Uganda Wildlife Authority has released information about the birth of twin gorilla babies a few weeks ago at Bwindi Gorilla National Park. The newborns are part of the Nkuringo gorilla group, whose dominant male had passed away earlier in the year before a new ‘silverback’ emerged as undisputed leader. The group is reportedly being monitored by veterinary staff of UWA to ensure the well-being of the gorilla babies and to assist them as much as possible to see them through maturity in a few year’s time.
This a rare situation and the authorities are doing all their best to make sure that these twins will celebrate many birth celebrations. 2 years ago it happened in Rwanda and it was more publicized. Uganda tour industry heavily depends on gorilla tracking . Gorillas safaris are the back borne of Uganda tourism industry and when such twins are borne it assures the world of more Uganda safari to increase.
Mountain gorillas have a slow rate of reproduction. This slow reproduction rate makes this species even more threatened. Females reach sexual maturity at age 7 or 8, but don't begin to breed immediately until they are 10 years or older. Generally, due to competition between males for access to females, few wild males breed before they reach 15 years old. Eight and a half months or nine months after mating a female produces a single young and in rare cases twins. Young are usually weaned by three years old, and females can give birth every four years.
Mothers share a very close bond and relationship with their infants for about 4 years, after which another sibling may be born. A mother gorilla will breast feed her baby for three and a half years and will have a maximum of six babies with spacing of four years. Upon reaching sexual maturity, between ages seven and ten, young gorillas strike out on their own, seeking new groups or mates. Zoo gorillas may reach sexual maturity before seven years old, and may have young every two to three years.
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