Did you know that Mubare family was led by Kanyonyi silverback gorilla? As we come to the end of the year, it is unfortunate that Mubare group pays tribute to their fallen leader “Kanyonyi silverback.” This mighty silverback died on Friday 2017. It is in deed sad news to not only to Mubare family but also to conservationists, park experts, tourists and many more stakeholders that we have lost such a great and alluring leader in the mountain gorilla family. He led Mubare troop, the first gorilla family to be habituated in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park which extends up to 321 square kilometers and offers refuge to over 400 individuals of the world’s Great apes. The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park is located in southwestern Uganda and comes with about 12 full habituated families out of 36 troops.
Mubare gorilla group derived its name from the close Mubare hills and can be tracked around Buhoma area. Its habituation process began in October 1991 by the well trained Uganda Wildlife Authority staff and took 2 (two) years for visitors to start tracking. This was under the leadership of Ruhondeza and the group comprised of 18 members. For several years, this family has encountered many misfortunes such as raids by wild mountain gorillas groups, deaths, kidnappings and defections by some members that drastically decreased the number of family’s members. The worst raids were recorded in 2012 that several members were injured and kidnapped. Ruhondeza the silverback at a time tried to fight them off but given his old age, he couldn’t make it. He passed on at around 50 years old and the group was left effortless that they increased up to 8 members under the leadership of Kanyonyi silverback.
Unfortunately, Kanyonyi silverback gorilla first fell down from the tree but while he was still recovering after treatment, a lone silverback fought with him because he wanted to assume leadership of his family. The silverback in his weakened state wasn’t in position to fight back and instead sustained lots of body injuries that though were slowly healing, left him weaker than before. The wounds on his wrists cut deep into the muscle and turned swollen and smelly. A lot more was done to save his life.
Previously, Kanyonyi silverback used to eat well though still limping and walking slowly with one adult female gorilla-Karungyi and her baby taking care of him. He looked a bit fine and almost recovered. He was very alert, active and fully in control of the family at a time. Great thanks go to the Uganda Wildlife Authority park staff and Conservation through Public Health (CTPH) team who continued to monitor Kanyonyi to ensure that he never encountered the lone silverback till he gained more strength. Fighting amongst free ranging gorillas is regarded as part of normal behavior for these massive creatures in the wild and helps the natural family succession. The Conservation through Public Health engaged in the post mortem that confirmed the main cause of his death to be an infection in the hip joint after he fell off the tree. Kanyonyi turned a silverback gorilla at Mubare family around 2012 after his father Ruhondeza passed on. It is a sad moment that he is now joining his father to the gorilla heaven and be part of the family. Ruhondeza was also head silverback of the oldest gorilla family to be habituated for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Kanyonyi was such a playful young and charismatic leader that loved interacting with humans. He was also known for being a daring fighter that consequently raided other gorilla families for their females. It was very challenging for one to reconcile between Kanyonyi and other apes. For last 5 (five) years, Kanyonyi was able to keep Mubare family together and managed to make it grow by attracting several females.
At the time when the Gorilla Conservation Coffee social enterprise began in 2015 to support farmers living within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the first coffee blend was named after Kanyonyi that represented the gorilla conservation efforts at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park ever since tourism started around 1993.
In conclusion, Kanyonyi silverback gorilla is one of the most remarkable young silverbacks that have live a charismatic life in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. A visit to Mubare gorilla family of Bwindi rewards visitors with thrilling experiences about the enormous silverbacks including the Kanyonyi that succeeded leadership from his father-Ruhondeza. May his legacy keep shining through stories, memories and the Kanyonyi coffee blends!
