AssetID: 55366276
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Double trouble! Endangered mountain gorilla gives birth to twins
Caption: There’s been double baby joy for one of the world’s most endangered and majestic species after Mafuko, a mountain gorilla, gave birth to twins in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park. The newborns were discovered on 3 January by community trackers monitoring the health of gorilla families in the park. Further checks confirmed the twins were born to Mafuko, a member of the Bageni family, and that both infants are male. Rangers said the pair appeared to be in good health at the time they were observed. The births increase the size of the Bageni family to 59 individuals, making it the largest gorilla group in the park. Twin births among mountain gorillas are considered rare and can be particularly challenging, especially in the early months when infants rely entirely on their mother for care and transport. Park authorities say additional monitoring and protection measures will be put in place to closely follow the twins and support their survival during this critical period. Mafuko was born on 23 May 2003 into the Kabirizi family. After her mother was killed by armed individuals on 8 June 2007, she remained with the group alongside her sister, Tumaini. In January 2013, when the Kabirizi family split, Mafuko joined the Bageni family. Her sister later followed her three years later after an interaction between the two groups. Now aged 22, Mafuko has given birth to seven offspring, including a previous set of twins born in 2016. Those twins died a week after birth. Conservationists say the arrival of the new twins is a significant moment for the Bageni family and for wider efforts to protect the endangered mountain gorilla population in Virunga National Park. The ongoing protection and conservation of the gorillas at the park is supported by funding from the European Union and UNESCO.
Keywords: feature,photo,video,gorillas,nature,endangered
PersonInImage: Mafuko and her twins.