Gorilla Journal 30, June 2005

Another Twin Birth in Kahuzi-Biega

After the survey in October 2004, we were surprised and pleased to find that the number of gorillas had increased during the last 5 years of the war. This good news reflects the efforts of the PNKB-GTZ Project, which has worked under extremely difficult conditions during the long years of war. Trackers, managers and others connected to the project, and people working in ICCN, took enormous risks without concern for their own safety during this period of uncertainty. And here is their first reward. Their work continues, with other participants.
The high-altitude part of the park, the former home of the Bami people (with Kabare and Nakalonge as their chiefs), used to be inhabited by Pygmies. They believe that the gorillas live in symbiosis with the spirits of the dead ancestors buried in this forest. It should be pointed out that 30% of the park's workforce consists of Pygmies. They request periodically that we sacrifice mutton to their ancestors to ask them to protect the gorillas. The last such sacrifice took place at the foot of Mt. Bugulumiza on 21 April 2005.
After the sacrificial ceremony had taken place, we observed the birth of twins on 29 April 2005, in the family of Chimanuka, who is the 19-year old son of Maheshe. The twins' mother is called Nabintu, which means "the one who brings wealth". It is also the name of the wife of the great chief Kabare. Nabintu is a primiparous female who transferred to Chimanuka from the silverback Mugaruka, who is also 19 years old, and has lost one hand.
The two babies are called Mushoho, which means "cashier" and which was the name of one of our long serving and famous Pygmy trackers who died in service in 1980, and Busasa in memory of a brave guard who died last year. The twins are still firmly clinging to their mother's breast. They enjoy the protection of the whole gorilla group and are perfectly well. Mother Nabintu is not yet completely habituated to the presence of people, and she frequently hides with her two babies. Since the wholesale killing of elephants between 1996 and 1999, the undergrowth has closed up and observations have become more difficult, but even so we manage to observe mother Nabintu and her twins almost every day.
Currently, the silverbacks are firmly occupied with the fruiting season, which has just started. The young leaders are busy looking for the best groups of large Myrianthus trees. Chimanuka attacked the silverback Birindwa on 10 May 2005. At the end of the two-day battle, one of Birindwa's females transferred to the victorious Chimanuka, decreasing the number of individuals in Birindwa's group from 8 to 7. Although he won the battle, Chimanuka received two wounds on his left shoulder. Furious with his defeat, Birindwa initiated an interaction with his old rival Mugaruka on 14 May 2005, to try to obtain some females to restore his numbers. But in vain: in spite of his handicap of a missing hand, and contrary to his previous behaviour, Mugaruka defended himself valiantly. He kept all his females but received two slight injuries on the neck and on the left hand.
In the meantime, the two new babies are getting their first experience of the forest of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. After a few more days of rain the dry season will begin. The end of the rains, and more agreeable temperatures, during the first few months of their lives bodes well for Mushoho and Busasa. Update

Bernard Iyomi Iyatshi and Carlos Schuler

Bernard Iyomi Iyatshi is a specialist in wildlife management. He has worked for nature conservation in the Democratic Republic of Congo for 22 years, including the Salonga, Maiko and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks. In August 2002, he became Principal Conservator of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
Carlos Schuler first worked as a typographer, then became a windsurfing and skiing teacher. In 1983, during one of his intercontinental travels, he visited Bukavu. Two years later he returned and since 1994 he has been working for the GTZ there.
 

Kahuzi-Biega overview

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