Twin mountain gorillas have been born in Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, raising cautious optimism for the endangered species. The male infants were spotted on 3 January clinging to their mother, Mafuko, and are being monitored daily by rangers and veterinarians.
Twin births among mountain gorilla are extremely rare and risky, with high infant mortality in the first weeks. Mafuko previously gave birth to twins in 2016, but neither survived. Rangers say she is an experienced and attentive mother, which offers encouragement despite the fragile situation.
The twins were born into the Bageni family, Virunga’s largest gorilla group. Their arrival is another sign of the species’ recovery after decades of conservation work lifted global numbers above 1,000. However, Virunga remains a dangerous environment, with armed groups active and more than 220 rangers killed in the park over the past 20 years.
