A mountain gorilla in eastern Congo has given birth to twins, a significant event for the endangered subspecies, as announced by Virunga National Park. The twins, both male, were born to a mother named Mafuko on Jan. 3 and were found to be in good health during the observation. The park, spanning over 7,700 square kilometers and housing one of the world’s last mountain gorilla populations, faces challenges due to rebel control and forest loss from ongoing fighting.
Caring for twin gorillas presents challenges, especially in the early months when the infants rely entirely on their mother for care and transportation. The newborns are under close monitoring to ensure their well-being and survival. The park shared images showing Mafuko, a 22-year-old gorilla, holding the baby twins amid green foliage.
Mafuko, originally from the Kabirizi family, joined the Bageni family after her mother’s tragic death in 2007. This recent birth of twins is a significant event for the Bageni family and supports the conservation efforts to boost the mountain gorilla population within Virunga National Park. Mafuko has now given birth to a total of seven offspring, including a previous set of twins who unfortunately passed away a week after birth in 2016. The Bageni family, currently with 59 members, is the largest gorilla family in the park.