Mubare and Oruzogo Gorilla Families Get New Baby Gorillas in July

On 30th July 2020, the Uganda Wildlife Authority announced a baby boom in the forest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Two gorillas were born in two separate groups of Mubare and Oruzogo families in the same week. The baby gorilla in Mubare family located in Buhoma tracking zone was first sighted on July 22, 2020. The mother of the baby is adult female Nyampazi. The leader of the Mubare family is Silverback Maraya. The birth raises the Mubare family size from 8 to 9 members.
In Oruzogo Katoto the Adult female of the group was found nursing the little one on July 25, 2020. The birthmarks Katoto’s first baby with the lead Silverback of the family Kagaanga. The birth raises the total number in the group to 15 in Ruhija tracking zone.

About the Mubare Gorilla Family

This Uganda gorilla trekking safari family was the first group of mountain gorillas to be habituated. Its Uganda gorilla habituation process by the Uganda Wildlife Authority started in 1991. Habituation is the process through which gorilla get used to being in contact with humans. On 13th October 1993, it was opened to visitors interested in Uganda gorilla tours. It was first tracked around the Mubare hills that are to be found deep in Bwindi Impenetrable forest. The group was named after the gorgeous Mubare Hills in which this group was first seen.

In 1996, Mubare gorilla family had over 18 gorillas. Over the years, this family number reduced because their leader had aged.  Because Ruhondeza was a jealous kind of silverback, he never groomed a successor and he was ready to kill any upcoming black back who would be tempted to assume his position.

In 2009, this Uganda gorilla safari family went through its hardest moment in life as it lost some of its members. Early in that year, one of the adult females passed away because it had a fracture on the skull. The deceased adult female behind a wee infant of six months, however, the group tried to care for it. Later on, the baby too was found dead on Ruhondeza’s bed by a group that had gone for its gorilla trekking Uganda tour one morning. At the time of death, the little had not been weaned and couldn’t eat.

From its 18 original members, the group constantly continued to lose other family members until they were only five members left. In 2012, this gorilla trekking Uganda safari group was still under the rule of Ruhondeza. In March 2012, Mubare was attacked by a wild unhabituated gorilla group that defeated Ruhondeza and toke way some females from the group leaving the group with a few members, about 6.

Mubare Gorilla Groups' Karungi Gives Birth To Second Baby Gorilla After a Period of 3 Weeks

After this incident, Ruhondeza was so frustrated and quit the leadership of the group. He left the group alone and took refuge in the nearby community forest in Rubona village. He was loved by the community so he was never chased away. The Uganda Wildlife Authority too kept on monitoring him. He was instead protected until his last days on earth. Since Ruhondeza had left, there emerged a blackback known as Kanyonyi; the successor who immediately undertook an exercise of expanding the family and bringing back the family glory. Because they had been previously attacked, he also attacked another family increasing their family members to 9. He is so aggressive and we are sure he will expand the group further.

In 2013, Ruhondeza, unfortunately, passed on. He was given a very decent burial near the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters. If you happen to visit Buhoma during your Uganda safari/ Uganda tour for a gorilla safari Uganda, kindly ask your Uganda safari tour guide to show you the grave of this great silverback.

Mubare has now updated it group number to 11 members including the new babies of Karungi and Businza.

As of today, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has over 18 habituated gorilla families well distributed in its four regions. Buhoma region has four gorilla families; Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura, and Katwe. Ruhija region has Oruzogo, Bitukura, Kyaguriro and Muzika. Rushaga has 8 gorilla families; Nshongi, Kahungye, Bweza, Busingye, Mishaya, Bushaho, Rwigi, and Bikingi. Nkuringo has two; Bushaho and Nkuringo.

About the Oruzogo Gorilla Family

Oruzongo derived its family name from one of the famous plants found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park known as “Oruzogoto” situated within its home range. The Uganda Wildlife Authority team started habituating this Bwindi Forest gorilla family began in 2009. The individuals’ aggression towards the habituated team steadily decreased as time went on.  After identifying all individuals as well as ascertaining the age and sex for each. Based on the level of habituation and observations by the gorilla habituation team, the group was opened to Uganda gorilla trekking safari visitors in 2011 and today it is one of the most popular gorilla families in Bwindi Forest National Park Uganda.