Mountain gorillas are among the rarest great apes on Earth, with the world’s entire population found only in the Virunga Massif and Bwindi Forest, a region spanning the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. Virunga National Park protects more than one third of that global population and welcomed eight newborn gorillas in 2025 alone, a sign of how far conservation efforts have brought the species back from the brink of extinction.
Among Virunga’s silverbacks, none has proven more formidable than Bageni. He broke from his father’s troop in 2013 with just 20 followers, and has since built the largest family in Virunga National Park, now 60 members strong.
Conservation Progress
Virunga’s 11 mountain gorilla families are protected through intensive conservation measures: daily monitoring by community trackers, veterinarian support, and habitat protection across some of the most volatile terrain in Africa, including active conflict zones.
357 individuals, across 11 troops
8 new births
41,729 kilometers covered in patrols
2,543 snared cleared
7 veterinary support cases
Beyond conservation, mountain gorillas are fascinating in their own right. Life in the cloud forests, at altitudes of 7,000 to 14,000 ft, has shaped thick, warming fur and a mainly herbivorous diet of roots, shoots, fruit, and bark. Each troop is led by a dominant silverback, standing up to five feet tall and 430 lbs, yet gorillas are also remarkably gentle: they grieve lost family members, greet one another nose to nose, and can be identified by a nose print as unique as a fingerprint.
By adopting a gorilla with Virunga National Park, you support Rangers, community trackers, and gorilla doctors committed to safeguarding the Park’s wild mountain and eastern lowland gorilla populations.
Celebrate 100 years of Virunga with our commemorative anniversary book – every copy helps protect Africa’s oldest national park.
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Indulge in our collection of artisan chocolates, crafted from the finest cacao grown in the fertile volcanic soils of the Virunga region.
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Discover the beautiful handcrafted products made by the talented women artisans of Virunga’s Women Workshop.
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