Conservation teams at the Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga National Park are celebrating an extraordinary event—the birth of rare mountain gorilla twins! Community trackers made the joyful discovery while conducting their regular health monitoring rounds, finding two healthy baby boys who represent the first gorilla births recorded in 2026.

The proud mother, 22-year-old Mafuko, has welcomed her newest additions to the Bageni family, which now boasts an impressive 59 members—making it the largest gorilla group in all of Virunga National Park. Park officials confirm both infants appeared healthy and strong when they were first spotted, a wonderful sign for these precious newborns.

"This represents a major event for the family and ongoing conservation efforts," park officials announced with evident pride. While twin births among mountain gorillas are exceptionally rare and bring unique challenges—especially during the crucial early months when infants depend entirely on their mothers—the park's dedicated team is already implementing enhanced monitoring and protection measures to support the twins' health and survival.

Mafuko's story itself is a testament to the resilience of these magnificent creatures. Born in 2003 into the Kabirizi family, she overcame early tragedy when her mother was killed by armed individuals when she was just four years old. The young gorilla stayed with her family group, and when the Kabirizi family split in 2013, she joined the Bageni family where she has thrived. Over the years, Mafuko has become an experienced mother, having given birth to seven babies total. Though she previously had twins in 2016 who sadly didn't survive past their first week, the lessons learned from that experience, combined with improved conservation protocols, offer hope for these new arrivals.

The bigger picture is equally inspiring. Mountain gorillas, one of two subspecies of eastern gorillas, were once perilously close to extinction. In the 1980s, only about 400 individuals remained in the wild. Thanks to decades of tireless conservation work, anti-poaching efforts, and community engagement across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda, the population has more than doubled to approximately 1,000 individuals today.

These magnificent apes make their home in mountainous forest areas spanning the borders of three nations, where dedicated rangers and conservation workers brave challenging conditions to protect them. Each new birth represents not just a growing family, but a victory for international conservation cooperation and the commitment of local communities to preserving their natural heritage.

As the newest members of the Bageni family begin their journey under their mother's watchful care and the protection of Virunga's conservation team, they carry with them the hopes of everyone working to ensure mountain gorillas continue their remarkable recovery for generations to come.