In an inspiring testament that life goes on despite war and conflict, the Congo’s critically endangered population of Mountain Gorillas increased over the last 16 months, including 10 new births. The new babies were part of an overall population increase of 12.5% in UNESCO-listed Virunga National Park, where habituated Mountain Gorilla numbers jumped from 72 to 81 since the region’s last census in 2007. The report brings hope to the troubled region, which has been wrought with bloodshed and political turmoil for decades. The news is encouraging but serious threats

still remain. In the months leading up to the last census, 10 of the Park’s apes were slaughtered by unidentified poachers during a violent insurgency. Some of the dead were discovered shot execution-style in the back of the head. It was the bloodiest year on record for the gorillas since famed primatologist Dian Fossey first began her efforts to save them in the 1960’s. Read more of this story »

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Mountain Gorillas Birth 10 New Babies While War Wages in the Congo