Nkuringo Gorilla Family
Family size: 15 members including 2 silverbacks
Location: Nkuringo
The Nkuringo group was named after the Rukiga word for “round hill” and was launched in 2004. Nkuringo is the Rukiga word for round hill. The group was first spotted and targeted for habituation at a hill named Nkuringo. This hill is not peaked and can be distinguished by its rounded crest.
Gorilla tourism started in Nkuringo in April 2004 after the habituation of the group that started in 1996. The group ranges the Kashasha river valley below the Nteko ridge and was often to be found foraging in close proximity to the indigenous populations outside the park. This was regarded as being detrimental to the health and well being of the animals as they were becoming predomitory crop raiders devastating banana plantations and feeding on eucalyptus and sweet potato.
Therefore, one of the most important reasons for their habituation were the problems they created for the local communities by destroying crops and other products. By opening up the gorilla family for visitors, the community could directly benefit from tourism and it formed a protection for the gorillas as well.
The Nkuringo Family is made up of 15 individuals and 2 silverback gorillas.
Nkuringo locally denotes “round hill” a word from the Rukiga language referring to the hill where the family was initially sighted.
Nkuringo gorilla family was launched in 2004 after the two year habituation process. Like earlier said, one of the reasons for the habituation of Nkuringo was their continued venture into the local communities’ gardens feeding on bananas, sweet potatoes and other crops.
Rangers from the Human Gorilla Conflict Force were tasked to chase the group back int the park on an all too regular basis. It was decided in the best interests of both the animals and villagers well being that the International Gorilla Conservation Programme purchase a 12km long and 350m wide strip of public land along the river to create a buffer zone adjacent the national park where planned land usage would not be appealing to the gorillas encouraging them to remain within the park. The land purchase has not completely solved the problem as the gorillas have ranged more than 1km out of the park as villagers farms moved back out of what was the new buffer zone.
The Nkuringo group in early 2008 was made up of 18 gorillas however one of the silverbacks in the group and longest surviving of these named Nkuringo died at what was an estimated age of 49 years on 27th April 2008.
Kwitonda gave birth to twins on 1st November 2008 one of which passed away at 2 years. In November 2009 came the exciting development of a yet another baby being born to Mama Xmas named Kiiza. The group currently includes 16 animals after the loss of one of the twins and the silverback Bahati leaving the group in July 2011:
The permits were allocated to the local community so that they would directly benefit from tourism till it was later added to the quota managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The revenue sharing with the local communities has helped to gain the local’s support to gorilla conservation.
Historical Notes
In the first few months of contact with the group, the habituating trackers noted that it was under the leadership of an elderly silverback, who they naturally named Nkuringo. However, even then, Nkuringo’s son, Safari, had began calling the shots and, as heir-apparent, he had apparently taken over most of the leadership responsibilities. The aged Nkuringo died on 27th April, 2008, leaving behind two silverbacks in the group, Safari and Rafiki.
This meant that the threat of a leadership showdown was expected. How did the situation resolve itself? Was there a battle of biblical proportions to determine dominance? The two silverbacks-Safari and Rafiki were left in the control and eventually Safari took over the leadership. In the same year in November; newborn twin babies Katungi and Muhozi arrived and increased the group more.
The unfortunate bit of it is that Katungi passed on at the age of one and half years as a result of sickness.
During the Corona Virus lockdown of 2020, Rafiki was killed by poachers who entered the park to hunt for other animals. Later the killers of Rafiki were arrested and imprisoned for 11 years.
Tracking the Nkuringo Family
This group is also known to be demanding in terms of energy and stamina. It features among the breathtaking groups in the park. But exploring it offers the most thrilling experiences of life time. It is also a large troop in southern scenic sector and offers unforgettable encounters. This family is recommended for youthful hikers and tourists who opt for this family must have a reasonable degree of fitness.
Would you like to learn more about the Family? Find out by ‘friending’ the silverbacks of the Nkuringo family to see how the situation was resolved.