A mountain gorilla has given birth to twins in Virunga National Park, a rare event highlighting the resilience of wildlife in a region long affected by conflict. Scientists note that fewer than one percent of mountain gorilla pregnancies result in twins, with the DRC recording a similar case in 2020, also within the UNESCO-listed reserve.
“The two newborns are both male,” park official Methode Uhoze told AFP, adding that monitoring and protection measures are being implemented to increase the twins’ chances of survival.
Life Amid Conflict
The Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature, which manages DRC national parks, celebrated the birth on social media, stating: “Despite the challenges, life triumphs,” alongside a photo of the mother with her tiny offspring.
Virunga National Park, inaugurated in 1925 as Africa’s oldest nature reserve, spans 7,800 square kilometres near the borders of Rwanda and Uganda. Its biodiversity, including the estimated 1,000 mountain gorillas living in the wild, has been repeatedly threatened by militia activity. The M23 militia, with backing from Rwanda, has seized parts of eastern DRC, while the forest has also been used as a hideout by the Allied Democratic Forces, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
Despite these threats, Virunga continues to be a sanctuary for wildlife. Park authorities reported eight additional mountain gorilla births in 2025, bringing hope for the future of this critically endangered species. In 2021, the reserve was home to 350 great apes, underscoring the significance of each successful birth.
The rare twin birth not only boosts the fragile mountain gorilla population but also serves as a reminder of the resilience of wildlife even amid ongoing human conflicts.
