Conservationists have confirmed the birth of rare mountain gorilla twins in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The birth occurred inside Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest protected area. Experts describe the event as exceptional for this endangered species.
Community trackers discovered the 22-year-old mother, Mafuko, on Saturday. She cradled her newborn twins closely. Observers reported that the mother and her two baby sons appeared healthy.
Twin births represent about one percent of all mountain gorilla births. Precise figures remain limited. Specialists therefore consider each case extremely significant.
Life in a Conflict-Affected Region
Virunga National Park lies in a region affected by long-running conflict. Authorities established the park 100 years ago to protect mountain gorillas. Fewer than 1,100 individuals survive in the wild.
Mountain gorillas live only in Virunga and neighboring parks in Rwanda and Uganda. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature provides these figures through its global assessments.
The last recorded twin birth in Virunga occurred in September 2020. Mafuko also delivered twins in 2016. Both infants died within one week.
Fragile Beginnings for Young Gorillas
Infant gorillas depend completely on their mothers. Mothers provide food, protection, and transport. Young animals face extreme risks from poachers and armed groups.
Park authorities have increased monitoring and protection efforts. Rangers now observe the family closely. Teams stand ready to intervene if problems arise.
A gorilla pregnancy lasts about eight and a half months. Females usually give birth every four years. Twin births remain very rare.
Mafuko’s Remarkable Survival Story
Conservationists describe Mafuko as a survivor. She was born in 2003 into the Kabirizi family. Armed attackers killed her mother when Mafuko was four.
She joined the Bageni family at age ten. She has since become pregnant five times. Her latest birth marks another milestone.
A Boost for Conservation Efforts
Virunga National Park holds World Heritage status. Conservationists say the twins strengthen efforts to protect the species. Every birth matters for population recovery.
Anti-poaching patrols and community programs have shown results. The European Union and Unesco support these initiatives. Gorilla numbers have slowly increased over the past decade.
International experts documented this progress. In 2018, they upgraded the species from critically endangered to endangered.
Virunga covers 7,800 square kilometers. The park includes volcanoes, large lakes, rainforests, and mountains.
