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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga

Video: New Gorilla Babies in Kabirizi Group

26 Nov 2008 Filed under (Kabirizi Family) by Innocent Mburanumwe @ 10:53 pm

This morning we left the Bukima patrol post early and went looking for the Kabirizi group. We were very happy to find it only a couple hours walk away. We were able to count 23 individuals, although we will have to make several more visits to see the other gorillas we probably missed today. It is very difficult to identify and count all the gorillas in such a large family as Kabirizi.

Two things stood out right away. First of all, Gashangi (the mother of Ntibahanana, Kazi, and Bageni) is no longer with the group. We saw her yesterday with the Humba group to which she has migrated. Secondly, as you can see from the video below, there were 3 new babies, including two for first-time moms Mivumbi and Kayenga:

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Gorillas seen and identified today:
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Kabirizi (silverback)
Kanyalire (sub-adult)
Bageni (blackback)
Maheshe (sub-adult)
Mafuko (sub-adult)
Kwibesha (juvenile)
Mapendo (adult female)
Mesi (sub-adult)
Janja (adult female) with new baby
Mivumbi (adult female) with new baby
Kayenga (adult female) with new baby
Rubiga (adult female)
Kabila (infant)
Ntibahanana (juvenile)
Kazi (infant)
Mahisho (adult female)
Rwubaka (infant)
Karibu (adult female)
Masibo (sub-adult)
Kitagenda (sub-adult)

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23 Responses to “Video: New Gorilla Babies in Kabirizi Group”

  1. EWB EWB Says: 26 Nov 2008

    Great video Innocent (and Pierre ?), so good to see that the gorillas seem to have been able to treat the last year as just the stupid warmongering of humans and that they have got on with the truly important things in life like making babies! Good luck with the rest of the survey.

  2. philippaterblanche philippaterblanche Says: 26 Nov 2008

    Fantastic! Good to know there are new additions to the family!

  3. gu4g Gearing Up 4 Gorillas Says: 27 Nov 2008

    Fantastic news Innocent. A big welcome to the 3 new babies. Such joy you must be feeling! Take care always.

  4. Suzanne Suzanne Says: 27 Nov 2008

    How wonderful to see the rangers back at work and that these gorillas are well and multiplying even! Thanks for sharing the view, Innocent.

  5. caitlins caitlins Says: 27 Nov 2008

    Wonderful news. Thank you so much for the updates! I was wondering where the Rugendo group may be, specially Mukunda.

  6. Sara Sara Says: 27 Nov 2008

    This is all so so good. The start of a very long road has begun, but with all the support from all over, anything is possible. WELL DONE TEAM.

  7. irisk irisk Says: 27 Nov 2008

    Great video! I am delighted that you were able to find the Kabirizi familly well and with three new young. By the way, what is a gorilla young called? Are there special names for primates’ offspring? Good luck with the survey, I hope you will find all the gorillas well and unafected by the fighting in their territories.

  8. irisk irisk Says: 27 Nov 2008

    An interesting article on ABC on line:
    http://www.abcnews.go.com/International/WireStory?id=6336780&page=4
    P.S. Regarding my last blog: it’s ‘unaffected’…

  9. lucyfauveau lucyfauveau Says: 27 Nov 2008

    This is fantastic! Congratulations for the team! As I can finally see videos with fast internet here I can see now how good it looks! Will be following this closely… And how great to finally be able to see the gorillas again and that they seem to be so calm to human presence after a year of (almost!) no visitors! I guess with negociations all is possible… Well done.

  10. Pirjo,Finland Pirjo,Finland Says: 27 Nov 2008

    Wonderful news. I’m so happy to hear that there are so many new babies in the group. When and where are you going to start looking for the Rugendo group? This group is so close to my heart, because of all the hardship they have been put through. Thank you for keeping us updated and be safe.

  11. Pat, Washingonton state, USA Pat, Washingonton state, USA Says: 27 Nov 2008

    How great to see them! They look like they feel so comfortable and at peace. One has to wonder how much of the recent violence they witnessed.

    Is it common for a female to migrate to another group?

  12. sheryl, washington, dc sheryl, washington, dc Says: 27 Nov 2008

    Babies! and all those bugs flying around. How do they stand it? and … babies!

    Well, this is a very nice Thanksgiving treat. Thank you, all, for the video and the census and especially for your continued courage.

    s.

  13. Theresa Theresa Says: 27 Nov 2008

    The video brought tears to my eyes. It felt incredible to see that the Kabirizi group is not only doing well despite the human conflicts but that 3 babies were born. Hopefully more will be added. What struck me most was the contentment of the rangers to finally be back where they can observe and protect the gorillas they love. The guys are true heroes! Thank you so much for sharing! Knowing the gorillas are doing well and safe relieves my mind greatly.

  14. Lisa, California Lisa, California Says: 27 Nov 2008

    Absolutely precious footage. Thank you for sharing that wonderful video. It brought tears to my eyes. It was fantastic to see Innocent and the other Rangers diligently back to work taking notes, etc. No sign of Bonane? Isn’t he in the Kabirizi family group? Hopefully you’ll be able to account for him soon. I hope he’s made it through this last 15 months safely. Thank you all for the great work, your courage and your commitment to these beautiful beings. Lisa

  15. Therese Therese Says: 28 Nov 2008

    Who’s looking after Kazi now her mum has transferred?

  16. balemba balemba Says: 28 Nov 2008

    You guys are heroes!!

  17. samantha Samantha Says: 1 Dec 2008

    Iris - the Rangers are the ones who name gorillas, often after Rangers or community leaders who have died, in order to honor their memory. We will soon be launching gorilla profiles and you will be able to see how all the gorillas have been named!
    Lisa - you are absolutely right that Bonane is in the Kabirizi family!

  18. Christine C. Christine C. Says: 3 Dec 2008

    Fantastic video…Innocent, so happy to see you again! I cannot believe how happy and healthy everyone looks…and the babies, too sweet! I was also wondering how they can stand all the bugs!

  19. Theresa Theresa Says: 6 Dec 2008

    Samantha, I meant to ask with my last post if the gorilla at the 1:25 mark could possibly be a pregnant female? How difficult is it to tell if a female is pregnant when they all seem to have big bellies sitting up?

  20. Francis Francis Says: 10 Dec 2008

    It’s great to be able to see the gorillas again. I have a few questions though, with Gashangi migrating to the Humba group who is taking care of Ntibahanana and Kazi or did she take them with her to the Humba family ? I wouldn’t think they would accept infants but with Humba being so laid back and relaxed, who knows. Maybe big brother Mesi is taking care of them. Who do they think is the father of Mivumbi’s new baby ? Kabirizi is her father and Furara was her mother ? Also on the gorilla profiles, Kayenga is listed as a male blackback. It would be something for a male to have a baby ;) And on the gorilla profiles it says that Bonane has also migrated to the Humba family. Thanks for all the great work you do

  21. Itay, Israel Itay, Israel Says: 12 Dec 2008

    Great news!
    Hope for more good news in 2009.

  22. francesco mantero, italy francesco mantero, italy Says: 17 Dec 2008

    we have to support strongly the job of the rangers that loose their lives to save such a humanity’ s richness

  23. ester mantero, italy ester mantero, italy Says: 17 Dec 2008

    i love so much this animals,be strong please, and go on saving these wonderful creatures !!!!!!!!

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