Happy births: When humans slow down, animals flourish with new lives

At a time when the world is crippled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, nature gives us reasons to smile. usually when Uganda records only one or two gorilla births a year, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), recorded, seven baby gorillas so far in 2020. Five of the babies were born at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The latest arrival to the lot was delivered by a 16-year-old female called Ndinkahe from the Mucunguzi gorilla family at Bwindi, increasing the membership of the family to 12.

Two days earlier, UWA announced that Nshuti from the Nyakagezi family at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park had given birth to a baby, bringing her family's number to nine members. UWA confirmed the happy news that Ruterana from the Rushegura gorilla family at Bwindi welcomed another baby, increasing the family membership to 18. This newborn is Ruterana's third baby, but sadly her first infant died at just two weeks old from pneumonia in 2012. The most senior female from the same family, Kibande, welcomed another newborn at the end of August, and now has five offspring.

The birth of new mountain gorillas is testimony to Uganda's successful conservation efforts.