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

Virunga National Park, DR Congo - A rare birth of mountain gorilla twins occurred in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, offering a glimmer of hope for the endangered species. The twins were discovered on Saturday by community trackers with their 22-year-old mother, Mafuko, according to park officials.

The birth is significant because twin births are rare among mountain gorillas, accounting for approximately 1% of all births, although exact data is limited. The birth marks only the second set of twins recorded in the park since 2020.

Virunga National Park, Africa's oldest national park, is a critical habitat for mountain gorillas, whose population numbers just over 1,000. The gorillas are found only in the Virunga Massif region of Central Africa, where their habitat extends across the borders of Rwanda and Uganda.

Park staff will closely monitor Mafuko and her newborns during this critical early period. While the mother and her two baby sons appeared healthy, Mafuko had previously birthed twins in 2016, but they did not survive.

The birth underscores the importance of conservation efforts in the conflict-ridden region, where habitat loss and instability pose ongoing challenges to the survival of the species.