Gorilla Families In Volcanoes National Park

Mountain Gorillas make their home in and amongst the bamboo covered slopes of Virunga Mountains in the volcanoes National Park. To trek those Great legends of Africa is undoubtedly the most unforgettable experience which is why thousands of travelers flock into Rwanda to see them in their nature habitat. Gorilla families are located on different altitudes which are nearer, medium and hard and each gorilla group has distinct and unique characteristic quiet different from another. However regardless of which group trekked, all travelers are assured of a memorable experience.  11 gorilla families  habituated can be trekked  in Rwanda and only 8 people max are allowed per family.  A single gorilla permit in Rwanda costs 1500 paid by all travelers including Rwanda nationals and only someone 15 years above can trek.  Below are families Trekked in Volcanoes National Park;

Kurira (Susa A)

Kurira group inhabits the forests on the lower slopes of Mt. Karisimbi and is led by Kurira. It is also referred to as the original Susa. Susa is an old and famous group in Volcanoes National Park formed in 1974 with initially 7 individuals and well known for being the group studied by Diana Fossey during her time in Rwanda from 1967 to 1985. Before splitting up in 2009, it was the biggest ever recorded group counting 41 members. Susa A split into 2 other groups (Karisimbi and Igisha or Susa B). Karisimbi later split into another faction of Isimbi group. After the split, the original Susa group remained with 16 individuals. Today Kurira group is composed of 18 individuals including 3 Silverbacks, 4 adult females, 3 blackbacks, 2 sub-adult males, 1 juvenile and 5 infants. Susa A is known to have the first set of surviving twins in the history of mountain gorillas in 2004 (Impano and Byishimo) and later in 2011 (Impeta and Umudende, although Impeta passed on in 2015). The group is also known to have been a victim of a poaching incident in May 2002 where 2 adult females were killed trying to protect 2 babies from poachers who wanted to steal and sell them on the illegal market

Karisimbi Group

Led by Nyagakangaga, This group was formed after the split of the main Susa group on June 28th 2009. On this day Nyagakangaga who was among several subordinate Silverbacks took 13 individuals and moved away to form his own group referred as Susa B then. It was later named Karisimbi in 2010 at the gorilla naming ceremony – Kwita Izina. The group was named Karisimbi because; it ranges from within and around Karisimbi Mountain in Volcanoes National Park. Unfortunately, /fortunately, another faction broke away from Karisimbi on April 10th 2012 to form another group called Isimbi. Today, Karisimbi group composed of an unknown number since it has not been seen since October 2016.  However before it crossed the DRC border on October 7th 2016 the total number of group individuals was 11 including 4 Silverbacks, 1 adult female, 1 blackback, 1 sub-adult male, 1 sub-adult female, 1 juvenile and 2 infants.

Igisha (Susa B)

Led by Igisha, this group inhabits the upper slopes of Mt.Karisimbi. Igisha sometimes referred to as Susa B split from the original Susa A on November 30th, 2014. Igisha Silverback moved with 23 individuals and formed Susa B group that was later named Igisha after him. Igisha group is currently composed of 30 individuals which include 5 Silverbacks, 7 adult females, 2 blackbacks, 3 sub-adult females, 5 juveniles and 8 infants.

 

 

Amahoro group

Amahoro group is found in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and led by Ubumwe. The habituation of Amahoro group started in March 1996 and stopped in 1997 due to the war.  The group was opened for tourism in 2000. On May 4th 2002, the dominant Silverback Amahoro died at about 31 years of age. After his death, the two subordinate Silverbacks Ubumwe and Charles could not agree on who would step in Amahoro’s leadership. Therefore, the group split into two; the main Amahoro led by Ubumwe and another led by Charles. Charles’s group was later called Amahoro B then Umubano. Today Amahoro group is made up of 20 individuals including 3 Silverbacks, 6 Adult females, 1 Sub-adults females, 1 sub adult male, 2 Blackback, 1 Juvenile and 6 Infants.

The group is currently led by Gahinga after Ubumwe disappeared / left the group in June 2018. Amahoro group is also under observation of a split. According to reports one Silverback has on several occasions disappeared for days with about 7 individuals but later returns to the group.

Umubano group

Umubano which was formerly part of Amahoro group is still led by Charles, the dominant Silverback. Umubano separated from Amahoro A (led by Ubumwe) without aggression. Shortly after the separation, the 2 groups would meet, interact, and feed together for one or two days and then go separate ways. Umubano group is composed of 13 individuals including 5 Silverbacks, 2 Adult females, 2 blackbacks, 1sub adult male,1 Juveniles and 2 infants. Its name means ‘living together’.

