Lulingu, an eastern lowland gorilla rescued from the illegal wildlife trade in 2016 and rehabilitated at GRACE Gorillas Sanctuary, was rewilded in December 2024. In May 2026 she gave birth to a healthy infant — the first successful birth among the females released from GRACE — and the news was announced in September 2026 after mother and baby had bonded. Conservationists say the birth is a meaningful boost for the critically endangered Mt. Tshiaberimu population and demonstrates that rescued gorillas can reintegrate and reproduce in the wild.
Rescued Gorilla Lulingu Becomes Mother After Rewilding — A Vital Boost For Critically Endangered Eastern Lowland Gorillas
Eastern lowland gorilla Lulingu with her newbornCredit: GRACE Gorillas
Lulingu, an eastern lowland gorilla rescued from the illegal wildlife trade as an orphan in 2016, was rehabilitated at the GRACE Gorillas Sanctuary and released back into the wild in December 2024. In May 2026 she gave birth to a healthy infant — the first successful birth among the females rewilded from GRACE — a development conservationists say offers real hope for the small, isolated population near Mt. Tshiaberimu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
From Orphan To Mother: The Journey
Rescuers from the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation and Gorilla Doctors found Lulingu at about 18 months old after she surfaced in the illegal wildlife trade. She was transferred to GRACE Gorillas Sanctuary — the only facility dedicated to rescued eastern lowland gorillas — where staff provided intensive care. At GRACE, an adult female named Pinga became Lulingu’s surrogate, integrating her into a female group that included Mapendo, Ndjingala, and Isangi.
Young Lulingu, shortly after her 2016 rescue and move to GRACECredit: GRACE Gorillas
Careful Rewilding
After years of rehabilitation and careful planning, Lulingu and the three other females were released into Virunga National Park in December 2024. Their return to the wild was a major milestone: they were the first females rewilded from GRACE and among the earliest eastern lowland gorillas to be reintroduced to the wild. A dedicated monitoring team has since been observing their behavior and conducting noninvasive health checks to ensure they adapt to park life.
A New Life In The Mountains
Field teams discovered that Lulingu gave birth in May 2026. Partner organizations — GRACE Sanctuary, Virunga National Park, Gorilla Doctors, and Re:wild — delayed announcing the birth until September 2026 to allow mother and infant essential time to bond and to confirm the newborn was thriving. Re:wild reports the infant’s father is believed to be Mwasa, a wild silverback in the Mt. Tshiaberimu area.
Lulingu holding her babyCredit: GRACE Gorillas
“They've adjusted to living in the wild extremely well so far, but raising an infant in the wild can be a challenge even for experienced mothers. We're cautiously optimistic that Lulingu will navigate motherhood well and that the baby will continue to survive. No matter what happens, this is another historic first for eastern lowland gorilla conservation.”
“I watched her arrive as our youngest orphan at 18 months old, grow up in a surrogate gorilla family, return to the wild, and now become a mother for the first time. This milestone is the result of years of hard work—day and night. I am deeply proud of our team and grateful to everyone involved.”
Monitors report that Lulingu is actively nursing, cradling, and playing with her infant, and that other group members have shown interest and gentle involvement. Benoit Ishaba, head of gorilla monitoring on Mt. Tshiaberimu, noted Lulingu’s patient care and central role in the family group.
Why This Birth Matters
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists eastern lowland gorillas as critically endangered. A recent population viability analysis for the Mt. Tshiaberimu population found a high probability of extinction within 50 years unless more reproductive females are added to the group. Lulingu’s successful birth demonstrates that rescued and rewilded individuals can reproduce and contribute to the genetic and demographic recovery of isolated gorilla populations.
Conservation partners will continue noninvasive monitoring to support the mother, protect the infant, and learn more about how rewilded gorillas adapt to parenting in the wild. As Mary Brown, Re:wild’s Africa program lead, emphasized, this new life brings renewed hope for the small, isolated population on Mt. Tshiaberimu and for eastern lowland gorillas across their range.
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