Rare mountain gorilla twins born in Virunga National Park

Community trackers found 22-year-old Mafuko with two newborn sons in Virunga National Park, and park staff reported the mother and babies appeared well; Virunga says extra monitoring and protection measures are in place to support the young family.

A pair of twin mountain gorillas was born in Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Community trackers discovered 22-year-old Mafuko holding her two newborn sons and reported that the mother and babies appeared well and healthy. Twin births among mountain gorillas are rare and are thought to account for about 1% of births. Virunga National Park was established to protect mountain gorillas and marks 100 years since its creation. Key details: - Trackers found Mafuko with two newborn male infants and noted they all appeared to be in good condition. - Twin births are estimated at about 1% of mountain gorilla births, and the last twin birth in Virunga was in September 2020. - Mafuko previously gave birth to twins in 2016 but those infants died within a week; she has been pregnant and given birth five times to date. - Virunga is in a conflict-prone area where poachers and armed groups operate, and young gorillas are vulnerable and rely entirely on their mothers for care and transport. - Park authorities say they have put additional monitoring and protection measures in place and that rangers will closely observe the family and provide support if needed. - There are fewer than 1,100 mountain gorillas left in the wild, and the species is found only in Virunga and in national parks in neighboring Rwanda and Uganda, with its conservation status updated from "critically endangered" to "endangered" in 2018, according to documented partners including the IUCN. Summary: Virunga conservationists say the birth of these twins is a notable contribution to ongoing efforts to protect mountain gorillas. Rangers and community trackers will continue close observation and enhanced protection measures during the critical early period.