Kahuzi-Biega trackers find the Mpungwe gorilla family after almost two years
It is the first gorilla group located since monitoring was suspended in February 2025.
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Bukavu — Trackers in Kahuzi-Biega National Park in eastern DR Congo have found the family of eastern lowland gorillas led by the silverback Mpungwe, after almost two years without regular monitoring.
The team located the group on 4 and 5 November near Mount Bugulumiza, in the Tshivanga sector of South Kivu. It is the first gorilla family found since tracking was suspended in February 2025 because of insecurity in the region.
14 gorillas counted
The trackers followed fresh nests and droppings before observing the gorillas directly. They counted 14 individuals, including two juveniles. The park said the animals stayed calm and carried on with their activities. At the last count before the suspension, the family had 16 members, and the new figures will help the park update its records.
The Mpungwe family belongs to Grauer's gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) and takes its name from the Mpungwe river. It was one of the groups habituated to supervised human visits for conservation and tourism.
The trackers also found signs of pressure on the habitat, including camps used for illegal logging. The park says it is gradually resuming gorilla monitoring and wildlife surveillance.
Source: Actualite.cd, November 2026.
