Silverback Musilikale, formerly a peripheral member of Pablo's group (led by the aging Cantsbee), seems to have succeeded in establishing his own group, after leading six members away in April.

Three males who left Pablo's group together in Aug. 2011 have gone their separate ways.  Silverback Twihangane recently appeared alone in his natal group's range, Gushimira acquired three females, and Irakoze has not been seen recently.

A pilot biodiversity study to detect the presence of carnivores in Volcanoes National Park using camera traps yielded some intriguing results. The gorillas were intrigued as well.

The Fossey Fund faces some challenges in the field, as we search for Gushimira's group while monitoring the recently returned Giraneza group and its new infant.

Fossey Fund staff have been training  third-year biology students from the National University of Rwanda, at Karisoke. The future conservation scientists practiced field research in  zoology and botany.