Virunga National Park announced a new birth on Friday 23 October. During a monitoring patrol, the bio-monitoring assistant and his team observed a female from the Baraka family holding her newborn baby in her arms.

With this birth, the Baraka family now numbers 17 individuals. It is also the sixth birth recorded in this protected area this year, according to park officials.

According to park officials, it was during a routine patrol that an assistant responsible for monitoring primates observed a female from the Baraka family holding a newborn in her arms. The identity of the mother and the sex of the baby have not yet been confirmed, and observations are continuing to determine this information.

“The mother has not yet been identified since some members of the Baraka family are still unnamed, and the sex of the infant remains unknown. Observations will continue during upcoming visits to confirm the details of this birth and monitor the family” said the Virunga National Park.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Virunga National Park continues to face enormous challenges. Since 2022, clashes between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and AFC/M23 rebels have severely disrupted conservation activities.

Written by Akilimali Chomachoma