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The Great Apes
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Credits to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Dominant, gentle silverback Vuba dies: Yesterday morning, Dian Fossey Gorillas Fund trackers found 24-year-old silverback leader Vuba in critical condition when they arrived for their daily monitoring. He was very still and barely breathing, with other gorillas surrounding him initially before they moved away for feeding. Our staff immediately contacted park authorities and veterinarians from Gorilla Doctors, who soon arrived at Vuba’s location, but determined there was no useful medical intervention to be taken. We are saddened to report that Vuba died overnight. A necropsy is underway to determine the details. Vuba led a group named after former leader Kuryama. He is a son of the late, legendary silverback Titus and a well-known female named Tuck was his mother. He spent many years with Titus, and inherited the gentle facial expressions of his father as well as his kind behavior toward all of the group members. When his brother, Kuryama, formed his own group in 2007, Vuba went with him, keeping a subordinate position but always well accepted by the group. He became dominant after the death of former leader Kirahure in August 2015. Kirahure had taken over following the death of Kuryama. Silverback Vuba, December 2016  *This image is copyright of its original author Starting soon after taking over leadership, Vuba led his group across the border of Rwanda into the Democratic Republic of Congo, beyond the ranging area of our trackers. This was repeated again in 2016, until they re-stabilized in their original range in Rwanda last September. Vuba had the support of two younger silverbacks in the group – 14-year-old Igihozo and 13-year-old Tetero – who will now have the task of leading the group. Their presence is a great advantage for the group and may help it stay cohesive. With the loss of Vuba, the group contains only seven members. It is an unusual group in that there is only one adult female member. Vuba is one of the many gorillas who have been followed throughout their entire lives by the Fossey Fund, so his loss is deeply felt by the staff. “We are extremely saddened by Vuba’s death,” says Felix Ndagijimana, the Fossey Fund’s director of the Karisoke Research Center and all of our Rwanda programs. “He was a great leader and played a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and cohesiveness of the group during the different dominance changes it went through.” “He was one of the most gentle male gorillas I’ve ever met,” says Veronica Vecellio, Fossey Fund gorilla program manager. “We rarely saw Vuba engaging in or initiating a fight. His personality was suited to so many roles and phases of his life, from supporter of prior group leaders to peaceful leader in his own right.” Silverback Vuba chestbeats in 2015  *This image is copyright of its original author Silverback Vuba in 2014  *This image is copyright of its original author
Photo and information credits: Usha Harish Photography
"One of the oldest and dominant silverback gorilla Mark of the Nyakagezi family group. Gorillas are one of my favourite animals and it's an experience to trek and see them in the wild. Mark was just a couple of meter's away from me. He is the largest I have seen out of 6 gorilla families tracked so far. Gorillas are very few in the wild and critically endangered species. Image taken in Mgahinga National Park, Uganda"  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Fossey Fund trackers observed the results of many interactions among the gorilla groups this weekend! One of the most interesting involved silverback Urugwiro, whose only group member (female Keza) transferred out in early October. Yesterday he was seen with a new female and they were still together today!  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
More interactions among the gorilla groups this weekend were noted by Fossey Fund trackers, including the efforts of 29-year-old lone silverback Inshuti, who has followed a group for several days, in his latest attempt to attract some females and form a group. He’s had a group in the past, but lives mostly on his own.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to David McGonigal.
The Agashya Group was originally named Group 13 after the initial family which numbered 13 at the time of habituation. At that time the group was led by a silverback called Nyakarima but was later overthrown by Agashya (pictured), meaning 'The News’ who is now the leader, and the family was then named after him. Today the family has grown to 27 members including this silverback. The group occupies the same territory as the Sabyinyo group so sometimes Agashya takes the family deeper into the mountain when he senses danger.  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Gorilla Doctors.
During Dr. Martin’s recent health check of Humba group in Virunga National Park, it appeared that silverback Mahindure, instead of Humba, was leading the group members. All of the mountain gorillas in the group were following Mahindure’s lead except for adult female Kanyalire, who stuck with Humba. Even with the potential leadership change taking place, all of the group members were in good visual health and the group was calm. Silverback Mahindure with Humba group members.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Nelis Wolmarans.
One of my favourite images from a recent safari, which I led to all three countries that play home to the Mountain Gorillas. This image was taken on our last trek to the Rugendo family in the Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Gorilla Doctors.
Silverback Muturengere, leader of Isimbi group in Volcanoes National Park, sustained injuries after interacting with a lone silverback ranging near his group this week. Muturengere sustained wounds to his hands, feet, right shoulder, right thigh and above his right eye. Over the course of the last three days, the silverback has greatly improved and he is now bearing weight on his right leg, his wounds are clean and healing and he is feeding normally. Infant Rwandarushya also had several superficial wounds on her face, but it did not affect her overall health. Dr. Gaspard reports that all other group members in Isimbi group were in good visual health and uninjured in the interaction. Silverback Muturengere, leader of Isimbi group.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Isimbi group members.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Gorilla Doctors.
