A New Milestone: The Bageni Twins Reach Two Months

A New Milestone: The Bageni Twins Reach Two Months

The Bageni family twins have now reached two months of age, a first in the history of Virunga National Park.

The mother and her twins appear to be in good health. The female continues to show remarkable resilience. As the twins grow, their increasing weight creates a greater physical demand on her movements. Despite these challenges, she remains attentive and steadfast in her maternal care.

(Uzima & Urithi, the Bageni twins, with their mother Mafuko — photo by Virunga National Park)

The twins are gradually beginning to make small movements on their mother. They cling firmly and are developing coordination, though they are not yet able to move independently on the ground. We hope that by the end of their third month, they will start moving independently for the first time without remaining attached to their mother. When moving short distances, the infants cling tightly, allowing the mother to walk normally on all fours. During longer journeys, she adapts her posture: one infant is on her back while the other remains clinging to her chest. This strategy helps distribute the load, allowing her to keep moving despite the extra weight.

The strengthened monitoring team remains fully engaged, following every movement of the female to provide the best possible conditions for the twins’ survival. To mark this historic milestone, and with a deep sense of responsibility for the species’ future, the twins have been officially named:

Uzima – a symbol of life, survival, and biological continuity

Urithi – a symbol of heritage and the legacy passed to future generations

These names reflect our shared commitment to conserving wildlife and safeguarding the natural heritage of mountain gorillas for Virunga National Park and the world. They also honor the daily dedication of the field teams, who work tirelessly to safeguard these gorillas. Reaching the two-month milestone is particularly significant, given the challenges associated with twin births among mountain gorillas. Each additional day represents a victory for conservation and an encouragement for all the teams involved.