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Author: Mariana Martinez

The Usala Conservation Corridor: Two Major Milestones Reached

The Albertine Rift region of Central Africa is one of the world’s greatest biodiversity hotspots, and, like so many others, it is at risk of being destroyed. To protect the existing rainforest from advancing human development, GRACE and its partner UGADEC (Union des Associations de Conservation des Gorilles pour le Developpement Communautaire a l’Est de […]

World Gorilla Day 2024: A Wild Success in the Heart of the DRC

On September 24th, 2024, the spirit of unity and conservation was alive as GRACE and the communities we serve came together for World Gorilla Day! This year’s celebrations spanned eight villages—Katoyo, Kasugho, Kagheri, Bunyatenge, Muhanga, Busuri, Vusigha, and Kitolu—each buzzing with excitement. From a thrilling football match to impactful tree planting activities, the day was […]

Gorillas Enter the “New” Forest Habitat

About every six months, we rotate the gorillas between the two forest habitats in our sanctuary. This gives the vegetation time to regenerate, and also gives the gorillas some excitement as they explore terrain they haven’t seen in half a year. Enjoy these videos of their first entry into the “new” habitat, complete with singing!

Remembering Honoré Kambale Masumbuko

Professor. Wiseman. Mentor. Counselor. Teacher. Leader. Researcher. Conservationist. Friend. These words have all been used to remember Honoré Kambale Masumbuko, dedicated GRACE Education Manager and Research Assistant. Honoré, known to all as a beacon of knowledge and compassion, left this world too soon on May 5, 2024, following a brief illness. Born in 1972, Honoré […]

The Usala Conservation Corridor: Keeping Grauer’s Gorillas Connected

Waterfall in the rainforest of eastern DRC.

We want to invite you to come on a conservation journey with us. In the heart of the Congo Basin, a transformative conservation project is taking shape. The Usala Conservation Corridor, a project initiated by local communities and supported by GRACE, aims to create a safe haven for Grauer’s gorillas and other endangered species. But […]

5 Ways Gorilla Conservation Empowers Women

Women play an essential role in biodiversity conservation around the world. In GRACE’s region of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), women tend to be in charge of their children’s education and their family’s natural resource use. Empowering women through conservation education training is essential for encouraging sustainable behaviors that protect gorillas, reduce forest […]

Celebrating World Gorilla Day 2022 in DR Congo

Every year on September 24, GRACE celebrates World Gorilla Day with the communities in eastern DR Congo who help make gorilla rehabilitation and conservation possible. This year, turnout was higher than ever! Celebrations took place at the same time in three villages: Katoyo, Kasugho, and for the first time ever, Kagheri. More than 11,000 people […]

A Day in the life of a GRACE Gorilla Caregiver

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a Gorilla Caregiver? One word that comes to mind for team GRACE is dedication. Caring for 14 growing gorillas is no small feat. In fact, it requires an entire team working day and night all year long! Every June, in partnership with Global Federation of Animal […]

“The Tea” on Grauer’s Gorillas, and well, Tea!

At the beginning of January 2021, eight boxes of chamomile tea were carefully packed into a diplomat’s suitcase in Scotland and fast pathed aboard a plane to Kinshasa in Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). A big favor was underway. The matter was too important to risk the delays of normal mail. This was just the first leg of the journey. The tea’s destination […]

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Female

Born: 2006 (estimated) Rescued: 2006

Tumaini means “hope” in Kiswahili. Rescued from poachers near Goma in 2006, Tumaini was very young, between three and six months old, and in poor health. Tumaini is a peaceful and very social member of the group at GRACE, but can become protective of her food, especially her favorite – wild bananas. Tumaini seems to want to be the most dominant gorilla in her age group and likes to display often to show off. She is shorter than other gorillas her size, which may be a result of stunted growth from malnutrition experienced at an early age.

Male

Born: 2010 (estimated) Rescued: 2011

Shamavu was carried around for weeks in a small backpack while his captors searched for a potential buyer. Once confiscated, he received medical attention in Virunga National Park and then was transferred by plane to GRACE. Shamavu is the youngest male in the group of 14 gorillas at GRACE. He’s full of restless energy with an inexhaustible eagerness to play. He and male Lubutu are best pals and they’re often seen wrestling and chasing each other up trees, around stumps and through their night quarters. Shamavu boasts thick dark hair and striking eyes. Watch Shamavu’s trip to GRACE.

Female

Born: 2002 (estimated) Rescued: 2005

Confiscated near Goma in eastern DR Congo, Serufuli was named after a North Kivu, DR Congo governor. She was between two and three years of age when she was rescued. Serufuli is a beautiful gorilla that is described by staff as kind. She is one of the quieter gorillas and rarely causes a stir, but she has close friendships with both of the highest-ranking females at GRACE — Pinga and Mapendo — and can influence who is seen as the dominant female by the group.

