Lulengo is one of the eight habituated gorilla families that inhabit the famous Virunga National Park in eastern D.R. Congo. This park forms part of a huge bio-diverse conservation area (Virunga) which is shared among three countries – Uganda, D.R. Congo, and Rwanda.
The Virunga Conservation Area encompasses up to eight volcanic mountains as well as three iconic national parks: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Virunga National Park in D.R. Congo.
Virunga National Park is home to eight gorilla families, each with its own characteristics and uniqueness. These include Lulengo, Rugendo, Humba, Kabirizi, Bageni, Nyakamwe, Mapuwa, and Munyaga. Lulengo, in particular, is a magnificent gorilla family to visit, given its rich history and calmness. The group is located within the Jomba region of Virunga National Park, near the Bunagana (D.R. Congo – Uganda) border.
Originally known as the Rugabo group, the habituation of the Lulengo family began way back in 1985 under silverback Rugabo, who was later shot dead, along with two other female gorillas, in 1994 during the Great Lakes Refugee Crisis. During this same attack, a juvenile named Mvuyekure was kidnapped by poachers with the intention of smuggling it into Uganda for sale; but luckily, Mvuyekure was rescued and his abductors were imprisoned and charged.
After the demise of silverback Rugabo, the group was left under the leadership of his growing sons: Pili Pili, Mareru, and Lulengo, who was a grown blackback. Lulengo soon took over power and has been at the helm of this group for a couple of decades.
Comprised of only 12 members, the group was later named Musekura, although this was later changed to Lulengo in remembrance of the official director of Virunga National Park who was killed by a land mine in his quest to conserve this biologically diverse area.
Subsequent attacks from other silverbacks saw the group lose some of its members to other families; for example, the Mapuwa and Rugendo groups managed to take over some members during the 1998 interaction with the Lulengo family. Currently, the Lulengo family is made up of 11 members, including 1 silverback (Lulengo), three adult females, one sub-adult female, three juveniles, and three babies.
