The Susa group, also known as the “original Susa,” “Susa A,” or “Kurira,” is not only a historical group but also the most important as far as gorilla conservation is concerned in Volcanoes National Park.
Susa was first identified in 1978 by Dian Fossey and her team; therefore, the family’s story dates back to the 1980s, before the death of this gorilla heroine. She used this very group to conduct most of her research work and experiments.
It is located near the River Susa, from which it derives its name. This river traverses the region where the Susa family inhabits. It is located in a place within Volcanoes National Park that is hard to access, making the Susa family one of the hardest groups to track in this park.
The group was originally made up of 44 gorillas, making it the largest gorilla family ever to live in the Virunga region. However, due to several divisions, clashes, fights, and separations, the family reduced to 28 members and later to the current 18 members.
The group is also famous for being the only gorilla family with a set of twins: Impano and Byishimo, who were born in 2004, and Impeta and Umudende in 2011 (although Impeta passed on later in 2015). Several splits of the group led to the formation of many gorilla families, mainly the Karisimbi and Igishi/Susa B groups. The Karisimbi family also split to form the Isimbi family.
The family has been under the leadership of silverback Kurira since 1999 and is composed of a total of three silverbacks, three black backs, four adult females, two sub-adult males, one juvenile, and five infants.
The Susa family presents a very thrilling trekking experience as trekkers have a chance to watch the twins play and roll from one tree branch to another.
The group has been a victim of a poaching tragedy that occurred in May 2002, which led to the death of two adult females who died in their pursuit to protect two baby gorillas from brutal poachers who wanted to abduct them and sell them on the illegal market.
