Gorilla families in Uganda
Gorilla Families in Bwindi National Park, Uganda
Only the African nations of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda offer the chances of seeing gorillas in their natural habitats. Half of the highly endangered mountain gorilla population still exists in Uganda, the most well liked location to observe gorillas. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda is home to majority of these gentle giants, while Mgahinga National Park in the Kisoro district is home to just a few.
Habituated gorillas can be found in four separate areas of the park at Bwindi, which is located in the south-western region of Uganda. These include Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo, and Buhoma. Each family in a sector has members, and the head of each family is a silverback. There is just one habituated gorilla family that rules in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and they are known as Nyakagezi. Depending on their activity, it can take anywhere from two to eight hours to search for the crafty critters, but once you do, the experience is amazing as you get to spend an hour watching them eat, leap, and take pictures. Permit me to walk you through the sectors that include the various families.
RUSHAGA.
Nshongi gorilla family, 26 individuals with 4 silverbacks.
The group got its name because it was initially discovered close to the River Nshongi. When it first welcomed visitors in September 2009, it had 36 members, making it the largest habituated gorilla tribe in Uganda. The huge gorilla family consisted of seven (7) black backs and three (3) silverbacks, who coexisted peacefully without attempting to assert authority. When the two groups split up in July 2010, some of the ten individuals in this group—including silverback Mishaya—left one of them. There were only 26 people left, including four silverbacks.
Mishaya Gorilla family, 12 individuals with 1 silverback
This group split off from the sizable Nshongi group led by the silverback Mishaya in July 2010. Due to his tenacity, he encountered numerous additional gorilla families, and as the years went by, they were able to proliferate. In April 2011, they came upon a wild gorilla family that had not been habituated, and they were all injured, including a two-year-old who was in his group. Fortunately, the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project’s doctors took care of them, and they entirely recovered.
Bikingi Gorilla family, 15 individuals with 1 silverback.
The habituation of the Bikingi gorilla group began in the first several months of 2012 as a follow-up effort for the scattered Mishaya family members. Numerous former members of the Mishaya family were found in a group with other non-habitual people and afterwards reported to be habitual in order to maintain rigorous surveillance of the formerly habituated individuals..
Kahugye Gorilla Group, 13 individuals with 3 silverbacks
This family, which consists of 27 members and 3 silverbacks, was recently discovered in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This gorilla family split to become the Busingye gorilla family around a year after it became accessible to tourists. The leader of this active group now is a dominating silverback named Gwigi, whose name means “door”.
Bweza Gorilla Family, 9 individuals with one 1 silverback.
The largest group of gorillas to have been habituated in Bwindi National Park in 2009 is the Nshongi gorilla family. The Mishaya gorilla family was the name of the troop that silverback Mishaya formed after breaking away in July 2010. Silverback Bweza decided to leave the group two years after it was founded and found the Bweza family. The gorilla family was made available for tourism in December 2012.
Busingye Gorilla Family, 9 individuals with 1 silverback
In June 2012, Silverback Busingye severed relations with the Kahungye family and established his own gorilla family. Contrarily, the tyrannical silverback Busingye, whose name means “peace,” delights in conflict and has successfully fended off attacks from groups of wild gorillas while seizing females to increase his own gorilla family.
Kutu Gorilla Family, 8 individuals with 1 Silverback
In the Rushaga area of Bwindi Park, there is a new gorilla family known as Kutu. This group is ideal for individuals who want to witness gorillas acclimating to humans because it already is.
Mucunguzi Gorilla family.
The Mucunguzi gorilla family is a freshly acclimated gorilla family. The third and youngest silverback in the Bweza gorilla troop at the time was given the name Mucunguzi, which translates to “savior.” The Bweza family’s breakup led to the formation of the Mucunguzi group. Eight mountain gorillas make up the Mucunguzi gorilla group.
Rwigi Gorilla Family
There are nine permanent families in the Rushaga area, including Rwigi. The Kahungye faction that broke out was led by Rwigi Silverback. A disagreement with the Kahungye silverbacks led to him starting his family. BUHOMA
Mubare Gorilla family, 9 individuals with 1 silverback
After two years of habituation, the group finally made itself open to trackers in 1993. Its name derives from Mubare Hill, where trackers first found its members. Kanyonyi replaced Ruhondeza as the family’s head. When the group was founded, there were just 12 members, and by 2012, their numbers had significantly decreased due to migration and death.
Habiyanja Gorilla family, 17 members with 2 silverbacks.
