In Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an extremely rare event has lit up some light in one of the most dangerous and difficult areas on the Planet for wildlife. A 22-year-old mountain gorilla named Mafuko has given birth to male twins, an extremely rare birth for this critically endangered species.
The discovery occurred on January 3, 2026, when park workers observed the mother with the two cubs, both of whom appeared to be in good health. Park rangers and biologists immediately activated close monitoring to increase the newborns’ chances of survival, given that baby gorillas in their first few months are completely dependent on their mother for nourishment, protection and transportation.
The birth of the twins is significant not only biologically but also for ongoing conservation efforts. Over the years, the population of mountain gorillas-named Silverbacks because of their mighty silver backs-has faced very serious threats such as poaching, habitat loss, and armed conflict: paradoxically, many of these risks are exacerbated in the Virunga area itself, where militias and armed groups operate in large portions of the territory.
Mafuko belongs to the Bageni family, now the largest group in the park with 59 members after the arrival of the two cubs. This female had previously given birth to seven cubs, including a previous pair of twins who died a few days after birth in 2016.
Watching a mother gorilla with two cubs in her arms, in a place where life is often threatened by humans and the destruction they bring with them, is a powerful image: it testifies to the resilience of an iconic species and the importance of continuing to protect, by any means, those who cannot defend themselves.
