On Giving Tuesday, Celebrate the Dedication
of Virunga’s Gorilla Trackers

This Giving Tuesday, we’re reflecting on the incredible work of Virunga’s community trackers as they lead the way in our 2024 Gorilla Welfare Assessment. Initiated in November, this vital program concludes this month, and it has already brought renewed hope and progress for Virunga’s endangered mountain gorillas.

Thanks to the resilience and commitment of our trackers, the assessment has made remarkable strides: 170+ kilometers trekked, 60 snares cleared, and 10 gorilla families observed.

Rediscovering the Bageni, Baraka, and Wilungula Families

A key highlight of the assessment has been the return to monitoring three vital gorilla families—Bageni, Baraka, and Wilungula—after over two years of uncertainty. Last observed in May 2022, these families represent roughly 30% of Virunga’s mountain gorilla population and their return to monitoring marks an important step in ongoing conservation efforts.

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    The Bageni Family

    The Bageni family was rediscovered in the Kibumba zone, where silverback Bageni continues to lead a troop of 32 individuals alongside two other silverbacks. The assessment has so far, only located part of the family, an additional 16 members remain unidentified and are believed to have separated to form their own troop. This assessment marks a crucial step toward understanding their current dynamics.



    Photo credit: Virunga National Park
  • Barakagorillainfant-11-24
    The Baraka Family

    The Baraka family had only recently been habituated in 2022 when monitoring ceased, presenting unique challenges for their reintroduction to the tracking program. Naturally cautious, the silverbacks remain wary of human presence, requiring trackers to proceed carefully and gradually reassess the family. Updates from upcoming observations are expected to provide valuable insights into their current status.



    Photo credit: Virunga National Park
  • Tracker-Wilungula-Retouched-11-24 (1)
    The Wilungula Family

    Similar to Baraka, the newly habituated Wilungula family has been unmonitored since 2022. The ongoing assessment is focused on understanding their population size and behaviour. Recent observations have recorded 6 births since 2022, with each sighting adding valuable insights into the overall well-being of this gorilla troop.

    Photo credit: Virunga National Park
The Trackers’ Journey

Virunga’s trackers are the heartbeat of our conservation efforts. Their daily work involves trekking through steep, challenging terrain in order to monitor Virunga’s habituated gorilla families, removing snares, and documenting key findings for this year’s assessment. This process goes beyond data collection—it’s a testament to their unwavering dedication to safeguarding Virunga’s wildlife.

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Why Giving Tuesday Matters

This Giving Tuesday, your support empowers the local community on the front lines of conservation. Every donation helps equip our trackers with the tools they need to continue their critical work and ensures the longevity of our mountain gorilla conservation efforts.

For donors, this year holds something extra special: a comprehensive Gorilla Welfare Assessment Report, delivered to your inbox in January. This exclusive report will detail the progress made during the assessment, the challenges faced, and the updates on habituated mountain gorilla families—all made possible by your generosity.