Aug 14 2007
A History of the Rugendo Family
Today Diddy and Innocent have gone through the records of the Rugendo Family, and want to share with you the history of this family.
10 years ago, in 1997, the Rugendo Family was led by the Silverback Rugendo and included 18 individuals. Since this time the group have never been again this large, and the family comprised of two Silverbacks; Rugendo and his son Humba, 1 Blackback, called Senkekwe, 8 adult females, 1 sub-adult female, and 6 infants.
The next year, in 1998, there was a fight between Rugendo and Humba and the group was split into two parts. 8 family members stayed with Rugendo: Senkekwe the blackback, 4 adult females, and 3 infants.
In 1999, there were two births in the Rugendo group. The adult female Safi gave birth to Katembo, and Neza also gave birth to Neza. During this year, Senkekwe also started to become a silverback.
June and July of 2001 saw an increase in fighting between the military of the rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda with militia groups in eastern Congo.
There was much fighting in this area, and on July 15 the Rugendo group was caught up in clashes between the military and the Interahamwe militia groups; the Silverback Rugendo was shot dead.
Rugendo, who had been habituated since 1986, died just 40m from the park boundary. His body was buried at Rumangabo, the headquarters for Virunga National Park, and his son, Senkekwe, took leadership over the group.
Normally a gorilla male will take his high position within the family not only because of his strength, but also because of his experience and abilities. As young males lack the necessary experience, they often find it hard to lead the group, and can lose the females of the group to other families. In 2002, a year after Senkekwe took leadership, the adult female Kidole left the group to join the Mapuwa family, following interactions between the two families. This year also saw the disappearance of Safi and her infant Katembo.
At the beginning of 2003 the group was down to just 6 individuals, after the infant Bahati was killed by the local population at Bikenga, who threw stones at Bahati after finding him in a Maize field. At the end of 2003, with the birth of Bavukahe on the 6th December to Safari, and the birth of Noel on the 24th December to Neza, the group was up to 8 individuals.
2004 saw the adult female Bilali leave to join the Munyaga group, taking the group down to 7 individuals. But in 2005 the group was back up to 10 individuals; after interactions with the Humba Family, the sub adult female Mburanumwe joined the Rugendo family, as did the adult female Machibiri from the Kabirizi Family, and another immigration from the Humba family later on in the year, by the sub adult Mukunda.
In January 2006 the group reached 11 individuals with the birth of Ntaribi, by Machibiri who came over from the Kabirizi family. And in June 2007, the group reached the highest number since 1998, 12 individuals, with the birth of Ndeze by Safari.
Just a month later, three weeks ago now, the Rugendo family was attacked. Three adult females, Safari, Mburanumwe and Neza were killed, and Senkekwe, the Silverback who took lead of his family after the killing of his father in 2001, was also shot dead.
Machibiri and her infant Ntaribi are still missing.
Daily news from the conservation frontline by Innocent and Diddy, and other Congolese rangers risking their lives to save mountain gorillas of the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Wow, you keep amazing records. Thanks for sharing the history of this family. I hope the remaining members are doing well and that someday you find Machibiri and her baby living with another group.
s.
Very interesting. Looks like you guys keep excellent recods of the gorillas and such. It helps now I can follow a little more with more understanding of history on how these guys can change groups and such. Keep up the excellent work…steph
This story has really saddened me. Why would anyone do this? killing a creature like that is so very sad.The Rangers have my support and love. What is wrong with the world today?
Wow this family has been through so much just as all the gorillas have I suppose…it just sickens me that people can be so cruel..how are the others doing ? Any better news? Or are they just wondering around trying to find a leader? I hope they can be peaceful again. I am assuming the people stoned the infant because he was in their corn field? And the rebels just don’t care what they kill do they? Again, Rugendo was just an innocent creature caught in the middle of something he has nothing do with….just like his son…very sad…it’s amazing there are any of these beautiful animals left…..all they want is to be left alone to live free!
Thank you for this beatuiful history. It is very interesting. How is the family now. Do you think they are going to make it? Lisa, California
Thank you for the history of the Rugendo Family. William Deed sent our artist group, Art Helping Mountain Gorillas (WDGP), photos of the Rugendo family recently. Our group members wanted to paint portraits of them as a tribute and to raise funds for Wildlife Direct. It is nice to get to know something about them. I posted this blog in our forum. I think it will help our members be better acquainted with the family. It deeply saddens me to think of what has befallen this little group.
I would like to purchase one of the paintings…Robin what is your website???? steph
Steph….I did a search and come up with site
http://art4gorillas.blogspot.com/
What an awesome, thoughtful way of trying to raise money……..I thought this website was really wonderful! God Bless!
i’ve been truly amazed by the outpouring of support! In just a week’s time we have 25 members. Thanks Steph, our auction starts on eBay on Sept. 8. Our website url is:
http://arthelpingmountaingorillas.googlepages.com The link Gary found is our blog. Thanks!
Nice work, Robin! I’ve added a link to your site to my blog, and I’ll write a post about your efforts later today. Also, I’m going to print the flyer out in color and spread it around my office.
s.
[…] is Mukunda, whose mother was Gato from the Humba family, he was born in 1995 and as the oldest Blackback of the group, he has now taken the position of […]
What a beautful website arthelpingmountaingorillas is. I told my Dad about it. He is an artist in Oklahoma. He painted me a beautiful piece of a Mommy and Baby Giraffe. It’s gorgeous and everyone says how beautiful it is when they see it. I’ve asked him to paint a picture of Noel, who shares my birthday and register it with this auction. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that he’ll say yes, but it is rather short notice. Anyway, in honor of our late Steve Irwin….”we should all strive to be wildlife warriors”. Keep up the good work.
[…] family started in 1998 -after splitting from the Rugendo Family- and is made up of nine individuals; 1 Silverback, 2 Adult Females, 2 babies, 2 sub-adult males and […]
Diddy and Innocent you are angels and I send light and love to you. Thanks for being here and doing your best.
[…] also said that the Rugendo family - who are 5 - are out of the park and in the fields near Bikenge. But they have been seen by […]
[…] was born into the Rugendo family, and became a solitary some years ago when he turned silver. He, like other gorillas, do not know […]
[…] Mapuwa and Rugendo families are still being tracked, as is Ruzirabwoba. This is what the rebels are letting the […]
[…] Rugendo - 5 (3 BB, 2 Juv). Note: Noel’s wound is healing. Bavukahe’s left foot is not right. Skeleton of ADF Macibiri found 24 Aug 07. […]
I just read the Smithsonian magazine article about the Rugendo family. It breaks my heart. I have been so depressed all day. I just don’t get why people are so cruel. I am praying for the safety of the rangers and staff at the park, as well as for the safety of the gorillas.
[…] am still lobbying to try and get Rangers back into the park to track the gorillas. We hear that the Rugendo family has now moved toward the Bukima patrol post (from Bikenge). The Mapuwa family is still being […]
[…] and the army. It is chaos during these times of conflict. And let us not forget that this is how Rugendo and Ndungutse died in 2001 and 1997 […]
[…] their experiences with the gorillas, and what it was like on that terrible day in July when the Rugendo family was […]
[…] this problem. Buffaloes, elephants and gorillas are the main animals that do this. Remember the Rugendo family in particular does this because they are so habituated to […]
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[…] More on the massacred Rugendo Gorilla Family. […]