Conservationists are celebrating the rare birth of twin mountain gorillas at Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
On 3 January 2026, community trackers responsible for monitoring the health of the mountain gorilla population discovered the birth of twins within the Bageni family of mountain gorillas.
The two newborns, both male, had been born to the adult female Mafuko. Both appeared to be in healthy condition at the time of the observation.
“Twin births are rare across primate species, as most species are biologically adapted to give birth to a single baby at a time,” says Laura Parker, Head of Conservation Programs, Virunga National Park.
“Humans tend to be the one exception. In gorillas, twins are particularly unusual due to the species’ slow life history and strong dependency at birth. Female gorillas have long gestation periods - almost nine months.
"Infants are born highly dependent and breastfeed for an extended period of time, and they need several years of maternal care without other dependent siblings. Because of this workload, a mother gorilla is designed to invest all of her energy into one infant at a time.”
This birth of twins constitutes the first births recorded in 2026 at the park. It increases the Bageni family to 59 individuals, the largest in the park.
At the age of 22, Mafuko has given birth to a total of seven newborns, including a set of twins in 2016. Unfortunately, those twins passed away a week after birth.
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Twin births among mountain gorillas present additional challenges for the animals’ survival, particularly during the early months, when infants are entirely dependent on their mother for care and transport.
“Twin gorillas are so rare that your first reaction is disbelief,” explains Parker. “The second emotion that followed was a mix of excitement and concern. Excitement because again, it’s a rare event, and concern because you immediately understand the biological odds involved.
"The milk production and energy demands needed to support two infants simultaneously is high, and the pressure on milk production itself can place a major metabolic burden on the mother,” Parker adds. “Gorilla infants are also constantly carried by their mothers in the early months. As gorillas can traverse long distances when foraging, managing two infants is physically demanding.
"Also, unlike some other mammal species, alloparenting is minimal - gorillas do not routinely share in infant care. Because of these factors, historically, twin births, including in Virunga, have often resulted in the loss of one or both infants.”
Following the recent twin births, additional monitoring and protection measures will be deployed to closely observe the gorillas and support their health and survival during the critical early period.
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Virunga National Park, located in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), stretches along the borders with Uganda and Rwanda in the Albertine Rift Valley, a region containing active volcanoes, forests and lakes, such as Lake Kivu and Lake Edward. It’s Africa’s oldest protected area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to endangered species, including critically endangered mountain gorillas, whose populations continue to show signs of recovery, despite instability in the region.
Parts of Virunga lie in regions fought over by armed groups, such as the M23 rebel group, which continues to make wildlife protection efforts difficult and dangerous, with ongoing problems with poaching and habitat loss. Park rangers have been attacked and killed by armed groups over the years. Internal displacement linked to the conflict around Goma has also driven people into the park, increasing deforestation for firewood and charcoal.
The rare recent birth of twin mountain gorillas is seen as an encouraging sign for the future. “Given all the challenges that Virunga and the region face on a daily basis, observing the birth of these gorillas cuts through the noise and reminds us why protecting the Park matters so much,” says Parker.
"The fact that gorillas are still here at all, let alone reproducing and growing in number, is already against the odds. A twin birth, with all its inherent improbability, underscores that reality. It’s a sweet reminder for us that long-term protection and the determination of rangers and staff really do make a difference and that, even in the most difficult contexts, good things are still possible. We just have to keep at it.”
Top image: Mountain gorilla female Mafuko and twins. Credit: Virunga National Park
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