Congo: A rare set of mountain gorilla twins has been born in eastern Congo’s conflict-hit Virunga National Park, offering a rare moment of hope for one of the world’s most endangered species.
Park authorities said the twin male gorillas were born to a 22-year-old female named Mafuko and were discovered on January 3. Rangers observed that both infants appeared healthy at the time of the sighting.
Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest national park, spans more than 3,000 square miles and shelters a significant share of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Conservation efforts there continue despite ongoing insecurity, with parts of the park under rebel control and fighting contributing to forest loss and instability.
The park said caring for twins presents added challenges, especially during the early months when newborn gorillas rely entirely on their mother for feeding, protection and movement. Rangers are closely monitoring Mafuko and her infants to support their survival.
Photographs released by the park showed Mafuko cradling the two babies as she sat among dense foliage, partially hidden by leafy branches. Mafuko was born into the Kabirizi family but later joined the Bageni family after her mother was killed in 2007. She moved groups six years later, a rare shift linked to the violence that has long affected the region.
The latest birth marks an important milestone for conservation efforts in Virunga. Mafuko has now given birth to seven offspring in total. A previous set of twins born to her in 2016 died just days after birth.
With the arrival of the newborns, the Bageni family has grown to 59 members, making it the largest gorilla group in the park. Conservationists say the successful birth of twins, though rare, strengthens long-term hopes for the survival of mountain gorillas in the wild.
