Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) has welcomed another addition to its growing mountain gorilla population.
Nyakiruka, an adult female in the Mucunguzi family, was spotted on January 19, 2025, with her newborn baby.
The birth brings the total number of individuals in the Mucunguzi family to 16, under the strong leadership of Mucunguzi, the dominant silverback.
According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), both mother and baby are in good health, and the family remains active and thriving within the park.
Bashir Hangi, UWA’s Communication and Public Relations Manager, expressed his delight over this progress.
“This is progress—more and more numbers, courtesy of the concerted conservation efforts by UWA and its partners. We encourage everyone to explore gorilla births in Bwindi over the last eight years to appreciate the strides we’ve made in conservation,” Hangi said.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the two remaining strongholds for mountain gorillas, alongside Uganda's Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Virunga Mountains in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Uganda is home to over 450 mountain gorillas, constituting more than half of the world’s population of this critically endangered species.
The consistent conservation efforts in Bwindi have resulted in a steady increase in gorilla births.
Data from UWA shows the following birth statistics; 2017: 11 births, 2018: 7 births, 2019: 19 births, 2020: 21 births, 2021: 17 births, 2022: 12 births, 2023: 15 births, 2024: 19 births
These numbers underscore the success of the park’s conservation initiatives, which include community engagement, anti-poaching patrols, and habitat preservation.
Despite the positive news, conservation remains a challenging endeavor. Bwindi’s rangers and conservation teams tirelessly work to protect mountain gorillas from poaching, habitat encroachment, and other threats.
UWA also partners with communities around the park to promote sustainable tourism and share revenue, creating a sense of ownership and responsibility among residents.
Mountain gorillas remain a significant draw for Uganda’s tourism industry, contributing 70% to the tourism revenue and greatly to the country’s economy.
The birth of Nyakiruka’s baby not only symbolizes hope for the survival of this iconic species but also highlights the importance of ongoing conservation efforts.
As UWA celebrates this latest milestone, the call to protect Uganda’s natural heritage resonates even louder. With each birth, the dream of securing the future of mountain gorillas becomes a reality.