MOUNTAIN GORILLA FAMILIES IN UGANDA
mountain gorilla families in uganda:Mountain gorillas are critically endangered animals living in the forest areas situated on the high altitudes, mountain gorilla are big fur covered animals and one of the most sought for creatures by tourists in the world, in 6the whole world mountain gorillas are only found in three countries that is Uganda, Rwanda and democratic republic of congo.
Mountain gorillas in Uganda are found into two protected areas that is Bwindi impenetrable national park and mgahinga national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in south west part of Uganda lieing on the edges of western rift valley arm. This park is generally dominated by thick forests covering an area of 327 square kilometers, Bwindi impenetrable national park has been ranked as a protected area in world hosting the largest population of mountain gorillas estimated to be over 400 mountain gorillas. Mgahinga forested national park is also found in south western part of Uganda near Kisoro town, the stretches over 3 Virunga mountains that is mount muhabura, mount gahinga and mount sabyinyo covering an area of 33.9 square kilometers. Mgahinga forest national park only hosts one gorilla family called Nyakagezi gorilla family.
Mountain gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park
Bwindi impenetrable national park is a home to the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world making up half of the population, these mountain gorillas in Bwindi forests live in families which are 18 in total. The 18 families under went through habituation process thus being comfortable and less rebellious to human presence, mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable national park are scattered in four gorilla trekking sectors that is Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga sector and they include
- Mubare gorilla family
Mubare gorilla family is the first gorilla family to be formed in Uganda and the first to be open for trekking after habituation process, mubare family’s habituation process was completed in 1991 and in 1993 the group received its first trekkers. Mubare gorilla family is also referred to as M group and found in buhoma gorilla sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park, the family consists of 9 members and ruled by one dominant silverback
- Habinyanja gorilla family
Habinyanja gorilla family is also found in buhoma gorilla trekking sector, this family has been recognized as the most interesting and peaceful gorilla family in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Uganda. Habinyanja gorilla family is was habituated in 1997 and was open for trekking in 1999, this family consists of 20 family members making it one of the large families in Uganda under the leadership of silverback called Mugurusi. Silverback Mugurusi was the initial leader of the family and after his passing power struggle for the leadership of the struggle resulted into the splitting of the family, split members from Habinyanja gorilla family created their own family called Rushegura gorilla family.
- Rushegura gorilla family
Rushegura gorilla family is a split gorilla family from Habinyanja gorilla family formed and habituated in 2000 and first received its first trekkers in 2002, the family consists of 19 family members with 5 females under the leadership of silverback Mwirima the calmest silverback in Bwindi impenetrable national park. Rushegura gorilla family is also found and trekked in buhoma gorilla trekking sector.
- Nshongi gorilla family
Nshongi gorilla family was a large gorilla family during the time of its habituation process and being opened for trekking, the family consisted of 36 gorilla family until power struggles rose into the family and resulted into the split of 10 families. The split left the family with only 20 family members with 2 silverbacks. Two gorilla families are noticed to have split from Nshongi gorilla family that is Mishaya gorilla family and Bweza gorilla family, the reason to why this family is called Nshongi gorilla family it is because its family members were first sighted around the waters of river Nshongi. Regardless of the splits Nshongi gorilla family is still one of the biggest family in Uganda with 25 gorilla members with 2 silverbacks.
- Mishaya gorilla family
Mishaya gorilla family found in Rushaga gorilla trekking sector is a split family from Nshongi gorilla group, this family is found in the Rushaga gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park. This family consists of 10 family members under the leadership of silverback Mishaya, silverback Mishaya was a fighter unfortunately he lost his life in 2014 in a battle and later succeeded by silver Mwine who is still the leader of the family.
- Bweza gorilla family
Bweza gorilla family is also a split family from Nshongi gorilla family and also found in
- Katwe gorilla family
Katwe gorilla family is one of the newly habituated gorilla families in Bwindi Impenetrable national Park, this family is found in buhoma gorilla trekking sector and consists of 7 family members with 1 silverback.
- Bushaho gorilla family
Bushaho gorilla family is a group of 8 family members with one silverback Bahati who is the leader of the group, Bushaho gorilla family is found and trekked in Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park.
