Congo is one of the three countries in the world gifted with the endangered mountain gorillas, the famous Virunga national park is home to these apes sharing 95% DNA with humans. Congo has got eight habituated gorilla families which can be seen below.
Bageni gorilla geoup
Bageni mountain gorilla family is found in Bukima and Gatovu sections of Virunga national park, this is the largest mountain gorilla family in Virunaga with 26 individual and this group is a splinter of Kabirizo gorilla family. Bageni the dominating silverback broke away from Kabirizi family to sartt up his own group.
Nyakamwe gorilla family
This group was formed when the dominating silverback Nyakamwe broke a way from his family Humba to start up his own in 2014. This group has got 11 members and can be trekked in Bukima area of Virunga national park.
Munyaga gorilla family
Munyaga gorilla family is composed of only 7 members dominated by Gasore, though the group has only 7 individuals visitors like to trek it because its one of the lucky groups with a set of twins from Bilali. The group derives its name from its former leader Munyaga who was succeeded by Mazawo who was also succeeded by Gasore.
Lulengo gorilla family
This group can be trekked in Jomba area of the park near the Uganda Congo border. The family is composed of 9 members dominated by the silverback Lulengo.Lulengo gorilla family was at first called Musekura gorilla family but the name changed in memory of a park director who lost his life on a land mine.
Mapuwa gorilla family
Mapuwa gorilla family is also located in Jomba near Uganda and Congo border, the dominating silverback was Mapuwa before the current one Mvuyekure took over the group. The group is composed of 22 members.
Rugendo gorilla family
Rugendo gorilla family is one of the oldest habituted gorilla families in Virunga national park, the group was named after the silverback Rugendo that was dominating at the time of habituation but its now dominated by Bukima. Rugendo led the group with 18 members until Humba his son broke off with 10 members to form his own gorilla family, Rugendo died during clashes between Congolese army and Rwanda rebels.
Humba gorilla family
Humba gorilla family was formed when Humba fought with his father Rugendo and grabbed a way 10 members to start up his own gorilla family in 1998. Later Nyakamwe broke away from this group to start his own family. RBIs group can be trekked within Gatovu and Bikengi sectors of the park.
Kabirizi gorilla family
Kabirizi gorilla family can be trekked from Bukima section near Goma, the group derived its name from Kabirizi a ICNN director who died in a traffic accident, this group was at first dominated by Ndugutse and tbr name was also Ndugutse before it changed to Kabirizi.Ndugutse was shot in 1997 after being caught in a cross fire between Rwandan rebels and Congo government. A wild lone gorilla Kabirizi took over the group after Ndugutses death.
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