A mountain gorilla has given birth to twins in eastern Congo, a rare and significant event for the endangered species, Virunga National Park announced Wednesday.
The two male infants, born to a 22-year-old mother named Mafuko, were discovered on January 3 and were reported to be in good health at the time of observation, the park said in a statement.
Virunga, Africa’s oldest national park, spans more than 3,000 square miles and is home to many of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. However, ongoing fighting and rebel activity in parts of the park have accelerated forest loss, making conservation efforts challenging.
The park noted that caring for twins can be particularly difficult during the first months, as infants are fully dependent on their mother for care and transportation. Rangers are closely monitoring the newborns to ensure their survival.
Photos released by the park show Mafuko holding the two babies while sitting on the ground, partly hidden by branches and foliage.
Mafuko was originally born into the Kabirizi family but joined the Bageni family six years after her mother was killed by armed attackers in 2007. The park said the birth of these twins is “a major event” for the Bageni family and contributes to ongoing conservation efforts aimed at supporting the mountain gorilla population.
This is Mafuko’s seventh offspring. She previously gave birth to a set of twins in 2016, which tragically died a week after birth. The Bageni family now numbers 59 members, making it the largest family group in the park.
