Rare Mountain Gorilla Twins Born in DR Congo's Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park, DR Congo – A rare set of mountain gorilla twins was born in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, offering a beacon of hope for the critically endangered species. The birth, which occurred on Saturday, marks only the second set of twins recorded in the park since 2020, according to park officials.

The mother, a 22-year-old gorilla named Mafuko, was discovered by community trackers hugging her newborns. According to Virunga National Park, Mafuko and her two baby sons appeared to be healthy. Park staff will closely monitor Mafuko and her twins during this critical early period.

Twin births are a rare occurrence among mountain gorillas, thought to account for about 1% of all births. The mountain gorilla population numbers just over 1,000, making the birth particularly significant for the species' conservation. The gorillas' habitat extends across the borders of Rwanda and Uganda.

Virunga National Park, Africa's oldest national park, is a critical habitat for mountain gorillas, which are found only in the Virunga Massif region of Central Africa. The park is located in a conflict-prone part of DR Congo, posing ongoing challenges to conservation efforts due to habitat loss and instability. Mafuko previously birthed twins in 2016, but they did not survive.