Virunga National Park announced that 22-year-old Mafuko gave birth to twin male mountain gorillas, discovered on January 3 and initially observed in healthy condition. Rangers are closely monitoring the infants because twins are especially vulnerable when wholly dependent on their mother. The park — which covers more than 3,000 square miles — faces threats from rebel activity and accelerating forest loss. Mafuko has seven offspring, and the Bageni family now numbers 59 members.
Rare Twin Birth in Virunga: Mountain Gorilla Mafuko Welcomes Two Male Infants
Mafuko, a female mountain gorilla from the Bageni family holds her newly born twins at the Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo, on January 7, 2026. - Virunga National Park/Reuters
Virunga National Park confirmed that a 22-year-old female mountain gorilla named Mafuko gave birth to twin males — a rare and significant event for the endangered subspecies. Park staff discovered the newborns on January 3, and both were observed in healthy condition during the initial sighting.
Spanning more than 3,000 square miles, Virunga is Africa's oldest national park and is home to many of the world's remaining mountain gorillas. Large areas of the park, however, remain under rebel control, and ongoing fighting has accelerated forest loss, creating additional threats to wildlife and conservation efforts.
Park officials warned that raising twins can be especially demanding when infants are entirely dependent on their mother for nursing and transport. Rangers and conservation teams are closely monitoring the pair to support their survival and intervene if necessary.
Mafuko was born into the Kabirizi family; her mother was killed by armed individuals in 2007. Six years later she joined the Bageni family. Mafuko has now produced seven offspring in total, including an earlier set of twins that died a week after birth in 2016. The Bageni family currently numbers 59 members, making it the largest group in the park.
Park authorities described the twin birth as a hopeful boost for conservation and for the social dynamics of the Bageni family, while underscoring that insecurity and habitat loss remain urgent challenges for the long-term recovery of mountain gorillas in the region.
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