Uganda lost one of the most famous Gorillas known as Rafiki the leader Nkuringo one of the famous and historical Gorilla groups in Bwindi impenetrable forest. Rafiki was reported missing on the 1st June 2020 and his body was found in hakato area in the park on 2nd June, 2020.
A postmortem revealed that the Gorilla had sustained a deep injury into the internal organs of the upper left of the abdomen. Four poachers were arrested in connection with the death of this Gorilla and the first suspect was Byamukama Felix a resident of Murole Village who was found with items like spear, rope and wire snares, dog hunting bell and bush pig meat.
Byamukama confessed having killed the Gorilla in self-defense after coming into contact with the gorilla family in the forest as he was poaching with his fellow poacher Bampabenda Evarist that day. He also confessed that he shared the bush meat with Museveni valence and Mubangizi Yonasi whom he says are fellow poachers. All these were arrested with the help of the village chairperson and taken to Kisoro police station awaiting trial in courts of law.
About Nkuringo Gorilla Family.
Nkuringo is one of the 3 Gorilla groups in the southern sector of Bwindi forest. The group has a number of 12 individuals with 2 silverbacks, 1 black back, Females, several juveniles and 1 infant. This group was the first to be habituated in 1997 and is now available for tracking. The death of Rafiki leaves a gap for the next leader who is now in the group. You must visit this group to see the new head of the group and how he is taking the group.
About Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park
Bwindi National Park is located in the south western parts of Uganda in Kabale and Kisoro district. It is Uganda’s home for the mountain Gorillas with more than half of the world’s total population of mountain Gorillas. This park is known for Gorilla tracking as the major tour activity. Other tourism activities in this park include; birding, nature walks, Mountain bikes and great cultural encounter in the Batwa community.
