The Pablo gorilla group takes its name from founding silverback Pablo, who led the family for several years before being succeeded by Cantsbee. Cantsbee died in 2017 and was succeeded by his 23-year-old son, Gicurasi, who continues to lead the family today.
A Family With Deep Research Roots
Pablo traces its origins back to Group 5, one of the original families studied directly by Dian Fossey starting in 1976. As Group 5 grew, it eventually split in 1993, forming the Pablo group as a distinct family. At its largest, the group reached 64 members, with some individuals later migrating to the neighboring Susa family. Today, Pablo remains one of the larger families in Volcanoes National Park, with 26 members.
The family’s early history is closely tied to Fossey’s own writing. In “Gorillas in the Mist,” she described young silverback Pablo’s playful nature, noting how his outgoing personality drew other young gorillas to him during his first year in the spotlight.
Recent Leadership Changes
After Cantsbee disappeared sometime between 2016 and 2017, the family underwent another split. Kureba, an 18-year-old silverback, left with a small group of followers to form his own family, while the main group remained under Gicurasi, who had already taken over leadership from his father.
A Family Full of Infants
Pablo is known for having more infant gorillas than any other family in Volcanoes National Park, with over 6 young gorillas currently part of the group alongside sub-adult females, silverbacks, and blackbacks. This makes for an unusually lively and active trek compared to some of the park’s quieter families.
Trekking the Pablo Family
Pablo is found along the slopes of Mount Karisimbi, the tallest of the Virunga volcanoes at 4,507 meters, and remains under close daily observation by staff from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Trekking here is considered physically demanding, given Karisimbi’s steep terrain and the thick vegetation and undergrowth along the way.
With deep ties to Dian Fossey’s original research and one of the liveliest infant populations of any Volcanoes National Park family, Pablo offers a trek grounded in real gorilla conservation history. Book your gorilla trekking permit with our team today, and we’ll help you plan the trek alongside the rest of your Rwanda itinerary.







