The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is one of the two sub-species of the eastern gorilla. There are two populations. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa, within three National Parks: Mgahinga, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The other is found in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Some primatologists say that the Bwindi population in Uganda may be a separate sub-species. As of spring 2010, the estimated total number of mountain gorillas worldwide is 790.
Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Mammalia, Order: Primates, Family: Hominidae, Genus: Gorilla, Species: Gorilla. Berengei Subspecies: Gorilla. Berengei. Berengei.
Evolution, taxonomy and classification
Mountain gorillas are descendants of ancestral monkeys and apes found in Africa and Arabia during the start of the Oligocene epoch (34-24 million years ago). The fossil record provides evidence of the hominoid primates (apes) found in east Africa about 18–22 million years ago. The fossil record of the area where mountain gorillas live is particularly poor and so its evolutionary history is not clear. It was about 9 million years ago that the group of primates that were to evolve into gorillas split from their common ancestor with humans and chimps; this is when the genus Gorilla emerged.
It is not certain what this early relative of the gorilla was, but it is traced back to the early ape Proconsul Africanus. Mountain gorillas have been isolated from eastern lowland gorillas for about 400,000 years and these two taxa separated from their western counterparts approximately 2 million years ago. There has been considerable and as yet unresolved debate over the classification of mountain gorillas. The genus was first referenced as Troglodytes in 1847, but renamed to Gorilla in 1852. It was not until 1967 that the taxonomist Colin Groves proposed that all gorillas be regarded as one species (Gorilla gorilla) with three sub-species Gorilla gorilla gorilla (western lowland gorilla), Gorilla gorilla graueri (lowland gorillas found west of the Virunga) and Gorilla gorilla beringei (mountain gorillas including, Gorilla beringei found in the Virunga and Bwindi). In 2003 after a review they were divided into two species (Gorilla gorilla and Gorilla beringei) by The World Conservation Union (IUCN).
Conservation of the Mountain Gorillas
Conservation efforts have led to an increase in overall population of the mountain gorilla in the Virungas and at Bwindi. The overall population is now believed to be at least 880 individuals.In both Bwindi and the Virungas, groups of gorillas that were habituated for research and ecotourism have higher growth rates than unhabituated gorillas. Habituation means that through repeated, neutral contact with humans, gorillas exhibit normal behavior when people are in close proximity. Habituated gorillas are more closely guarded by field staff and they receive veterinary treatment for snares, respiratory disease, and other life-threatening conditions.Poachers always maim and kill gorillas by setting traps in their movement routes,abduct and sell young ones to zoos as pets.They have been killed for their heads, hands, and feet, which are sold to collectors.With young gorillas worth from $1000 to $5000 on the black market, poachers seeking infant and juvenile specimens will kill and wound other members of the group in the process
However, various measures have been in place to cub this habit of poaching gorillas like;
-Increased patrolling using armed guards in protected forest areas.
-Karisoke’s guards find and remove some 1,000 snares each year.
-Gorilla censuses to monitor gorilla population.
-Karisoke Research Centre runs a facility for young gorillas rescued from poachers.
Mountain Gorilla Families
Due to poaching, human encroachment of gorilla habitat among other factors declined the population of Gorillas more than 70% in the last two decades, leaving its population below 5,000 forced IUCN to declare the central Africa’s Eastern Gorillas as critically endangered. Based on the above back ground, Uganda and Rwanda governments joined hands through their institutions UWA and RDB respectively to protect gorillas and their natural environment. Today there is good news that the number of gorillas is increasing in Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Uganda).
Serious patrolling of the gorilla parks and gorilla reproduction, improved treatment of Gorillas are among the major reasons for the increased number of Gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda. For that case, the number of habituated gorillas has also increased. Below are some of the habituated gorilla families/ groups in Uganda and Rwanda:
Habituated Families in Uganda
Here are the different habituated families visited by travelers going on gorilla safaris in Uganda;
Mubare gorilla family – it’s found in Buhoma sector in Uganda- the oldest gorilla sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Uganda at large. The name Mubare came from the first gorilla trekkers in the area. Due to disunite and death, the number of members reduced from 18 to 12 by 2012.
Habinyanja Gorilla group – Hosted in Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Habinyanja is among the first launched gorilla families in Uganda. The group was launched in 1997 and was led by silverback Mugurisi (Meaning old man). The group was first sighed near water swampy areas thus, the name Habinyanja (place with water in Rukiga). Mugurisi was replaced by his two brothers Rwansigazi and Mwirima who had different personality traits. Mwirima liked staying within a specific range while Rwansigazi loved moving around different sections of the forest. In 2002, the two brothers separated peacefully. Rwansigazi left with part of the group and retained the “Habinyanja” name while Mirimas group was named the Rushegura family.
Rushegura gorilla group – This is the group that was formed when Rwansigazi and Mwirima separated from the larger Habinyanja group in 2002. The Rushegura name is derived from “Ebishegura”, a tree species common within the family’s territory. The group increased in number due to stability and peaceful atmosphere under the leadership of Silverback Mwirima. Rushegura family is also found Buhoma sector- the oldest in BINP.
Bitukura gorilla family – hosted in Ruhija gorilla sector of Bwindi Impenetrable national Park. The group was first seen in by rangers but visitors were also allowed to meet it in 2008 under the leadership of Ndahura silver back.
