Reuters
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A mountain gorilla has given birth to twins in war-torn eastern Congo, the national park announced Wednesday, calling it a “significant event” for the endangered subspecies.
Virunga National Park said in a statement that the two male gorillas, born to a mother named Mahko, were discovered on January 3 and that the twins “appeared to be in good health at the time of observation.”
Covering more than 3,000 square miles, Africa’s oldest national park is home to many of the world’s last mountain gorillas, but much of the park is under rebel control and fighting has accelerated forest loss.
Caring for twins can be difficult “especially during the first few months of life when the infants are completely dependent on their mother for care and transportation,” the park’s statement said.
The newborn is being closely monitored to ensure its survival.
Photos released by the park’s news agency showed 22-year-old Mafko holding two baby gorillas while sitting on the ground, partially hidden by a leafy branch.
According to a statement from the park, Mafuko was born into the Kabilizi family, but joined the Bagheni family six years after his mother was killed by “militants” in 2007.
“The birth of these twins represents a major milestone for the Bageni family dynamic and our ongoing conservation efforts to support the continued growth of the endangered mountain gorilla population within Virunga National Park,” the statement said.
Mafko now has seven offspring, including twins who died a week after being born in 2016. The Bagheni family now numbers 59 people and is the largest house in the park, the statement said.