Sabyinyo group

The nearest gorilla family and easiest to track inhabiting the gentle slopes between Mt. Sabyinyo and Mt. Gahinga and is led by Guhonda. At its habituation the group was named Amavubi (wasps) due to their aggressive character which gave hard time to the habituation field teams. The name was later changed to Sabyinyo, after the mountain where the group was first seen. After the death of the Silverback Murthi of Group 13, Guhonda alone Silverback took advantage of Murthi’s death and grabbed 3 females from Group 13 (Gukunda, Kampanga and Ijisho) and a number of others from Group 11. These are the individuals that Guhonda used to form his group with. Sabyinyo group currently consists of 18 individuals including 4 Silverbacks, 6 adult females, 3 juveniles and 5 infants. This group is popular because of Guhonda, the largest silver back in the park weighing about 220kg.

 

Agashya group – Group 13

Originally known as Group 13 (after the initial family individual who were 13 at the time of habituation) and headed by the dominant Silverback Murthi who died in 1992 leaving behind 3 young males (Munane, Nyakarima and Kwirinda) faced with the challenge of leading the group. The 3 males stayed together until Munane turned into a Silverback and led the group. Kwirinda died from injuries sustained through a fight with another group, while Nyakarima left the group. In his quest to expand the group, Munane interacted with other groups and acquired females. He unfortunately died on May 18th 2002 due to natural causes leaving behind a blackback to lead the group. Due to his young age, the blackback associated with the adult female Safari who helped him in managing the group. However, a Silverback (Agashya) from an unknown group then came and took over leadership from the young blackback. The group was later named Agashya in 2010 at Kwita Izina ceremony. Currently, Agashya group is led by the Silverback Agashya and composed of 23 individuals; including 3 Silverbacks, 6 adult females, 3 blackbacks, 1 sub-adult male, 2 sub-adult female, 1 juvenile and 6 infants. Agashya means the ‘ News’

Kwitonda group

Kwitonda group is found in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and is led by Akarevuro. Originally formed in 1995 in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kwitonda group migrated to Rwanda in 2003 to escape pressure from other groups. Kwitonda Silverback is thought to have been a solitary male before joining Rugabo group in the DRC. After the death of Rugabo Silverback, Kwitonda grabbed some individuals of the group to form his own group. After this, he moved to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and established its home range between Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga. Unfortunately, Kwitonda died in 2012 due to old age and left Akarevuro and Kigoma both subordinate Silverbacks fighting for leadership of the group. Somehow Akarevuro won the respect of the group members and took full leadership of the group. Kwitonda group is made of 33 individuals including 2 Silverbacks, 9 adult females, 3 blackbacks, 2 sub-adult male, 6 juveniles and 10 infants. There’s no doubt that Kwitonda group is the largest of all gorilla groups with even the highest number of gorilla infants!

Hirwa group

Hirwa group inhabits the foothills of Mt. Sabyinyo to the side of Mt Gahinga and is led by Munyinya. Munyinya Silverback came from the main Susa group in 2002 and somewhat disappeared for about 4 years, until June 17th 2006 when he showed up again with a couple of other individuals. The group was opened for tourism in July 2006 and named as Hirwa in the same year. Since his return, Munyinya increased the size of his group by grabbing individuals from surrounding groups such as Sabyinyo, Agashya and Kwitonda. Despite being the newest group on the block, Hirwa kept exhibiting its strength and maintained its status and respect from other gorilla groups in the area. Hirwa group is composed of 16 individuals including 2 Silverbacks, 4 adult females, 2 sub-adult males, 4 juveniles and 4 infants. This group is known to have the second ever surviving twins, (Isango Gakuru and Isango Gato born to Kabatwa in 2011) after the main Susa group. Hirwa means ‘the Lucky one’

Muhoza group

Muhoza the dominant Silverback formed his group of 7 individuals on 3rd December 2016. Muhoza grabbed two adult females from Hirwa group and Muhoza is now composed of 11 individuals; including 1 Silverback, 6 adult females, 2 sub-adult females and 2 infants.

Isimbi Group

Led by the dominant Silverback-Muturengere, Isimbi group is a result of Karisimbi group split which took place on 10th April 2012. Getty Silverback took the lead of the new group of 7 individuals. Getty died on December 22nd, 2013 due to abscess on air sac and pneumonia. After his death, the young blackback then, Muturengere took lead of the group with the help of Poppy, an adult female. Poppy is said to be the oldest living adult female among all gorilla groups. Muturengere fought other groups that sought to grab some members of his group. The group has since grown from 7 to 18 individuals who include 1 Silverback, 7 adult females, 4 juveniles and 7 infants !

http://igcp.org/gorillas/gorilla-families/

https://www.volcanoesnationalparkrwanda.com/gorilla-groups.html

May 2019
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