Kigoma, the second ranking silverback in Kwitonda group sustained several serious bite wounds by group leader Karevuro in Volcanoes National Park last week. Following the interaction, the group was split into two subgroups for two days, but the group has now merged back together as one. Dr. Methode trekked to Kwitonda group to assess Kigoma’s wounds and found the group in the Horezo area feeding on bamboo shoots. Both Kigoma and Karevuro were observed with wounds but each injury appeared to be healing. Lisanga and Rwunguko also had minor wounds, but these two mountain gorillas, along with the other 27 group members, were in good overall visual health. Our vets will keep a close eye on both silverbacks to make sure their wounds heal fully. Siverback Kigoma with bite wounds.  *This image is copyright of its original author Rwunguko with wound on left eyebrow.  *This image is copyright of its original author Dominant silverback Karevuro  *This image is copyright of its original author Kwitonda group members.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Photo and information credits: David Lloyd Wildlife Photography
"A Bweza Group Silverback. This was the first of our mountain gorilla treks last week. The forest was dense and allowed for only a few clear views."  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Fossey Fund trackers have been monitoring silverback Kubaha very closely recently as he has been involved in multiple interactions with other nearby groups and silverbacks like Kubona, seen in this photo (Kubaha on left and Kubona on right). Kubaha took over Isabukuru's group after after his death last March.  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Gorilla Doctors.
Bikingi group, lead by silverback Rushenya in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, was assessed by Dr. Fred last week. Two 5th year veterinary students from Makerere University accompanied our Uganda Field Vet on the health check to learn more about wild gorilla health care. Dr. Fred reports that the 22 mountain gorillas in Bikingi group were in good health and the group was busy feeding on Urera and Mimulopsis during the assessment. There are nine infants in this group, 1 subadult, 11 adult females and only one silverback, the strong but calm leader, Rushenya.  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Gorilla Doctors.
Lone silverback Urugwiro recently acquired two females, adult female Bukima from Isabukuru group and adult female Kubana from Titus group in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. The leader of the little group of three mountain gorillas was observed coughing on Nov. 29th so Dr. Methode trekked up to the group to assess their health. Respiratory infection can be a serious threat to mountain gorillas and could even be fatal if a secondary bacterial infection develops so our vets will stay on top of these outbreaks. Fortunately, the trio was in overall good visual health during Dr. Methode’s health check, but the silverback did cough once and adult female Kubana coughed twice during the observation. They will be watched closely for any sign of the infection worsening.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Urugwiro and Kubana  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Kubana grooming Urugwiro  *This image is copyright of its original author Kubana napping on Urugwiro  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Gorilla Doctors.
Last month Dr. Adrien performed a routine health check on Muhoza group in the Ruhanga area of Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda). All 9 members are in good visual health! Silverback Muhoza feeding on urera plants.  *This image is copyright of its original author Silverback Muhoza cuddling with infant Temberrurwanda  *This image is copyright of its original author Adult female Ikirezi feeding on bamboo shoots  *This image is copyright of its original author Adult female Twitabweho  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Dian Fossey Fund.
Happy holiday surprise: Young gorilla “orphans” reunited with their group: Fossey Fund trackers and researchers in Rwanda have been monitoring an unusual situation among the mountain gorillas in Rwanda this past week, in which three young gorillas got separated from their group. These youngsters – Fasha, who is 4 years old, 3-year-old Masunzu, and Umugwaneza who will turn 3 years old in January – were already facing a challenging life, since all three have mothers who transferred out of their group, leaving them much earlier than is typical. Luckily, the dominant silverback in their group – 19-year-old Kubaha – had been helping to care for and protect them, as well as one additional such “orphan” in the group. Earlier this month, however, their group got involved in an interaction with another group, and even though the interaction seemed peaceful, Fasha, Masunzu and Umugwaneza got separated from the group and started traveling on their own. This followed previous interactions between their group and a lone silverback, in which Kubaha was injured, thus leaving him perhaps unable to help care for the orphans while trying to recover. When a group changes suddenly like this, Fossey Fund trackers are reassigned to ensure we are able to continue to monitor and protect each and every gorilla. Our staff was especially concerned for the welfare of these youngsters, who are very young to be traveling alone. In addition, they had an encounter late last week with Titus’ group, and were unfortunately chased by one of the silverbacks. But on Dec. 22, our field teams were able to report great news: The three youngsters had found and reunited with their group. “When they met, they seemed curious,” says gorilla program manager Jean Paul Hirwa. “Gorillas from each side were staring at each other. As soon as the group started to rest, the three youngsters went and laid down with the silverback.” Silverback Kubaha with Umugwaneza and Icyororo (Photos by Gudula Nyirandayambaje)  *This image is copyright of its original author “We have seen dominant silverbacks help care for ‘orphaned’ gorillas like these in the past,” says Fossey Fund President and CEO/Chief Scientist Dr. Tara Stoinski. “But when there are additional pressures on the group, such as interactions from outside groups and injuries or illnesses, the youngsters can face additional challenges.” Earlier challenges too Young Umugwaneza faced her first big challenge in November, when her mother – Bukima – transferred to another group. Umugwaneza was just under 3 years old at the time (her birthday is Jan. 16). Mountain gorillas can be weaned as young as 2 to 2-1/2 years of age, but this is unusual and they would still rely on their mothers for warmth, particularly at night, and would sleep with their mothers until the next offspring was born. Little Fasha had a traumatic experience in April, when she got caught in a poacher’s snare. Luckily, our trackers quickly noticed that she was not in her group, and set out to find her, all alone with a long piece of rope wound tightly around her ankle. A veterinary intervention to remove it was successful. Click here for full story. And Masunzu, whose mother left the group in January, initially showed signs of depression and had some trouble keeping up when the group crossed a big river. Here’s more on Masunzu. Masunzu feeding on Galium  *This image is copyright of its original author
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