Amid Congo's Violence, a Gorilla 'Baby Boom'

Population of tame gorillas up 12.5%

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 27, 2009 2:21 PM CST

(Newser) – The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen unspeakable violence, but one population has managed to thrive: the endangered mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park. The population of gorillas considered tame grew to 81 from 72 over the past year, Bloomberg reports. The gorilla population has boomed even as rangers entrusted with protecting them have been forced to flee the deadly conflict between rebel forces and the Congolese army.

“When there’s very intense fighting, there is the possibility of gorillas being killed,” the Park Director said. “Instead, there’s been an unusually high number of births; it’s a postwar baby boom.” Surveyors use the number of gorillas who are “tame,” or habituated to the presence of humans, as an indicator for the larger population. Besides 81 tame gorillas, officials estimate there are 120 unhabituated gorillas in Virunga.

A baby mountain gorilla is seen, in the Virunga National Park, near the Uganda border in eastern Congo, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

A mountain gorilla holding her baby is seen in the Virunga National Park, near the Ugandan border in eastern Congo, in this Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 file photo. (AP Photo / Jerome Delay, File)

A silverback mountain gorilla is seen in the Virunga National Park, near the Ugandan border in eastern Congo, in this Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 file photo. (AP Photo / Jerome Delay, File)

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Amid Congo's Violence, a Gorilla 'Baby Boom'

Population of tame gorillas up 12.5%

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Population of tame gorillas up 12.5%

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He and 'Washington Post' columnist hear tales of LRA brutalities

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But experts worry about ones they miss

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Weapon of war? That's not the full picture: Laura Seay

Imperiled African Gorilla Population Surges 26%

Efforts to decrease poaching and disease have helped

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Women fill the streets with a call to end sexual violence

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