The last birth of mountain gorilla twins in Virunga National Park was in September 2020.<\/p>\n
Mafuko herself gave birth to twins in 2016, but they both died within a week.<\/p>\n
Young gorillas rely entirely on their mothers for care and transport – and are extremely vulnerable in what can be a dangerous environment where poachers and many armed groups operate.<\/p>\n
The authorities at the park say additional monitoring and protection measures have been put in place to ensure the twins’ survival during this critical period. <\/p>\n
Rangers would closely observe the young family and provide support if needed, they said.<\/p>\n
A gorilla’s pregnancy lasts for about eight-and-a-half months, and females usually give birth to one infant every four years. <\/p>\n
According to Virunga conservationists, Mafuko has had a remarkable history of survival herself.<\/p>\n
Born in 2003 into the Kabirizi family, she lost her mother to armed attackers when she was four years old. <\/p>\n
She joined the Bageni family when she was 10 – and to date has been pregnant and given birth five times.<\/p>\n
Conservationists at Virunga, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site, say her latest offspring represent a significant boost for efforts to protect the endangered species.<\/p>\n
Thanks to anti-poaching patrols and community programmes – supported by the European Union and Unesco – mountain gorilla numbers in Virunga have slowly increased over the past decade.<\/p>\n