Gatoto was born between September 2007 and November 2008 to Bigohe, an adult female in the Kabirizi family. Gatoto’s birth was one of five in the Kabirizi family during this period - during which we, the Rangers, did not have access to the Gorilla Sector because of the war.

Gatoto with mother Bigohe, in Jan 09 during the census of the Mountain Gorillas

Gatoto is a wonderful new addition to the Kabirizi family, and also a complete surprise as her mother came to the group from an non-habituated gorilla family. As you know there are an estimated 120 non-habituated Mountain Gorillas in Virunga, and there are of course migrations between all gorilla groups, both habituated and non-habituated.

We look forward to seeing how Gatoto and Bigohe progress in the family.