Oruzogo Gorilla family -With 25 members, it’s the largest group in Ruhija with 2 silverbacks. Oruzogo family is one of the most liked gorilla groups because of its playful young gorillas produced by females Ntamurungi (June 2011), Musi (October 2011), and Kakoba (March 2012).
Nkuringo gorilla family – situated in Nkuringo sector of Bwindi impenetrable National Park. This group was habituated in 2008 to enable local community to gain from gorilla tourism. Nkuringo Gorilla family was first seen near the round hill hence its name Nkuringo. Staying near villages, the gorillas used to sneak in peoples garden to destroy crops. Because of that back group, UWA shares a percentage of revenue from Gorilla tourism with the local communities in terms of social services like clean water, electricity, better roads, better health facilities and so on.
Nshongi gorilla family – At its launch, Nshongi gorilla family had 37 members and was the largest ever habituated gorilla group. It was opened for tourism in 2009 and a unique family due to its large size. With 4 silverback gorillas, the family split in 2010 and some members join different group.
Mishaya gorilla group – When Mishaya left Nshongi gorilla family, he has ambition of stealing female gorillas from other groups. He succeeded in stealing some females but was wounded in one of the fights with unhabituated male gorilla.
Kahungye Gorilla Family – This gorilla family is led by a dominant silver back called by Rumansi. Other older male gorillas (second in command include Ruhamuka and Rwigi. The group was only recently (2011) opened for visitors. The group had 27 members when habituated but split shortly after creating another group Busingye.
Bweza Gorilla Family- It was officially introduced to tourists in 2012. Bweza split from the Nshongi gorilla family which was the largest family ever habituated in Bwindi. When Silverback Mishaya separated from Nshongi in 2010, Bweza left him two years later (2012) with six members. Due to reproduction, the number of group members increased.
Busingye Gorilla Family – found in Rushaga sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This group was opened to visitors in 2013. Busingye leads this group of 9 members after splitting away from the Kahungye family in 2012. Though his name means peace, Busingye enjoys fighting for female with other silverbacks to show mighty.
Kyaguriro Gorilla Family – found in Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This group was dominated by Rukina silverback who took over power from the old Zeus. This group was set aside for researching. Their findings show some differences in behavioral tendencies between Uganda’s Gorilla families, Rwanda’s Gorilla families and Congo Gorilla families.
Nyakagezi gorilla families – Found in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. This is another home of mountain gorilla in Uganda. It’s the only habituated gorilla family in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP).
Habituated Families in Rwanda
Just like in Uganda, Rwanda also majors gorilla trekking and a number of gorilla families have been habituated and some of them include:
Sabyinyo Gorilla family – it found at the lower slopes of mount Sabyinyo under the leadership of silverback “Guhondo” – the famous and most powerful silverback in Volcanoes National Park. The group got its name Sabyinyo Mountain which means ‘Old man’s teeth”- this group can be trekked from Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga.
Amahoro gorilla group – means peace gorilla family, however the peace in this gorilla family also comes at a cost. Ubumwe silver back gorilla in this group is most gentle silver back but unfortunately, he lost his family members to Charles in the Umubano gorilla group. Hiking through this group is a bit strenuous but the hike comes with encounters of these impressive wild creatures in their natural habitat.
Agasha gorilla family – also known as 13 group because there were 13 members at the time of habituation. Its among the largest groups with about 25 members in Volcanoes National Park. Before, it was headed by Nyakarima whom Agasha which denotes news, challenged. Agashya really made news by simply viewing and imagining the size and energy of Nyakarima but later being defeated by Agashya. This was amazing news to Nyakarima. Agashya migrated to the volcano to seek protection of his family and ensure that Nyakarima never gets them again.
Umubano gorilla family – it split from Amahoro gorilla family after silverback Umubano successfully challenged silverback Ubumwe. The fight took weeks and months until Charles took some of Ubumwe’s female gorillas hence Umubano gorilla family.
Susa (Susa A) – Its one of the oldest gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. Its among the groups on which Dian Fossey carried her studies from. Its among the largest gorilla families in the park. Its one of the hardest gorilla family to trek and found at the base of Karisimbi. The name Susa was derived from River Susa which runs through the Susa family home.
Kwitonda gorilla family – It’s led by Kwitonda silverback gorilla. The group migrated from Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and tracking them takes time because it is one of exhilarating groups in the Volcanoes National Park just like the Susa “B” group.
Hirwa gorilla group – It was launched in 2006 at a time when trackers saw its creation from other raising gorillas from 2 gorilla families; group 13 and Sabyinyo making it the smallest gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park.
The Igisha group – Susa B – It originates from Susa A group after separating in 2014. Its currently lead by Igisha silverback mountain Gorilla. Today, Igisha gorilla family is one of the largest group in Volcanoes National Park. The name Susa originates from the river which runs through the areas where it is found.
Titus gorilla family – It’s led by Titus gorilla family and the name of the group is derived from the name of the dominant silver Back. Its one of the oldest gorilla families even at the time Dian Fossey was fighting against gorilla poaching, Titus was one of the groups that survived.
Muhoza gorilla group – This group was named after the 460-pound alpha male silverback comprising of over 12 mountain gorillas of varying ages. This is the newest gorilla group in volcanoes national park, let by the youngest leading silver backs Muhoza. Generally, the Muhoza group is ranked as an easy family to trek to in Volcanoes national park as located lower the mountain slopes.
Some websites writes more than ten habituated gorilla families however, the writer of this article is still making research about the issue.