• Effie Learn More

    Female - Born September 15, 1951 - 5 Offspring

    Effie has over 100 descendants and was monitored by Dian Fossey herself. Five of the nine gorilla groups currently monitored by the Fossey Fund are led by an Effie family member. Dian wrote that “Effie endowed her infants with love and security during their formative years and a keen self confidence that carried over into their adulthood.”

  • Icarus Learn More

    Male - Born September 15, 1962

  • Piper

    Female - Born September 15, 1965

  • Puck Learn More

    Female - Born December 15, 1968 - 7 Offspring

  • Poppy Learn More

    Female - Born April 1, 1976

  • Tuysheme

    Female - Born March 21, 1989

  • Effie - Mother Learn More

  • Puck Learn More

    Female - Born December 15, 1968 - 7 Offspring

    Puck lived to be 38 years old and was first observed by Dian Fossey, when she was born on Dec. 15, 1968. She is the mother of dominant silverback Cantsbee and her youngest offspring, Puck’s sons Cantsbee, Isabukuru and Mafunzo grew up to be the leaders of very large groups. Nyandwi, her youngest offspring, was often seen helping her keep up with the group in the last days of her life.

  • Cantsbee Learn More

    Male - Born November 14, 1978

  • Intwali Learn More

    Female - Born February 12, 1986

  • Makuba Learn More

    Female - Born August 20, 1989

  • Isabukuru Learn More

    Male - Born October 12, 1992

  • Gusangira

    Male - Born June 27, 1996

  • Mafunzo Learn More

    Male - Born June 18, 1999

  • Nyandwi Learn More

    Female - Born February 2, 2003

  • Effie - Grandmother

  • Puck - Mother

  • Cantsbee Learn More

    Male - Born November 14, 1978 - 8 Offspring

    Cantsbee has over 25 offspring but only 8 are shown below! Dian mistakenly thought Cantsbee’s mother Puck was a male up until she gave birth to her first offspring: “Upon hearing the news from an incredulous student...I exclaimed, ‘It can’t be!’ Thus Puck’s first infant gained the name Cantsbee.” Cantsbee leads the largest group of mountain gorillas ever recorded and holds the record for the longest consistent group leadership.

  • Gicurasi Learn More

    Male - Born May 11, 1995

  • Mitimbili Learn More

    Female - Born May 15, 1996

  • Gushimira Learn More

    Male - Born September 4, 1996

  • Musilikale Learn More

    Male - Born April 1, 1998

  • Afrika Learn More

    Female - Born April 20, 2000

  • Iyambere Learn More

    Male - Born December 11, 2000

  • Urugwiro

    Male - Born January 5, 2001

  • Dushishoze Learn More

    Male - June 19, 2003

  • Puck - Grandmother

  • Cantsbee - Father

  • Mitimbili Learn More

    Female - Born May 15, 1996 - 3 Offspring

    Mitimbili has remained in the same gorilla group her entire life. She is still very close with her father Cantsbee and mother Mukecuru. All of her offspring are males and are very independent. Mitimbili’s first infant, Ubwuzu, is confirmed to be Isabukuru’s son from genetic testing.

  • Ubwuzu

    Male - Born November 11, 2005

  • Isooko

    Male - Born March 9, 2010

  • Tebuka

    Male - Born July 13, 2013

  • Cantsbee - Grandfather

  • Mitimbili - Mother

  • Tebuka Learn More

    Male - Born July 13, 2013

    Tebuka's name means "be quick" and was chosen because he started walking independently from his mother at an early age. He lives in Pablo’s group, the largest group of gorillas living in the Virunga mountains of Rwanda. Trackers often see little Tebuka sitting close to grandfather Cantsbee.

Overview

Effie’s family tree is only a small sampling of the gorillas we monitor in the wild.

  • Intro

Effie Learn More

Female - Born September 15, 1951 - 5 Offspring

Effie has over 100 descendants and was monitored by Dian Fossey herself. Five of the nine gorilla groups currently monitored by the Fossey Fund are led by an Effie family member. Dian wrote that “Effie endowed her infants with love and security during their formative years and a keen self confidence that carried over into their adulthood.”

Icarus Learn More

Male - Born September 15, 1962

Piper

Female - Born September 15, 1965

Poppy Learn More

Female - Born April 1, 1976

Tuysheme

Female - Born March 21, 1989

  • Swipe to view Effie's offspring
  • Puck
  • Effie

Puck Learn More

Female - Born December 15, 1968 - 7 Offspring

Puck lived to be 38 years old and was first observed by Dian Fossey, when she was born on Dec. 15, 1968. She is the mother of dominant silverback Cantsbee and her youngest offspring, Puck’s sons Cantsbee, Isabukuru and Mafunzo grew up to be the leaders of very large groups. Nyandwi, her youngest offspring, was often seen helping her keep up with the group in the last days of her life.

Cantsbee Learn More

Male - Born November 14, 1978 - 8 Offspring

Intwali Learn More

Female - Born February 12, 1986

Makuba Female - Born August 20, 1989

Female - Born April 1, 1976

Isabukuru Learn More

Male - Born October 12, 1992

Gusangira

Male - Born June 27, 1996

Mafunzo Learn More

Male - Born June 18, 1999

Nyandwi Learn More

Female - Born February 2, 2003

  • Swipe to view Puck's offspring
  • Cantsbee
  • Puck

Cantsbee Learn More

Male - Born November 14, 1978 - 8 Offspring

Cantsbee has over 25 offspring but only 8 are shown below! Dian mistakenly thought Cantsbee’s mother Puck was a male up until she gave birth to her first offspring: “Upon hearing the news from an incredulous student...I exclaimed, ‘It can’t be!’ Thus Puck’s first infant gained the name Cantsbee.” Cantsbee leads the largest group of mountain gorillas ever recorded and holds the record for the longest consistent group leadership.

Gicurasi Learn More

Male - Born May 11, 1995

Mitimbili Learn More

Female - Born May 15, 1996 - 3 Offspring

Gushimira Female - Born August 20, 1989

Male - Born September 4, 1996

Musilikale Learn More

Male - Born April 1, 1998

Afrika Learn More

Female - Born April 20, 2000

Iyambere Learn More

Male - Born December 11, 2000

Urugwiro

Male - Born January 5, 2001

Dushishoze Learn More

Male - June 19, 2003

  • Swipe to view Cantsbee's offspring
  • Mitimbili
  • Cantsbee

Mitimbili Learn More

Female - Born May 15, 1996 - 3 Offspring

Mitimbili has remained in the same gorilla group her entire life. She is still very close with her father Cantsbee and mother Mukecuru. All of her offspring are males and are very independent. Mitimbili’s first infant, Ubwuzu, is confirmed to be Isabukuru’s son from genetic testing.

Ubwuzu

Male - Born November 11, 2005

Isooko

Male - Born March 9, 2010

Tebuka Male - Born July 13, 2013

Male - Born September 4, 1996

  • Swipe to view Mitimbili's offspring
  • Tebuka
  • Mitimbili

Tebuka

Male - Born September 4, 1996

Tebuka's name means "be quick" and was chosen because he started walking independently from his mother at an early age. He lives in Pablo’s group, the largest group of gorillas living in the Virunga mountains of Rwanda. Trackers often see little Tebuka sitting close to grandfather Cantsbee.

  • Overview
  • Tebuka

Overview

Effie’s family tree is only a small sampling of the gorillas we monitor in the wild.