NSHONGI GORILLA FAMILY IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
The Rushaga region of Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to the habituated mountain gorillas known as the Nshongi gorilla family. With 36 members, it was originally thought to be the biggest habituated gorilla family; however, it has since split up, giving rise to new groups including Mishaya and Bweza. There are now about 25 members of the Nshongi family, which includes adult females, youngsters, sub-silverbacks, blackbacks, and a silverback.
The first family in Southern Bwindi to become acclimated to gorilla visits is the Nshongi Gorilla Family, located in the Rushaga Sector. In addition to having a fascinating past, the family was once the largest gorilla family in both Bwindi National Park and the whole world.
A Brief Overview of the Nshongi Gorilla Family
24 Gorillas, including 3 silverbacks, make up the family.
Where: Rushaga
The largest group ever habituated is Nshongi, which was formally introduced in September 2009. Near the location where the gorilla family was initially sighted, it was called after the Nshongi River. This family is an unusual exception to the rule that most gorilla families have 25 members and one or two silverbacks. The fact that Nshongi, who is not even the eldest silverback in the family, is in charge of the group is another astounding truth.
Note: This gorilla group divided into two groups: the newly created Mishaya group, which consists of 10 individuals, and the Nshongi group, which consists of 26 gorillas.
The largest gorilla troop, consisting of 36 individuals, is the Nshongi Family. Following Mishaya's separation, the group shrank to 26 members and continued to break apart. There are 19 people today.
In September 2009, the troop was formally visited by visitors on a gorilla safari.
The River Nshongi, where the group was discovered, is where it gets its name. The three silverbacks and seven blackbacks coexist harmoniously under the leadership of Nshongi, who is not the oldest silverback in the group.
The troop dissolved in July 2010, leaving 26 members, with the remaining members becoming the present-day Mishaya family. Mishaya, a subordinate silverback, split apart his troop of 13 gorillas by stealing females and babies.
The current Bweza group consists of 10 members after the group further broke up in 2013 and shrank to 18. While on safari in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, you can see other apes, birds, and butterflies in addition to mountain gorillas.
This gorilla family was initially observed near a river known as Nshongi. The river was named Nshongi because it resembles honey in color and because honey is known as Omushongi Gwoboki in the local dialect. The alpha male Nshongi is now in charge of the 24 animals that make up the Nshongi group.
The Gorilla Family's Past
This family started to settle in early 2007, and on September 26, 2009, it was formally opened to tourists. This family is special since it had 36 members (at the beginning) and was still expanding, and the blackbacks and silverbacks coexisted together. The eldest male silverback often leads the group, with most gorilla families consisting of around twenty members. As was the case with the Habinyanja family, the group will often divide among the eldest silverback or the more powerful silverbacks in the event of this silverback's death. A younger, stronger silverback may occasionally "overthrow" an older silverback, as was the case with the Rushegura and Kyaguriro families. Therefore, the fact that this family has three silverbacks and seven blackbacks is one of its distinguishing characteristics. The fact that Nshongi, the dominating silverback, is not the group's oldest silverback is even more startling.
His leadership role is the subject of several "conspiracy" theories. One is that, before to the patriarch's passing, he acquired Mishaya's dominant position from his father. Right now, there is peace and tranquility, but how long will this last? Busasi, the aggressive juvenile blackback who may soon challenge for supremacy, might pose a danger to Nshongi's unmatched reign. The eerie presence of the adult female Bwiruka, a favorite of Nshongi's and a known participant in covert trysts with Bweza, makes this much more believable.
What about the family's adult female members? Where are their allegiances? The ladies in this group have an abundance of options because there are three silverback gorillas in the family, each of whom has the ability to mate. It will be interesting to observe how the females choose to handle this delicate issue of the family's available and suitable males. What will happen to this family's fortunes when the blackbacks turn into silverbacks? Make friends with them and keep up with the family turmoil.
The Best Time to Track Nsongi Gorilla Group
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is always during the peak season, although the Nshongi Gorilla Group is always there throughout the year. In reality, the dry season is the peak season, which occurs in December, January, and February before reoccurring in June and August. Because there are less tourists to the park during the wet season, which runs from March to May and October to November, gorillas can become used to their surroundings. The muddy paths and overgrown foliage make gorilla trekking extremely challenging during the rainy season.