> At a Glance
> – Mountain gorilla Mafuko delivered healthy twin males on January 3, 2026
> – Only her second set of twins; the first died within a week in 2016
> – Bageni family now totals 59 gorillas-the park’s largest group
> – Why it matters: Twin births are extremely rare for endangered mountain gorillas, making every successful delivery critical for species recovery
A 22-year-old mountain gorilla has defied the odds in Virunga National Park, giving birth to twin males and offering a rare boost to the endangered population.
The January 3 arrival marks the first twin birth of 2026 and only the second time Mafuko has delivered twins; her 2016 set survived just seven days.
The Birth Announcement
Virunga’s trackers spotted the newborns during a routine patrol of the Bageni family and immediately alerted park veterinarians.
A park spokesperson confirmed both infants “appeared to be in healthy condition at the time of the observation” and described the event as “a rare and remarkable event for the species.”
Extra Protection Measures
Because twin gorilla infants are especially fragile, Virunga has deployed:
- Daily health checks by field vets
- Expanded ranger patrols around the family
- 24-hour behavioral monitoring by local trackers
Park officials stated: “Additional monitoring and protection measures are now in place to support the twins’ health during this critical early period.”
Mafuko’s History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Born into Kabirizi family |
| 2007 | Mother killed, Mafuko orphaned |
| 2013 | Joined Bageni family after group split |
| 2016 | First twin birth; infants died within a week |
| 2026 | Second twin birth, both males reported healthy |
At seven births total, Mafuko is one of Virunga’s most prolific females, and her survival story underscores the park’s conservation success.
Conservation Impact
Mountain gorillas remain endangered, with just over 1,000 individuals left worldwide; more than half live in the Virunga Mountains spanning Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.
The birth lifts the Bageni family to 59 members, cementing its status as the park’s largest gorilla group and reinforcing ongoing protection efforts funded by the European Union and UNESCO.
Key Takeaways
- Twin births occur in less than 2% of mountain gorilla pregnancies
- Mafuko’s newborns bring Virunga’s total above recent census numbers
- Intensive monitoring aims to prevent a repeat of her 2016 loss
- Every infant survival aids the endangered species’ slow rebound
If the twins continue to thrive, their arrival will stand as a powerful symbol of what sustained conservation can achieve for one of the world’s rarest great apes.
