Gorilla Groups

More than half of all mountain gorillas are habituated, meaning they are used to the presence of humans. While some groups are only observed by researchers, most are however visited by tourists. Thanks to the daily recordings made by the rangers we are able to closely track the comings and goings in these groups. Their sizes are constantly changing; it is not uncommon for whole families to dissolve, for groups to split, or for silverbacks to form new groups of their own.

D. R. Congo, Virunga National Park,
Mikeno Sector - tourist groups

  Feb. 2008 Apr. 2010 June 2012 Jan. 2013 Nov. 2016 Nov. 2018 Nov. 2019 Feb. 2022
Mapuwa 12 16 18 18 22 4 25 26
Kabirizi 32 36 33 37 19 19 23 24
Munyaga 5 6 7 8 9 9 9 12
Humba 9 12 16 16 10 11 13 15
Lulengo 5 8 4 9 9 11 11 11
Rugendo 5 5 7 8 9 10 11 13
Bageni         26 30 35 42
Nyakamwe         11 12 15 15
Mvuyekure           18    
Baraka             25 19
Wilungula             40 42

Solitary silverback males: Ruzirabwoba, Karateka, Mareru, Pilipili, Buhanga, Bukima, Mukunda 

Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park - tourist groups

  Feb. 2008 Dec. 2009 May 2011 Jan. 2014 July 2016 Nov. 2019 Feb. 2022 Jan. 2024
Suza A (Kurira) 38 28 30 28 17 23 21 21
Karisimbi (Suza B)   15 16 15 11 11 10 10
Amahoro 17 16 18 17 18 23 21 21
Umubano 9 11 12 11 12 13 14 11
Hirwa 12 12 16 9 19 17 13 13
Sabinyo 8 10 12 8 16 18 18 15
Gruppe 13 (Agashya) 23 22 25 25 20 25 22 20
Kwitonda 16 19 21 18 29 35 20 17
Igisha (Suza B)         26 30 34 35
Isimbi         14 20 16 16
Muhoza           14 17 17
Kwisanga             17 17
Ikaze             6  
Noheli               7
Kigoma               5
Urwego               7

Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park -
research groups

  Feb. 2008 Feb. 2009 Dec. 2009 May 2011 Nov. 2012 Jan. 2014 Dec. 2016 Dec. 2017
Pablo 43 43 47 47 43 7 33 37
Shinda 26 28            
Isabukuru 5 7 10 11 11 16 19 18
Titus 10 10 6 7 9 ? 8 9
Kuryama 12 14 15 15 14 ? 8 9
Bwenge 9 11 11 11 9 11    
Inshuti   4 6 7        
Ntambara     11 11 12 17 9 15
Ugenda     12 14 9 11    
Urugamba     6 5 ?      
Musilikale           ? 13 20
Mafunzo             12 14
Giraneza             6  
Iyambere             6 7
Urugwiro               4
Kureba               9

Uganda, Bwindi - tourist groups

  Feb. 2008 May 2011 Jan. 2014 Aug. 2016 Oct. 2018 Dec. 2019 Feb. 2022 Jan. 2024
Mubare 10 5 9 11 5 6 9 7
Habinyanja 23 29 18 17 15 16 12 13
Rushegura 15 21 19 16 15 15 19 16
Nkuringo 18 17 19 12 14 15 12 14
Bitukura 15 14 14 13 11 11 13 13
Nshongi (Shongi) 28 22 18 7 7 8 11 13
Mishaya   12 7 ? 8 10 8 9
Oruzogo     23 17 17 17 10 11
Kahungye     13 17 22 19 25 15
Busingye     9 9 12 12 10 10
Bweza     10 12 10 11 15 14
Bushaho       8 11 11 10  
Bikingi       15 9 14 12 12
Katwe         7 7 9 10
Mukiza (Kyagurilo B)         13 13 15 19
Kutu           11 20 20
Muyambi               7
Mucunguzi               15
Christmas               8
Posho               17
Binyindo               9

Uganda, Bwindi - research group

  Feb. 2009 May 2011 Jan. 2014 Aug. 2016 Oct. 2018 Dec. 2019 Feb. 2022 Jan. 2024
Kyagurilo 17 13 15 20 8 8 4 6
  Feb. 2008 May 2011 Jan. 2014 Aug. 2016 Oct. 2018 Dec. 2019 Feb. 2022 Jan. 2024
Nyakagezi* 7 9 10 10 9 9 9 9
Hirwa** 12 16 9 19 16 17 13 13

* The group travels between Uganda, Rwanda and Congo; ** the group travels between Rwanda and Uganda at least since 2020
The numbers have been taken from the IGCP website since about 2018


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The Mikeno Gorillas 1998

Gorillas in Mgahinga National Park

Mushamuka's Story

Nindja is Dead

The Death of a Patriarch

The Mikeno Gorillas 1996

Maheshe's Tragic End