Gorilla Families in Congo

Virunga National Park has 8 Gorilla families which habituated for gorilla tracking every day all year round.

Rugendo gorilla family

Rugendo gorilla family is one of the first families to be habituated in the Bukima sector and the Park at large in 1985. That located in the Bukima sector with 9 members which were led by the Silverback called Rugendo which was later killed by the rebels in early 2001.

After the death of Rugendo silverback, Senkwekwe silverback took over the throne to lead his member up to 2007 when he also murdered with other four gorillas members of the Rugendo family. This lead to open up Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage in Rumangabo at Virunga National Park headquarters in 2007. The family remains with the vacuum of leadership up to 2008 when the solitary Silverback Bukima took over the power. Bukima Silverback became solitary in 2005 after splitting from Buhanga family and it also said that it spent some time with Munyaga family

Munyaga Gorilla family

Munyaga Gorilla family is located in the Bukima sector of the Virunga National Park with 9 members who lead by silverback Mawazo. Munyaga Silverback was a solitary silverback until he meets the Buhanga family who had a leadership vacuum in dominant silverback this gave Munyaga an opportunity to fill the vacuum hence he became a leader in February 1998. Munyaga silverback was a worrier who used to interact with different families who led him to lose all his females to the Kabirizi family this mead him to disappear for two years up to 2008 which also left a leadership vacuum in the family hence gave Mawazo took over the throne up to date.

Mapuwa Gorilla Family

Mapuwa Gorilla Family is located in the Jomba region of the Virunga National Park with 22 members which lead by Silverback Mapuwa. The family formed in late 1998 by Mapuwa Silverback a son to the Silverback Rugendo and was once a member of the Rugendo family. Mapuwa Silverback was a worrier who used to interact with other families including the Lulengo family where he acquired 2 females in order to expand his family, the name of Kagofero and Kanepo.

Lulengo Gorilla Family

Lulengo Gorilla Family is located in the Jomba sector of the Virunga National Park. Currently, the family is led by the Silverback Lulengo and composed of 9 members. Lulengo family is initially known as Rugabo during 1985 when was habituated with other 2 females who were later killed in 1994 in Jomba region

Bageni Gorilla Family

Bageni Gorilla Family is located in Bukima and Gatovu sector of the Virunga National Park. The family was formed in January 2013 after Bageni the silverback split from his father’s family-Kabirizi family. Bageni Silverback moved with 20 individuals including his mother Mapendo and brothers and formed his own group called Bageni. Currently, Bageni Gorilla Family composed of 26 members including; 1 Silverback, 2 Black backs, 10 Adult females, 1 Sub-adult female, 3 Juveniles, and 9 babies.

Nyakamwe Gorilla Family

Nyakamwe Gorilla Family is located in the Bukima sector of the Virunga National Park. Silverback Nyakamwe was a worrier who had a misunderstanding with his brother Humba this resulted into splitting in 2014 with 10 members and leaving 6 members with his brother Humba. Currently, Nyakamwe Gorilla Family composed with 11 members including 2 Silverbacks, 1 Blackback, 3 Adult females, 1 Sub-adult female, 2 juveniles and 2 babies

Humba Gorilla Family

Humba Gorilla Family is led by Silverback Humba with 10 members including 3 Silverbacks, 2 Adult females, 1 adult female, 2 juveniles, and 2 babies. The family is known to move between the Gatovu and the Bikenge sector of the Virunga National Park. The Family was formed in 1998 after a serious breakup with his father silverback Rugendo in Rugendo Family. He moved away with 6 members including his brother Silverback Nyakamwe leaving Rugendo Family with 9 members. Later in 2014, the number has increased up to 16 members which resulted in conflicts leads to split up with his brother silverback Nyakamwe who went with 10 members leaving 6 members in Humba Gorilla Family.

Kabirizi Gorilla Family

Kabirizi Gorilla Family is led by silverback Kabirizi in the Bukima sector with 19 members. Kabirizi family was initially called Zunguruka family who later died of old age and he was succeeded by his elder son silverback Ndungutse who also later died by bullets during the fight between Rwanda rebel and Congo army near the Bukima patrol post. This created a leadership vacuum in the Zunguruka family and swept away to his brother Buhanga silverback to too over the throne with 13 members. This left with 13 members into battle which caused his little brother Kabirizi to leave the family with 3 members in 1998. The silverback Kabirizi was a worrier who used to attack his own family, this leads him to lose the two members which he was already moved with after the serious battle he had with his two brothers (Karateka and Buhanga) leaving him alone. Buhanga silverback died and he was succeeded with her sister Nsekuye but his leadership didn’t last long since she was lady naturally weak to rule his elder brother. She was overthrown by silverback Munyaga this gave chance for Kabirizi to over-attack them several times till he gains a big number. Currently, Kabirizi silverback heads the family with 19 members