Rescued gorilla returned to wild gives birth in historic first for congo
Virunga: One of the first eastern lowland gorillas to be returned to the wild has given birth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, conservationists have announced.
The birth not only proves that gorilla rehabilitation can work, but also helps reinforce a small, isolated population of the critically endangered primate in Virunga National Park.
The mother, Lulingu, was rescued from the illegal wildlife trade at 18 months old and raised in a sanctuary. She was reintroduced to the jungle in 2024 along with three others, and gave birth in May this year, it was revealed this week.
“This is a milestone for the gorillas,” said Katie Fawcett, executive director of GRACE Gorillas, the charity leading the rehabilitation project. “We’re cautiously optimistic that Lulingu will navigate motherhood well and that the baby will continue to survive. No matter what happens, this is another historic first for eastern lowland gorilla conservation.”
Eastern lowland gorillas are endemic to the DRC’s tropical forests, but their habitat is shrinking due to armed conflict, deforestation and mining. An estimated 77% of the population has disappeared since 1994, falling from around 16,900 to 3,800 in 2015.
