Conservationists at Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are celebrating the rare birth of twin mountain gorillas, discovered over the weekend with their mother, a 22-year-old female named Mafuko.
Twin births among mountain gorillas are exceptionally rare, estimated at about one percent, and the arrival is seen as a significant boost for a species with fewer than 1,100 individuals left in the wild.
Park authorities say the mother and infants appear healthy, with enhanced monitoring now in place due to the dangers posed by poaching and armed groups in the region.
Mafuko had previously lost twins shortly after birth in 2016.
Conservationists say the successful delivery reflects years of sustained protection efforts in Virunga, where mountain gorilla numbers have slowly increased, helping secure their upgrade from critically endangered to endangered status.