- Oruzogo gorilla group
Oruzogo gorilla group is found in Ruhija gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park, this family was habituated in 2011 with 25 family members with 2 silverbacks under the leadership of silverback Tebirikwata. Oruzogo gorilla family is one of the luckiest gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park and Uganda to register the birth of Twins which were birthed by Kakoba a female gorilla in 2013.
- Kahungye gorilla family
Kahungye gorilla family is one of the newly established gorilla families in Bwindi impenetrable national park in Rushaga gorilla trekking sector open for trekking in 2011, Kahungye gorilla family was initially a big family of 27 family members with 3 silverbacks. The family experience splits due to power struggles leaving the group with only 13 members under the leadership of Silverback Gwigi. One of the gorilla family which split from kahungye gorilla family is Busingye gorilla family.
- Busingye gorilla family
Busingye gorilla family is a split gorilla family from Kahungye gorilla family found in Rushaga gorilla trekking sector, this family is was formed in 2012 and consists of 9 family members and led by silverback Busingye a known aggressive silverback in Bwindi impenetrable national park.
- Kyaguriro gorilla family
Kyaguriro gorilla family is a family of 15 family members with 2 silverbacks found in the Ruhija gorilla trekking sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park, this family was habituated 1999 and reserved for study and research purposes by max Planck institute by evolutional of Anthropology. Kyaguriro gorilla family was initially under the leadership of silverback Zeus who unfortunately lost his life after he was attacked by Rukina, from his death the group’s leadership has seen many leaders that is Rukina was succeeded by Rukara after his death in 2015.
- Bikyingi gorilla family
Bikyingi gorilla family is a family of 21 family members with 1 silverback Bikyingi who is the leader of the group, bikyingi gorilla family has been recognized for having a friendly leader that is silverback Bikyingi.
- Christmas gorilla family
Christmas gorilla family is one of the newly established gorilla family in Uganda found in Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector, Christmas family is made up of 9 family members with one silverback Christmas who is the leader of the group.
- Kutu gorilla family
Kutu gorilla family is found in Rushaga gorilla trekking sector, this family consist of 8 family members with one silverback who is responsible for leading the family.
- Mukiza gorilla family
Mukiza gorilla family is also found in Ruhija gorilla trekking sector with 10 family members and 1 silverback.
- Mucunguzi gorilla family
Mucunguzi gorilla family is a split family from Bweza group found in Rushaga gorilla trekking sector, this family is ruled by silverback Mucunguzi ruling a family of 8 family members.
- Bitukura gorilla family
Bitukura gorilla family is a family of 14family members recognized for having the most peaceful and playful family members, Bitukura gorilla family is famous for being the only gorilla family in Uganda if not in the world recorded to ever go through the shortest duration of habituation process. Bitukura gorilla family is under the leadership of silverback Ndahura, surprisingly the family consist of 4 silverback with no signs of power struggle.
- Nkuringo gorilla family
Nkuringo gorilla family is a family of 19 members with 2 silverbacks including Rafiki the leader of the family, this family is found in Nkuringo gorilla trekking sector. Nkuringo is one of the luckiest gorilla families in Uganda to receive birth of twins Muhoza and Katungi, unfortunately Katungi died of natural cases before turning 2 years of age.
Mountain gorillas in mgahinga national park
Like Bwindi impenetrable national park, mgahinga forest national park is also situated in the south western part of Uganda. Mgahinga forest national park is located in the Virunga Mountain and stretches over 3 in active Virunga volcanoes that is mount muhabura, mount gahinga and mount sabyinyo, the park is one of the small national park in Uganda covering an area of 33.9 square kilometers.
Mgahinga forest national park hosts only one mountain gorilla family called Nyakagezi gorilla family, Nyakagezi gorilla family is a habituated gorilla family composed of 9 family members with 4 silver backs, 2 infants, 2 Adults females and 1 juvenile. The family is under the leadership of silverback is Mark, silverback mark succeeded his father Bugingo.
because of these gorilla families, Uganda has become to be known as one of the greatest tourist destinations in the world offering the amazing gorilla trekking safari.
Gorilla trekking related information
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