One of the groups that was habituated in 1997 is this family, which is headed by Makara. The word “Habinyanja,” which in the Rukiga language means “a place with water,” is where the name of the group comes from. The gang was discovered in a wetland or region of Bwindi. Mugurisi served as the family’s initial head before being succeeded by Mwirima and Ransigazi.
Rushegura Gorilla family, 19 individuals with 1 silverback.
After Mwirima and Rwansigazi broke away from the Habiyanja tribe in 2002, the organization was formed. It gets its name from a type of Ebishegura tree that is indigenous to the area where it lives. Mwirima was effective in forming a reliable and disciplined group, which had grown from 12 to 19, by 2010.
Katwe Gorilla family, 7 individuals with 1 silver back.
An approximately three-year-old gorilla family named Katwe has been habituated in the Buhoma area. In August 2018, the group might be reached for routine trekking. Only three habituated gorilla families remain in this area as of a few years ago. The location’s enhanced access to Queen Elizabeth Park and the availability of more luxury lodging in Bwindi are to blame for this. The Bwindi Gorilla Park now offers 32 gorilla passes per person in this area.
Muyambi Gorilla family, 6 individuals with 1 silverback.
The Muyambi gorilla family was established in the early months of 2019. There are six people in it. When Muyambi was an adult, he or she left the Mubare family to create what is now known as the Muyambi group. In May 2020, a new member of the family was added.
NKURINGO.
The Nkuringo Area of Bwindi Forest, which is home to the Nkuringo Gorilla Family and one of the more physically challenging yet rewarding sections of the forest to participate in gorilla safaris, is one of the most popular places for such excursions.
Nkuringo Gorilla family, had 19 individuals with 2 silverbacks
The name Nkuringo, which in the native Rukiga language means “round hill,” alludes to the spherical hill where this group was first discovered. This family used to move into the lower slopes’ village communities, but later turned out to be a problem for the residents because it would eat crops like sweet potatoes, bananas, and other farm goods. After Rafiki, who was killed by poachers, and Rwamutwe Silverback, who is currently in command, Nkuringo Silverback, who died in 2008, first led it.
Bushaho Gorilla family, 8 individuals with 1 silverback.
It was one of the families selected for gorilla habituation despite the Nkuringo region being legally available for gorilla trekking.
RUHIJA.
Bitukura Gorilla family, 14 individuals with (4) silverbacks
This gorilla family was given its name when it was first discovered in the Ruhija section of Bwindi National Park, close to the River Bitukura. The area was opened in October 2008 because of the habituation process, which began in July 2007. It took the group only 15 months to become completely accustomed to and ready for tourism, compared to other groups that need two years. According to reports, the habituation process was sped up and was the result of the close connection that developed between the Bitukura and Kyaguriro families, which allowed the former to routinely interact with rangers from the Uganda wildlife authority. It used to have 24 members, but as the years passed, that number decreased to just 14, with some of the 24 members joining other families. After succeeding silverback Karamuzi, who retired after nearly 40 years of leadership, the dominant silverback Ndahura is not the oldest but rather the second youngest. In 2013, the group’s alpha silverback, Ndahura, welcomed a new member whom he carefully watches.
Oruzogo Gorilla Family, 25 individuals with 2 silverbacks
The first time this family-welcomed guests was in 2011, when Tibirikwata the Silverback presided. Multiple births within the same household have caused the family’s size to grow over time. Ntamurungi, a grown woman, gave birth in June 2011, and Musi followed suit in October of the same year. When a second adult female in Kakoba gave birth to twins in March 2012, the gorilla family was overjoyed. Not only is this family well liked for its size, but also for the lively and animated toddlers, it has.
Kyaguriro Gorilla Family, 15 individuals with 2 silverbacks
Tourists are still prohibited from entering the area, despite the fact that this gorilla family has become habituated. Nevertheless, environmentalists still keep an eye on it and assess it. The powerful silverback Zeus had once been in charge, but after being attacked by rival gorilla Rukina, Zeus was banished and eventually perished there.
Mukiza Gorilla Group.
In the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, there is a brand-new family by the name of Mukiza. It had ten members and split from the Kyaguriro group.
MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK.
Nyakagezi Gorilla Family, 10 individuals with 3 silverbacks
Within the limits of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, the Nyakagezi family has complete freedom. The sole family under surveillance in Mgahinga National Park is that led by Mark Silverback. To observe this group, treks can be done from Ntebeko.
Feel free to get in touch with Gorilla Expeditions, info@gorillaexpeditions.com for more.
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