Mountain Gorillas: A Rise from the Brink of Extinction
- Christelle Delli
- Apr 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 20
High in the misty forests of Central Africa, something incredible is happening.
A species that was once on the edge of disappearing forever… is making a comeback.
Mountain gorillas, one of our closest relatives, sharing about 98% of our DNA, have become one of the world’s greatest conservation success stories. 🌿
A Dangerous Past
In the 1970s and 1980s, the future looked bleak.
There were fewer than 400 mountain gorillas left in the wild. Many experts believed extinction was only a matter of time.
Their forest home, stretching across Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was under pressure. Forests were cleared for farming, and the habitat gorillas depended on was shrinking. Some gorillas were injured by snares set for other animals. Others became sick from diseases passed on by humans.
With such a small population, every single gorilla mattered.
A Global Effort to Protect Them
But instead of giving up, people chose to act.
In 1991, organisations like the World Wide Fund for Nature helped create the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, a partnership working across countries to protect mountain gorillas and their forest home.
Rangers began patrolling daily, removing dangerous traps and keeping gorillas safe.
Veterinarians, often called “gorilla doctors”, trekked through dense forests to treat injured or sick animals. Scientists believe this hands-on care has played a huge role in increasing their numbers.
Local communities also became key protectors of the forest, helping ensure both people and wildlife could thrive together.
A Remarkable Comeback
Slowly, the numbers began to rise.
Year after year, more gorilla babies were born. Families grew. Groups became stronger.
Today, there are around 1,060 mountain gorillas left in the wild.
It may still sound like a small number, but compared to where they were, it’s an extraordinary recovery.
Mountain gorillas are now the only great ape species whose population is increasing.
A Rare and Hopeful Sign
And recently, something truly extraordinary happened.
In Virunga National Park, rangers witnessed a moment that filled them with hope.
On January 3rd, 2026, a mother gorilla named Mafuko gave birth to twins, the first birth recorded that year in the park.
This single event grew the Bageni family to 59 individuals, making it the largest gorilla family in the park.
But what makes this story even more powerful… is Mafuko herself.
She was born in 2003 and faced hardship early in life after losing her mother. Yet she survived, grew up, and became a strong mother.
At 22 years old, Mafuko has now had seven babies. She had twins once before in 2016, but sadly, they did not survive.
Which makes this new pair of twins even more meaningful.
Twin births are extremely rare and challenging. In the first months, baby gorillas depend entirely on their mother, for food, warmth, and even being carried everywhere she goes.
That’s why rangers now carefully monitor and protect the twins, giving them the best possible chance to survive.
And then… something even more surprising happened.
Just a few weeks later, a second set of twins was born in the same region. Two sets of twins in just a few months. For conservationists, this is a powerful sign that gorilla families are not just surviving…They are thriving.
A Story of Hope
This success didn’t happen by accident.
It’s the result of years of protection, teamwork, and support, from local communities, rangers, scientists, and organisations around the world, including support from groups like the European Union and UNESCO.
Mountain gorillas are still endangered, and they still face challenges.
But their story has changed.
It’s no longer just about survival.
It’s about recovery, resilience and shows what’s possible when people choose to protect the natural world.
Today, deep in the forest, Mafuko’s twins cling tightly to her as she moves through the trees.
A new generation and a new chance for this species.
A future that once seemed impossible is now full of hope. 🐾
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