gorilla.cd
Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Rugendo Family Found… and number of individuals has increased from 5 to 9 Gorillas
We have some excellent news. We have finally seen the Rugendo Family, our most habituated group of gorillas in Congo, but also the most traumatized after the July 2007 massacre.
I am extremely happy to report that the family now numbers 9 individuals - up from 5.
The family still has the same 5 individuals who made up the family in August 2007 - that is Mukunda (Diddy’s favorite gorilla!), Kongomani, Baseka, Noel and Bavukahe.
Baseka, Noel and Kongomani… just doing fine!
Today the group is also being led by 2 Silverbacks - Pili-Pili and Bukima, who were both solitary last August.
Bukima - he used to be a solitary Silverback like Karateka but now he has a family
In addition Lubutu - who if you remember was missing from the Humba family - is fine and well with the Rugendo family!
Baseka… looking on
And finally, a new female that we have never seen before has joined the group. We have named her Bariyanga, after a Ranger who died from illness this October.
Bariyanga - this is the first ever photo of her. We hope to take many more.
The moment of seeing the Rugendo family, with the new individuals, brought great joy to me, Diddy and the other Rangers. It really was one of the best days so far of the census. This family has always been special to us because Rangers started habituating the group back in the mid 1980s. And after the massacre of July 2007 we wondered whether the gorillas would manage to stay together. Not only have they stayed together, but they have grown, are healthy and now have a new family structure.
Leave a Reply
-
RECENT DONATIONS
-
19 May 2013Open donation
100 $ -
19 May 2013Protecting Park Area 117
Anna L 25 $ -
19 May 2013Protecting Park Area 39
Bill W 25 $ - 19 May 201320 x Virunga's Surveillance Aircraft
Unregistered Donor 20 $ - 19 May 2013OPEN DONATIONS
Unregistered Donor 50 $ - 18 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 20 $ - 18 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
Unregistered Donor 30 $ - 18 May 20132 x Gorilla and Wildlife Protection
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 18 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
18 May 2013Protecting Park Area 133
Janice T 25 $ - 18 May 2013Protecting Park Area 131
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 18 May 2013Support Andre and the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 18 May 2013 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 20 $ -
17 May 2013Protecting Park Area 218
Thierry 25 $ - 17 May 2013Monthly Support
Unregistered Donor 15 $ -
17 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
stefanie r 30 $ - 17 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 17 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 50 $ - 16 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
stefanie r 10 $ - 16 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 16 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 16 May 2013 Multiple items
Selina S 200 $ - 15 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
15 May 2013 Multiple items
Bob V 50 $ -
15 May 20133 x Widows and Rangers Fund
Marlene Z 45 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 15 May 2013Protecting Park Area 215
Bob V 25 $ - 15 May 2013Protecting Park Area 137
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
15 May 2013Open donation
Eugene Martin F 100 $ -
15 May 2013Open donation
Lisa T 10 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Brenton 10 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 15 May 2013 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 14 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
14 May 2013Open donation
Lou W 25 $ - 14 May 2013Support Andre and the Gorilla Orphans
Lou W 25 $ - 14 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 30 $ - 14 May 2013Protecting Park Area 69
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
14 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
Gary S 30 $ - 14 May 2013Monthly Support
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 14 May 2013Protecting Park Area 43
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 13 May 2013Protecting Park Area 27
Elawann 25 $ - 13 May 2013Protecting Park Area 120
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 13 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 15 $ -
13 May 20132 x Elephant Crisis
georgina o 40 $ -
13 May 2013Open donation
Philippa T 24 $
-
-
-
News from Congo- Paul Kagame: I asked America to kill Congo rebel leader with drone - The Guardian
- DR Congo to begin work on giant hydro dam Grand Inga 2015, to be world's ... - The Daily Telegraph
- Journalist found dead in eastern Congo - Fox News
- Refugee woman from the Congo finds friends, new life in Utah - ksl.com
- Page hopes work will help him lead Congo - San Francisco Chronicle
- DR Congo mine collapse 'kills at least 20' - BBC News
- Rural churches in boost for Congo orphanage project - Portadown Times
- Business in the Democratic Republic of Congo Murky minerals - The Economist
- 47 people reported missing in DR Congo landslide - Global Times
- Congo: Many Dead After Attack - New York Times
This website was funded by the European Union and the Prince Bernard Nature Fund.
28 Responses to “Rugendo Family Found… and number of individuals has increased from 5 to 9 Gorillas”
I am beyond happy. Best Christmas present ever. Thank you so much!!!!
Truly great news!! I am so pleased! Fantastic that the numbers have increased too!!
…but what are the chances of the orphaned gorillas to be accepted into a group like this? You mentioned this new female, Bariyanga, that you’ve never seen before who now seems to have integrated into the group …i know for obvious reasons it is difficult seeing as the orphans have not learned how to fend for themselves but just wondered!
This might be a truly stupid question especially to you gorilla experts
Thank you for the update, Innocent. I am so thrilled, please tell Diddy that Mukunda is also my favourite. You’ve made my day!!!!
I can remember the July 2007 massacre very well, it was at this time when the mountain gorillas got my attention. I have been following your news about them ever since.
Seeing the survivors of the massacre now alive and well with two formerly solitary silverbacks is great.
Thanks for bringing these great news to us and for looking after the gorillas. If they can deal with everything they had to face the last years and live, they probably have a future.
Keep up the excellent work!
Mark
Wonderful news. Well done and thanks for keeping us updated
Hurrah! Thanks for the great news. We’ve been waiting for this. I can only imagine Diddy’s joy.
Wonderful wonderful news. I also spoke to Innocent and he told me that the group was very close to where the massacre actually took place, which seems amazing to me.
