Gorilla Families in Bwindi Forest – Gorilla Groups for Trekking in Bwindi
Mountain gorillas are known to live in families with a special harmony, trust, and respect for one another. These groups comprise of 6-30 members. The oldest and largest mountain gorillas are called silverbacks who lead a family of females, young ones and other males that are younger called blackbacks, offer additional protection.
The silverback is usually the head of the family in charge of making decisions in the family-like when the group wakes up, feeding, solving conflicts, making the family safe, movement and rest for the night. Because he must protect his family at all times, the silverback tends to be the most aggressive. In such situations, he will beat his chest and charge at the perceived threat.
Mountain gorilla groups in Bwindi are found across several sectors including Ruhija, Nkuringo, Rushaga and Buhooma sectors. There are twelve (12) families in Bwindi out of which eleven (11) are habituated and available for tracking and one (Kyaguriro) is habituated for research purposes in order to increase knowledge about mountain gorillas like behaviors, in case of diseases, habituation, and conservation. It is interesting to visit any of the groups because each of them has interesting facts about them.
Under the Nkuringo sector, only one (1) family the “Nkuringo family” is available. This group’s habituation started in 1996 but was opened for tourists in April 2004. The name Nkuringo was derived from a Rukiga word meaning round “hill” and this name was started because the group was always seen around Nkuringo hill before its habituation. This sector has a hilly of all the sectors and is often perceived to be difficult to trek. At the time the group was opened for tourism it had 16 members with Nkuringo the Silverback that died in 2008 leaving Safari and Rafiki as the only surviving Silverbacks. This group now has 19 members
The Buhoma sector also known as the Northern sector is the first, oldest and commonest to be opened for tourism. It is also considered the busiest because there are a variety of activities that can be undertaken and three (3) mountain gorilla families exist here. These include Mubare, Rushegura, and Habinyanja
Mubare group (M group) being the first and the oldest gorilla group to be habituated was opened for tourists in 1993 after full habituation. Its habituation started in 1991 the same year Bwindi national park was gazetted. The name Mubare was derived from the Mubare hill where the group was first spotted and it started with 12 members who went on increasing to 18 members by 1996. Others especially infants died due to the conflicts inflicted by Ruhondeza, the movement to other groups and fights with other mature gorillas. The group now has 9 individuals with one silverback (Kanyonyi heading the group), who took over from Ruhondeza after his death.
Habinyanja group. The name was derived from the word “Nyanja” a word for the body of water. This was because the group was first seen near a swamp hence the name Habinyanja meaning “near” or “at” the waters were habituated in 1996 and was open for tourists to visit in 1998 but first visited a year later. It is comprised of 18 members including 2 silverbacks and is one of the most interesting groups because of several battles in this group between the silverbacks. Mugurusi was the first leader after habituation of the group and currently, it’s headed by Makara whereas “Kisho” heads the Adult females. Other members include Rugyendo and her baby, Nyabuche, Nyamuhango, and her baby, Maraya, Ruyombo, Kisho’s baby, Elisa, Binyonko and her baby, Kavuyo, Binyonko’s juvenile, Rukundo, and her baby, Hamusini, Nyamuhango
There is also the Rushegura (R group) with 19 members including 1 silverback. Also referred to as “Habinyanja 2 group” because it split from Habinyanja following a difference between historical brothers Mwirima and Rwasingazi, the biological sons of Mugurusi. Rwasingazi was meant to be the successor yet Mwirima had reached maturity and also vied for the same leadership position. Mwirima thereafter acknowledged the difference and the Group was split and attained the name “Rushegura”. This name was derived from a particular tree species Ebishegura because it was plenty in the area where the new family was formed. Despite the separation from the group, the two brothers always maintained a spirit of Brotherhood even when they occasionally. The impressive Rushegura was considered a humble and peaceful family. Thereafter Kabukojo challenged the reigning Silverback (Mwirima) and took over from him which explains the reason why the former is now the Silverback.
The Rushaga sector is the best because it has the highest number of gorilla families notably the Nshongi, Mishaya, Kahungye, Busingye and Bweza groups
Nshongi was the largest group first habituated in 2007 and opened in September 2009. It started with as many as 36 members, with many males leading to conflicts which made the group to eventually break in 2011 into Mishaya and Bweza. Named after river Nshongi because the group was first spotted near the place. Most groups are led by the oldest Silverback but it is surprising that Nshongi the leader is not the oldest. Interestingly the group also has three silverbacks and seven blackbacks which are exceptional of most gorilla families. Presently 25 members belong to this family.
Mishaya formed in 2010 and opened for tourists in 2011. The family is comprised of 12 members including one silverback. Is one of the families recently habituated together with Bweza. Mishaya the silverback known as a “Fighter” separated from Nshongi with some females to form a new group and now is the head. He is known to initiate fights and interactions with other gorilla families.
Bweza. Due to the numerous misunderstandings in Nshongi, it also broke away under the leadership of Bweza and is known as the most current group to be habituated in Bwindi. It was opened for tourists in December 2012.it is comprised of 9 members including one silverback. Initially, UWA rangers thought that this group would eventually get back together but surprisingly they had split for good forming the new group.
Another group is Kahungye. It was initially comprised of 26 members, now it has 17 individuals with 3 silverbacks. It’s one of the newly habituated groups which was in 2008 and was opened for tourists in 2011. The name came from Kahungye hill where the group was first spotted prior to habituation. Later on, this group broke off to form Busingye group following a violent fight between the 3 strongest silverbacks.
Busingye group formed in 2012 is made up of 9 members including one silverback. Busingye together with other members decided to break away from Kahungye family. Despite the name Busingye meaning peace, this Silverback is Aggressive contrary to the meaning of his name. He is known to start fights and violently captures females from the groups he fights and adds to his family. Up to date he still heads the family.
In the Ruhija sector, Bitukura, Kyaguriro (for research) and Oruzogo groups are found.
The habituation of Bitukura started in 2007 with 24 members and was available for tourists to visit in 2008. It is now comprised of 14 members including 4 silverbacks and is headed by Ndahura the second youngest silverback, who assumed power from Karamuzi after retirement. The names originated from River Bitukura where the group was first sighted prior to habituation. It took less than two years to habituate this group compared to other groups whose habituation process takes at least two years and the reason for the short process was because they always connected and interacted with Kyaguriro group where the UWA rangers were regular which made it easier for them to familiarize and get used to humans.
Also, another group is Oruzogo comprised of 23 members and headed by Tibirikwata. The name was derived from vegetation dominated by “Alchornea hitela” locally known as “Oruzogo” that the group always feeds on. This group’s habituation started in 2008 and was opened for tourism in June 2011 and the group has continued to grow in numbers
In conclusion, a tourist who visits Bwindi national Park from any of the sectors can get a chance to interact with one of the eleven mountain gorilla groups and learn about them because every group has unique characteristics, behavior, and history pertaining to its habituation and naming.