GORILLA FAMILIES IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park is located in south western Uganda covering an area of about 321 sq. km in the north of Mt Mgahinga Gorilla National park. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park is well famous for its Mountain Gorillas that are over 400 which are almost half of the population of Mountain Gorillas in the whole world and is also ranked the best national park with natural forests and rare tree species hence its impenetrable forest.

Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park Gorilla population is divided into 50 Gorilla Families and about 13 solitarily individuals. These are located in the four major gorilla tracking regions of Buhoma, Ruhija Rushaja and Nkuringo. A traveller on a Uganda safari interested in Gorilla tracking should have details of the gorilla family he or she is going to visit. However, mountain Gorillas are wild animals that keep moving from place to place.

Gorilla Habituation process started way back in the early 1990s. The Habituation process is viewed as occurring in three phases with the katendegyere group and Mbuare Group.

 Gorilla Families in Buhoma Tracking point.

Mubare Gorilla Family; Mubare the oldest gorilla family located in Mubare hills deep in the Impenetrable forests and was habituated in 1998. The Dominant silverback Ruhondeza started with 12 members and had grown up to 18 members. Unfortunately, the family lost most of its members due to fights with other gorilla groups remaining with 9 Gorillas. In 2013, a new group joined led by kanyonyi the silver back making a total of 9 gorillas currently

Habinyanja Family; The word “Nyanja” is derived from the name Habinyanja which means a water body. It refers to the swamp where the gorilla group was first sighted.  The gorilla group comprised of several strong males that offtenly made fights due to power struggles which led to splitting into two families causing the creation of Rushengura family. Currently, there are 17 members in the Habinyanja family.

Rushengura Family; 17 Gorillas make up the Rushengura family that was brought together in 2002 after one silverback from Habinyanja had decided to break away. The Rushengura family comprises of 1 dominant silverback, 4 blackbacks, 4 adult females, 4 juveniles infants and is headed by kabukojo.

Katwe Gorilla Family; This is the newest gorilla family in Bwindi that was open for regular tracking in August 2018. This group comprises of 7 members including I dominant silverback.

Muyambi Family; The Muyambi gorilla group was opened up in around 2019 comprising of six members. Muyambi was an adult family member of Mubare family and separated from the family to form his family called Muyambi now.

Bitakuri Family; The Bitakuri gorilla family was habituated in 2007 with 24 members. Unfortunately, the family lost most of its members due to disputes within the families reducing the number to 13 gorillas including one dominant silverback Ndahura

Oruzogo Family; Oruzogo gorilla family started way back in 2011 when it started receiving tourists. This gorilla group consists of 17 members including 2 silver backs, 2 blackbacks, 5 adult females, 2 sub adults, 1 juvenile and 5 infants headed by Bakwate. Oruzogo family is one of the most popular families with a high number of tourists due to its playful members, energetic juveniles and toddlers in the group.

Kyaguliro Family 10 members make up the Kyaguliro family headed by Rukara the dominant silverback. The Kyaguliro habituation started in 1995 following the death of the principle family head Rukina who succumbed to an electric shock caused by lightening. After Rukina’s demise, the leadership was left in the hands of Mukiza who was later ambushed by Rukara.

Mukiza Family; The Mukiza gorilla family consists of 10 members led by Mukiza the silverback, 4 female adults, 1 juvenile and 4 infants.  Mukiza family was once under the leadership of Rukina who deceased in 2015 hence lost leadership in the big family of Rukara who walked away with a good small number of individuals who make up the current Mukiza Family.

Gorilla Families in Nkuringo region

Nkuringo Family; Nkuringo family dominates 11 members with the dominant silverback Rwamutwe. Nkuringo is a local ward meaning round hill where the gorilla group was first sighted. Nkuringo family once had 17 members but due to poaching.  On 1^st June 2020, wildlife poachers killed the famous Rafiki who was the head of the family.

Bushaho Family; this family consists of 8 members, headed by Bahati the silverback , 1 blackbuck, 3 female adults, 1 sub adult, 1 juvenile and 1 infant. The family was formed due to the walk a ways from the Nkuringo Family and where searched their whereabouts and launched in the early 2012.

Gorilla Families in Rushaga Region

Nshongi Family; Comprises of 10 members headed by Bweza, 3 adults, 2 juvenile and 3 infants. Nshongi was the largest group of gorillas having more than 32 members and was officially introduced in 2009 but later lost its members to other forming gorilla groups due to fights in the families. This group is in a large forested area were while tracking them you can also see the primates and other bird species.

Bikingi Family; 15 members make up the Bikingi group headed by 1 silverback, 5 adult females, 2 sub adults, 2 juveniles and 5 infants.

Mishaya Family; The Mishaya family comprises of 12 members with 1 dominant silverback. In 2010, the Mishaya family decided to leave the Nshongi group with some females and started his own family. He is a typical fighter and was able to gather more females from other non-habituated groups in the area.

Kahungye Family; this group has a family size of 17 members, 3 silverbacks, 3 blackbacks, 3 adult females, 3 sub adults, 3 juveniles and 2 infants headed by Rumanzi The name Kahungye comes from Kahungye hill in the Rushaga area where the gorillas where discovered.

Bweza Family; Bweza family is one of the Nshongi group that used to be the largest in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. Bweza was part of the Mishaya group and therefore chose to be alone, he walked away with about 6 members from the Mishaya group. Currently, the Bweza family size comprises of 12 individuals, 2 silverbacks, 4 blackbacks, 3 adult females, 1 sub adult and 2 infants.