were raised at the park's Senkwekwe Center for Orphaned Mountain Gorillas after being rescued as babies in 2007.

Mountain gorillas are an endangered species and face threats from poachers and armed groups.

Virunga National Park hosts half the total population.