The Lulengo gorilla family was first known as the Musekura gorilla family. The name was later changed to Lulengo in memory of a former technical director of Virunga National Park who was killed by a landmine.
During the Great Lakes refugee crisis in 1994, Lulengo, the dominant silverback, was born into the Rugabi gorilla family. During this period, his father Rugabo was shot and killed by poachers. After his father’s death, Lulengo took over leadership of the group.
At one time, a young gorilla named Mvuyekure was kidnapped by poachers who planned to smuggle him into Uganda for sale. Luckily, the poachers were arrested, and Mvuyekure was rescued.
Today, the Lulengo gorilla family has about nine members. These include one silverback, one sub adult male, three adult females, one juvenile, and three babies. Gorilla family numbers often change due to births, deaths, or members moving to other groups.
The Lulengo gorilla family can be trekked from the Bunagana and Jomba areas of Virunga National Park near the Rwanda border. Visitors should book gorilla permits in advance and carry proper trekking gear. The best time to trek mountain gorillas is during the dry season.
Mountain gorillas are a subspecies of eastern gorillas. These great apes are endangered, with only about 1,000 mountain gorillas left in the wild. They live in just a few protected areas, including Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda.
The biggest threats to mountain gorillas are habitat loss, poaching for bush meat, and illegal wildlife trade. Mountain gorillas also have a low birth rate. Female gorillas reach sexual maturity at about 8 to 9 years old and have only one or two fertile days each month. Their pregnancy lasts about eight and a half months, and they usually give birth once every four to five years. Because of this, their population grows very slowly.
Mountain gorillas live in social groups led by a strong adult male called a silverback. The silverback is responsible for protecting the group and making decisions. Silverbacks often fight to defend their family members, even if the fight leads to serious injury or death. Sometimes, a dominant silverback can be chased away by another silverback, including a younger male from his own group.
Mountain gorillas are calm and peaceful animals but can become aggressive if they feel threatened. Before attacking, they usually give warnings such as loud calls, chest beating, and throwing vegetation.
