Rare mountain gorilla twins born in the wild

A mountain gorilla in war-ravaged eastern Congo has given birth to twins, a national park announced Wednesday, calling it “a major event” for the endangered subspecies.

The birth of two male gorillas from a mother named Mafuko in Virunga National Park was discovered on January 3, and the twins “appeared to be in healthy condition at the time of observation.” said in a statement,

Covering more than 7,700 square kilometres, Africa’s oldest national park is home to many of the world’s last mountain gorillas, yet much of the park remains under rebel control and forest loss has accelerated due to fighting.

Caring for twins can be challenging, “especially during the early months when the infants are completely dependent on their mother for care and transportation,” the park’s statement said.

It said the newborns are being closely monitored to help ensure their survival.

Look Observation of Gorilla in the Jungle:

tracking gorillas remotely

Rangers in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park track mountain gorillas in the bush, ensuring they maintain distance and take precautions against coronavirus transmission.

Photos released by the park’s press service show 22-year-old Mafuko holding two baby gorillas, sitting on the ground and partially obscured by branches with green leaves.

The park’s statement said Mafuko was born into the Kabirizi family, but joined the Bageni family in 2007, six years after her mother was killed by “armed persons”.

“The birth of these twins represents a major event for the Bageni family dynamics and ongoing conservation efforts to support the continued growth of the endangered mountain gorilla population within Virunga National Park,” the statement said.

In total, Mafuko now has seven children, including a set of twins who died a week after being born in 2016. The Bageni family now has 59 members and is the largest in the park, the statement said.