Philippa - I do not know much about releasing gorillas into the wild, but I do not believe it has ever been done successfully before. In addition, I think that Ndeze and Ndakasi are still much too young and there are a lot of hoops to jump through before that discussion is held in a realistic framework. The vets at MGVP, Dr Jacques and Dr Eddy, oversee the care of the orphans daily - and will do for years to come. For now we want the orphans to remain healthy and well cared for - and I am sure when they are older the discussion of releasing them back into the wild will be addressed.
During my time in Congo I have heard that it is probably easier to release a female of reproductive age into a group than a male of any age simply because the female is more likely to be accepted because she has a purpose, if you see what I mean. That makes sense if you think about it.
This IS the best Christmas present ever!!! My fiance and I are soooo very happy to hear that Pili-Pili has finally found a family! We were just talking about him the other day and wondering how he was doing : )
And, I could be mistaken, but wasn’t Lubutu the gorilla who Pili-Pili had an interaction with a while back? If so, how amazing that they’re in the same family now! They must have made amends : )
Thank you for the information! And thank you for yesterday’s video : ) Very enjoyable! Is the one with Muhindure and his playmate going to be up soon? I think it was taken awhile back.
Thank you Innocent and Diddy and everyone else. I could just hug all of you! I’m thrilled that Pili-Pili has a family, thrilled that all five survivors of the July 2007 massacre are alive and well and the family is growing. I’m especially glad to see Kongomani, who is, IMO, a hero for saving his little sister from the murderers. Damn, this is making me a little teary.
s.
That is great news. I’m happy they are doing fine and Pili-Pili and Bukima are now leading the family and will continue to grow. No signs of Kangugo or Gasusa among the Rugendo family ? I wonder where those 2 boys went, hope you find them soon.
Hi Innocent, What a great Christmas gift for all of us. The Rugendo family! I am so happy to see them. They are all so beautiful! Diddy, so happy that you have seen your favorite gorilla, Mukunda. Sheryl, I see that Kongomani is still sticking close to his little brother, Noel. You can still see the scar on little Noel’s left arm from the machete wound. Thanks guys! What a great day!
What wonderful news! I was concerned most about this family after the trauma they suffered. To have a new member that hasn’t been seen before gives me hope that there are more gorillas that have not been identified. Maybe some more females will migrate and we can get some babies in the Rugendo group. It’s wonderful that this group now has silverbacks to lead and protect them. Isn’t it unusual for two silverbacks to head a family? Obviously they are not fighting over the group so is one silverback more a leader than the other? What happens when the females in the group come into estrus? Which one has mating rights? I am curious of the politics when a family is led by two silverbacks as opposed to one.
Oh I’m getting so confused. Okay, so Kongomani is not Noel’s brother, but he is Ndeze’s brother. And you’re right Sheryl, a real hero! Noel sure does look so young still to be on his own. Is there any profile information on his mother Neza? Could you guys put profiles of the Rugendo members that were killed last July? I forget, was Neza one of them?
Have you guys seen this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXmxTJnKDM8&e
What incredible, incredible news!!! I’m ecstatic to hear they are all well, what a relief! Thank you so much for all your hard work on behalf of these magnificent creatures.
Fantastic news Innocent! It is extraordinary how the group has not just survived the aftermath of the massacres but is thriving. It is a very reassuring story and I’m delighted that your return to work after your recent illness has been rewarded by finding the group in such good condition. Great work by you and the whole team.
Thank you Samantha for explaining
I of course didn’t think for them to be released at such a young age especially as they are still so vulnerable but just wondered about what the plans for the orphans are as they get older and stronger
Thanks again and am happy for the great news!
Innocent and Diddy - such wonderful news. So strong and resilient after facing such horror. You must all be so happy seeing the ‘new’ family. A big welcome to Bariyanga too.
Hello Innocent, I’m very glad you were able to be back in the mountains with the other rangers in time to share the joy of seeing the Rugendo family thriving again after last year’s tragedy. You deserve this joy after all your hard work! All the best, Iris
Hi Megan.. you are getting confused with Lulengo. That is the Silverback Pili-pili had an interaction with about a year and a half ago and Lulengo stole all of Pili-pili’s individuals which is what made him a solitary during the census in August 2007!
And Lisa we will be doing profiles of all the individuals killed in the July 2007 massacre…
I can not describe how happy I am about these news. Every day I have been waiting for news on Rugendo family and now you are giving us more than anybody could have hoped for.
Thank you so much, that was all I needed this Xmas!
Ohhhh soo happy . this is my cristmas give… tanks Diddy.. i hope Ndeze return to the group. i dont know if that is possible. i feel happy today with the good news.. please take care of them, hope they come much like kabirizi group.
Thanks Sam. You guys are doing such a beautfiul job with this site and all the profiles. Love it!
I was so angry and sad about the killings last year (and still am), the images will never disappear out of my head. My heart went out for the rest of the family, how they were coping with the lost. Now we see it, they survived and are strong and healthy! And it makes my day, my Christmas. It’s very touching to see the older brother still fathering his younger brother and the;re doing fine I can see. Thank you Innocent for this notice. And how are you doing, also strong and healthy again?
[...] searches). Among the good news—the Rugendo family that we reported had been massacred in 2007 has grown from five individuals to nine. Posted By: Sarah Zielinski — From the Magazine, The Human Body, The Universe, Wildlife | [...]
[...] the Rugendo group after a long absence. On that day we found this new wild gorilla in the group and named it Bariyanga after a Ranger that had recently died. Bariyanga was still not habituated to humans and was thus often difficult to see properly. We [...]
[...] patrol post that the Rugendo group had split up into two. The Rangers said that the silverback Bukima and a juvenile had left the other gorillas and traveled far into the bamboo forests near the [...]