Gorilla
Family Tree
For five generations of gorillas, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund has been in the forests of Africa protecting and collecting data. Below you will find birth dates, family history, and fun facts about a small portion of the gorillas we have been monitoring for over half a century. This “family tree” starts with Effie, who Dian Fossey studied and includes many of the gorillas we are actively tracking today.
Overview
Effie’s family tree is only a small sampling of the gorillas we monitor in the wild.
Effie
- 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.”
Effie's Offspring
Poppy
- Female
- Born April 1, 1976
Tuysheme
- Female
- Born March 21, 1989
Tuysheme
- Female
- Born March 21, 1989
Effie
Puck
Cantsbee
Mitimbili
Tebuka
Effie
Puck
Cantsbee
Mitimbili
Tebuka
Effie
Puck
Cantsbee
Mitimbili
Tebuka
Puck
- 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.
Puck's Offspring
Gusangira
- Male
- Born June 27, 1996
Mafunzo
- Male
- Born June 18, 1999
Nyandwi
- Female
- Born February 2, 2003
Effie
Puck
Cantsbee
Mitimbili
Tebuka
Effie
Puck
Cantsbee
Mitimbili
Tebuka
Effie
Puck
Cantsbee
Mitimbili
Tebuka
Cantsbee
- 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.
Cantsbee's Offspring
Afrika
- Female
- Born April 20, 2000
Iyambere
- Male
- Born December 11, 2000
Urugwiro
- Male
- Born January 5, 2001
Dushishoze
- Male
- Born June 19, 2003
Effie
Puck
Cantsbee
Mitimbili
Tebuka
Effie
Puck
Cantsbee
Mitimbili
Tebuka
Effie
Puck
Cantsbee
Mitimbili
Tebuka
Mitimbili
- 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.
Mitimbili's Offspring
Effie
Puck
Cantsbee
Mitimbili
Tebuka
Effie
Puck
Cantsbee
Mitimbili
Tebuka
Tebuka
- 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.
