Earlier last month, June, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) announced the saddening news of the untimely death of Rafiki Gorilla Silverback – leader of Nkuringo gorilla family in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Following Rafiki’s death, four poachers were arrested and among them one admitted to have killed the silverback but claiming he did so as a way of self defense as the gorilla wanted to attack him on his course to hunt other small creatures in the impenetrable forests of Bwindi.
The four poachers who were charged for Rafiki’s death were however released later on police bond. Meanwhile, nature lovers and gorilla enthusiasts were left worried that the group could crumble as the death of Rafiki left it unstable with no leader.
With Nkuringo gorilla family being left without a leader meant that there were higher chances of a wild gorilla to come and take over the family. If that happened, the group/family would not want to come into contact with humans, since it will be wild again, which ultimately could affect tourism.
Thank heavens, on the 2nd of July 2020 the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) delivered some comforting news that Nkuringo gorilla family had got a new leader by names of ‘’Rwamutwe’’ – a dominant black-back to replace the departed ‘’Rafiki’’. According to UWA, Rwamutwe will be seconded by another black-back known as ‘’Tabu’’ during the new reign.
This therefore means that the Nkuringo gorilla family has stabilized and is ready for tourism yet again. Though prior to the death of Rafiki the group had 17 members, according to UWA’s official press release Rwamutwe’s reign in the family includes only 11 members.
