In a groundbreaking conservation effort, four eastern lowland gorillas, rescued from the illegal wildlife trade as babies, have been successfully reintroduced into the wild in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. The females, named Isangi, Lulingu, Mapendo, and Ndjingala, were rehabilitated at the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE) and airlifted to Mount Tshiaberimu in October 2024.
The gorillas quickly adapted to their new environment, thanks in part to the presence of a wild silverback named Mwasa. “It happened much quicker than we all anticipated,” said Katie Fawcett, executive and science director for GRACE Gorillas. Mwasa’s daily visits to the enclosure, where he would beat his arms on the ground and grunt, helped the females form a connection with him. This connection led the monitoring team to decide to release the females into the wild, cutting holes in the fence in January 2025.
Since their release, the gorillas have integrated seamlessly into the wild group, adjusting to the colder climate and new diet of bamboo shoots and native plants. The team is thrilled to report that the gorillas are looking “amazing,” with thick, shiny coats and full bellies. Mwasa has even been spotted mating with Ndjingala, and the team is hopeful for potential births.
This reintroduction is a significant milestone for the critically endangered eastern lowland gorillas, with scientists predicting that the small population on Mount Tshiaberimu would otherwise go extinct. “The tiny gorilla population was doomed but could now be saved by this intervention,” said Liz Williamson, a professor at the University of Stirling.
However, the conservation efforts are not without challenges. Virunga National Park has faced decades of armed conflict, and human population growth threatens gorilla habitats. “Working in this area is not easy,” said Jackson Kabuyaya Mbeke, DRC director for GRACE Gorillas. “The main thing strategically is to put the community in the middle of everything we do.”
The success of this reintroduction highlights the importance of community-led conservation and forest protection. “The real key for gorilla conservation success in this region is forest protection,” Fawcett emphasized. As the team continues to monitor the gorillas, they remain cautiously optimistic about the potential for new births and the long-term survival of this critically endangered species.