Female

Born: 2003 (estimated) Rescued: 2005

From the moment Pinga was rescued from poachers, her rescuers knew that she was a gorilla destined to be in charge! Pinga has always been very “wild-like” in that she is not human-oriented — a promising quality that will make her a strong candidate for reintroduction. Pinga is the oldest female at GRACE and led the group for several years before male Kighoma came of age. She is still one of the highest-ranking females in the group, but now jockeys for the alpha female role with Mapendo. Pinga has been the loving surrogate mother to almost every orphan gorilla at GRACE.

Female

Born: 2009 (estimated) Rescued: 2010

When Ndjingala was barely one year old, she was rescued from captors who were trying to sell her illegally. She was in bad shape when she was found. Her captors had tied her using a rope around her waist, which had worn deep cuts into her hips – plus she was sick. Fortunately, Ndjingala’s health slowly improved. Ndjingala loves to play and climb trees, and has a bit of a goofy side. She has started to be interested in mothering younger gorillas and often carries them around on her back.

 

Female

Born: 2010 (estimated) Rescued: 2011

Muyisa was rescued in 2011 on the border of Rwanda and DR Congo. She was taken into Rwanda, and then due to insecurity could not return to her home in DR Congo for three years. During this time, she lived alone with only a human caregiver and she unfortunately suffered from stress and pulled out much of the hair on her head as a result. Remarkably, when Muyisa met the group at GRACE, the gorillas physically embraced her and she integrated seamlessly into the group. Today, she is a confident young female who loves playing with gorillas her age.

Female

Born: 2004 (estimated) Rescued: 2007

Mapendo, whose name means “great love” in Kiswahili, was about three years old when she was confiscated from poachers in December of 2007. She is a tough girl, and very smart. She occasionally uses tools, including branches which she uses to rake in food out of her reach when her caregivers are not looking! Mapendo is one of the highest-ranking females in the GRACE group, jockeying for the role of alpha female with Pinga.

Female

Born: 2015 (estimated) Rescued: 2016

Lulingu is the youngest gorilla at GRACE, and is really adorable. All of the older females love Lulingu and try to carry her whenever her surrogate mother Pinga will let them. The GRACE caregivers think Lulingu (sometimes called “Luli”) is the perfect little gorilla because she always takes her food and medicine and loves the forest. She is adventurous and loves to climb high in trees. Lulingu has always had an independent nature — on her first day in the forest, she immediately climbed a tree and made her own nest! See her full story here.

Male

Born: 2009 (estimated) Rescued: 2011

When Lubutu was about one and a half, he was rescued by the wildlife authority from four people illegally trying to sell him. He was extremely sick at the time from eating human foods. Despite his rough start, Lubutu adapted well to life at GRACE. Lubutu is now healthy and happy. He is silly and gentle and has endeared himself to every person who has met him. Lubutu is growing up and starting to show more silverback-like behavior, but he still loves to play — especially chasing and wrestling games with his best friend Shamavu!

Male

Born: 2006 (estimated) Rescued: 2008

Kighoma was held captive in near the Tayna Nature Reserve in eastern DR Congo by a militia group. Such groups often keep young gorillas and other wildlife as mascots. He was rescued by a man named Kighoma, the brother of a local king, so that is how he got his name.Kighoma is the oldest of the males at GRACE and is currently the alpha male. He is a gentle leader, always looking out for the safety of the other gorillas in the group.

Female

Born: 2012 (estimated) Rescued: 2014

Kalonge was confiscated by the Congolese wildlife authority in 2014 after villagers discovered her caught in a snare. Today, she is one of the boldest members of the GRACE group. She is an energetic, rough-and-tumble gorilla who likes to play and have her own way. Kalonge can be a trouble-maker with high-ranking females like Pinga, because she wants to be in charge! Despite her leadership aspirations, little Kalonge has many friends and loves to play all day every day!

Female

Born: 2003 (estimated) Rescued: 2004

Itebero was only about one-and-a-half years old when she was confiscated from poachers. She was named after the village in eastern DR Congo where she was rescued. Itebero is considered the smartest gorilla at GRACE by caregivers. She uses tools such as branches to help her access food out of her reach. She even has used the advanced “hammer-and-anvil” technique of cracking palm nuts to get to the oil inside, a method previously thought to be restricted to chimpanzees who are known for their tool-using abilities. Itebero’s tool use even made headlines!

Female

Born: 2007 (estimated) Rescued: 2009

On the day she was rescued, Amani was found stuffed into a plastic bag and was very dehydrated. She had a bullet lodged in her right leg as a result of the poaching incident that killed her family. While she is still a little slow and walks with a limp, she has healed well. Many of the GRACE caregivers believe that Amani is the most beautiful gorilla at GRACE because of her pretty face and sweet personality. She loves to play with the younger gorillas and is a peacemaker after conflicts within the group.

Female

Born: 2011 (estimated) Rescued: 2012

Isangi’s family was killed by poachers when she was around 9 months old. Isangi is tough young gorilla for surviving the ordeal that took her from her family group. She walks around almost as if she is the dominant female, like nothing can harm her. She is quite mischievous, and really loves her food. She tries to sneak tasty treats from the caregiver’s food buckets, and will even try and steal food from other gorillas.