Silverback family who can’t live with each other… or without

FAMILY FACTION: Mapuwa now heads a group of six

Rangers baffled as Virunga gorilla family splits again

June 2010: The Mapuwa family of mountain gorillas, which lives in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has split once again into two different groups - each led by a silverback.

Mapuwa has six individuals in his faction, including female Kagofero, while the 19-year-old Nvuyekure has formed a group of eight, including females Kanepo, Jicho and Bitangi.

The family keeps splitting up and then reuniting- and rangers at the park are baffled by the behaviour, which they say is highly unusual. The last split was nearly a month previously. 

Only time will tell if the break is for good

Last January, when there was a newborn to the group, Mapuwa and Nvuyekure - both known to rangers as calm gorillas - were managing to co-habitate. But since then they have gone their separate ways, and then come together several times. 

BREAKING AWAY: Nvuyekure, who has formed a group of eight

At the moment the group is near the patrol post of Bikenge, so is being monitored from there.

One ranger, Diddy, says on his blog: ‘I see the group fairly regularly, and do not notice any behavioural differences when they are one big happy family, or two smaller families. Only time will tell what is in store for this unusual group of gorillas and if this time the split is for good.'

YOU CAN HELP THE CONGO RANGERS WITH THEIR DESPERATE EFFORTS TO KEEP THE GORILLAS ALIVE BY DONATING HERE.