2 BABY GORILLAS BORN IN VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK

It is well known that D.R. Congo is one of the enviable countries that inhabit the planet’s last remaining mountain gorillas. With more than just one park that furnish exclusive gorilla trekking experiences, D.R. Congo is included on the world travel map as the only country where both mountain and eastern lowland gorillas thrive. The mountain gorilla population has been going up and two Baby gorillas born in Virunga National Park attest to this. 

Gorillas in D. R. Congo are found in Kahuzi-Biega (lowland gorillas) and Virunga national parks, though Virunga is more famous because it’s a proud home of the mountain gorillas, Nyiragongo volcano, abundant flora and so many other iconic features. However, whichever park you choose, be sure of unmatched gorilla encounters. 

Virunga national park is one of the most bio-diverse places on planet earth lying in the forested depths of eastern Congo that will never disappoint any visitor. Large impenetrable forests carpeting the huge Virunga series of Volcanoes harbor more than 500 gorillas born, something that is so rare to find anyhow.

The park has eight habituated mountain gorilla families including the Kabirizi, Humba, Rugendo, Mapuwa, Lulengo, Munyaga, Nyakamwe, and Bageni with each group having a unique story to exhibit to visitors during their gorilla tour in Congo. All the groups are ready to receive visitors and offer memorable experiences on any safari in Congo.

Virunga national park recently received two baby gorillas born to Rugendo and Humba families. It was great excitement when two newly born babies were discovered on 26^th of July 2018 by park rangers. The rangers were on a daily routine of checking on the wellbeing of all the gorilla families.

Rugendo family initially had 29 members who now became 30 after a 19 years old Kayenga gave birth. The 8 years old Anangana’s new baby became the 15^th member in Humba family. Even before these new mothers gave birth, 7 more baby gorillas born earlier this year making a total sum of 9 baby gorillas so far in this year, 2018. This is good news to the tourism industry of D.R. Congo as gorilla trekking is the major foreign exchange earner.

Over the past ten years, the habituated gorilla families in Virunga national park have played a major role in increasing the worldwide population of mountain gorillas. The figures have risen significantly from 790 gorillas recorded in 2010.

Note that gorilla trekking permits in D. R. Congo cost only 400 USD, which is cheaper than  Uganda-$600 and Rwanda- $1500. In Uganda, Gorilla trekking is done in two national parks Bwindi Impenetrable and Mgahinga national parks. In Rwanda, it is only done in Volcanoes national park. All these parks are comfortably positioned in the Virunga chain of volcanoes.

Virunga national park has been interrupted with political unrest over the years. However, it would have been one of the most visited destinations in Africa. This is because it’s one of the prime home for the largest number of mountain gorillas in the world.

However, with continued park management and government efforts, more strategies have been set up to ensure security and safety of both gorillas and park rangers.