One of the amazing and valuable aspects of the Fossey Fund’s work with gorillas is that we have been able to follow them for more than five decades, so we have come to know their lives in incredible detail. This information is important for scientific understanding and also is a key part of guiding our conservation strategy.
Our trackers are in the forest every day observing the gorillas and the only time this is interrupted is when groups shift their home range – most likely in response to avoiding other family groups – over the border into the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where our trackers are unable to go. Ultimately, this is a good thing because it decreases the gorillas’ population density and helps avoid the increased mortality that can result when too many groups share limited habitat. But we miss not seeing these gorillas regularly, given that we know them all as individuals and always want to know how they are doing.
The Kuryama group, which formed in 2007 from a split of the larger Beetsme’s group, is an example of a group that has largely moved outside our regular observation area, only reappearing occasionally since 2018, as happened this past October.
Named after the original dominant silverback, Kuryama, the group is now led by 21-year-old Igihozo, supported by his mother, Mahirwe, and three siblings. With three other silverbacks in the group, this 18-member unit is particularly successful. When the group reappears in our tracking range, we can easily recognize the individuals we know, even though they’ve grown and are more mature than when last seen, especially the silverbacks.
Silverback Igihozo (shown at a younger age here) now leads the Kuryama group.
Catching up with the group
The group size has consistently been increasing, which is a sign of stability and success: four new females have joined since 2018, and six infants have been born, all appearing healthy. Among the new females is one we have never seen before, suggesting she may have come from a group that lives on the Congo side of the habitat. Our decades-long presence with the gorillas means that sightings of unknown individuals are rare, so seeing a new female is exciting and also good for the gorillas as it brings new genetics into the group.
Before October, we had last seen the Kuryama family roughly a year ago. This most recent sighting occurred near the top of Mount Bisoke while trackers were following another group. The Kuryama gorillas were initially cautious, understandable given their long absence from human contact, but showed no signs of distress or aggression. Our trackers kept a respectful distance and returned the next day, hoping to gather more details.
On the second day, our team identified some familiar faces, like adult females Makuba, Mahirwe and Faida. Among the silverbacks, Rwema and Tetero were recognizable, and gradually, more individuals approached. Soon, trackers spotted female Impamo and youngster Indiri, as well as Keza, who was holding her infant.
We are thrilled to see the youngsters in the group growing up, whenever they are back in our tracking area.
Historical information matters
Although brief, this sighting of the Kuryama group was significant. Recognizing nearly all the expected group members, we celebrated the survival and well-being of these familiar gorillas. We are delighted to see that the group continues to carry on the legacy of its ancestors, especially Titus.
This encounter also highlights the success of long-term conservation efforts. Even as they wander beyond our daily monitoring range, these gorillas benefit from protective measures that encompass their habitat. Such sightings reaffirm the resilience of the gorilla population and their complex social dynamics, including the transfer of females between groups. This sighting of the Kuryama group allowed us to fill gaps in our ongoing demographic records, and brought us great joy knowing that they have been thriving.
This article is part of a series presented by the Fossey Fund’s gorilla program Senior Advisor Veronica Vecellio, focusing on the mountain gorillas the Fossey Fund protects and studies every day in Rwanda. Veronica has worked with these gorilla families for 20 years and shares her deep knowledge and insights about their lives.
