Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) has registered a new gorilla birth an addition to its growing mountain gorilla population.
Uganda Wildlife Authority revealed, on their X-media as the Nyakiruka, an adult female in the Mucunguzi family, was spotted on January 19, 2025, with her newborn baby.
The new birth accelerates the number of individuals in the Mucunguzi family to 16, under the strong leadership of Mucunguzi, the dominant silverback.
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), both mother and baby are in good health, and the family remains active and thriving within the park.
According to Bashir Hangi, UWA’s Communication and Public Relations Manager, says this is progress more and more numbers, courtesy of the concerted conservation efforts by UWA and its partners. We encourage everyone to explore gorilla births in Bwindi over the last eight years to appreciate the strides we’ve made in conservation.”
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the world’s host of the over half of the mountain gorillas with over 450 gorillas counted in the forest. And the other half resides in the Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Volcanoes NP in Rwanda and Virunga NP in Democratic Republic of Congo.
This is great appreciation to greater consistent conservation efforts in Bwindi have resulted in a steady increase in gorilla births.
UWA also partners with communities around the park to promote sustainable tourism and share revenue, creating a sense of ownership and responsibility among residents.
Mountain gorillas remain a significant draw for Uganda’s tourism industry, contributing 70% to the tourism revenue and greatly to the country’s economy.
The birth of Nyakiruka’s baby not only symbolizes hope for the survival of this iconic species but also highlights the importance of ongoing conservation efforts.
As UWA celebrates this latest milestone, the call to protect Uganda’s natural heritage resonates even louder. With each gorilla birth, the dream of securing the future of mountain gorillas becomes a reality.
