Reintroduced Grauer’s gorilla gives birth in DRC national park, ‘makes us happy’
Lulingu, a Grauer’s gorilla reintroduced to Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has given birth, bringing hope for the critically endangered species. Rescued as a baby from illegal wildlife trafficking, Lulingu's successful adaptation and reproduction in the wild signify a major success for conservation efforts. This event demonstrates the effectiveness of rehabilitation and reintroduction programs in repopulating forests.
Why it matters
This event is a significant milestone for the conservation of Grauer’s gorillas, a critically endangered species, demonstrating the success of rehabilitation and reintroduction programs. It highlights ongoing efforts to protect biodiversity in regions threatened by conflict and habitat loss.
Lulingu, a Grauer’s gorilla ( Gorilla beringei ), was reintroduced to Virunga National Park, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in 2024. In May 2026, Lulingu gave birth to a new baby, bringing hope for the species and excitement for the conservationists working there.
“The baby and the mother are doing perfectly well. It really makes us happy. We are proud of her, it is also a bit of our success. Imagine, we knew her as a baby, we watched her grow, be rehabilitated and now she is a mother,” Jackson Kabuyaya Mbeke, country director of the DRC Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE), told Mongabay by phone.
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