Mountain Gorillas From Hirwa Group, Rwanda Photo Gallery by Chris Willis at pbase.com

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Mountain Gorillas From Hirwa Group, Rwanda

These are pictures from our January 4, 2007 trek to see the Hirwa Group of Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. The gorillas were in a dense bamboo forest, and the sky was overcast, so conditions were trying at best.
The Hirwa Group consists of a single silverback, five adult females, and three baby gorillas. The gorillas were named at the 2007 "Kwita Izina" gorilla naming ceremony in Rwanda ( http://www.rwandatourism.com/kwita_izina.htm ). The gorillas' new names are reflected in this gallery. Many thanks to Francis Karenzi from Goldenland Safaris for giving me the new names for these gorillas!

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Francois, the most experienced ranger in Volcanoes National Park, gives us a pre-trek briefing.	Francois shows us some of the plants that the gorillas enjoy eating.	A small chameleon in Francois' hand.	The Hirwa silverback sizes us up when we arrive.
The silverback gave us a great big yawn, captured in the following sequence...		Note broken canine at lower right of the silverback's mouth.
	This picture illustrates the autofocus challenges in shooting gorillas. Trying to get a shot through a hole in vegetation is a common event, so you have to mind the autofocus. This is "Kirezi."	A female gorilla ("Mararo," I think), ready for her close-up.	One of the group's babies playing.
Baby on board	Sabana	A curious baby gorilla looks at the assembled trekkers
The baby shows us his tongue	Mother (Sabana) and baby. We spent a good five minutes only a few feet from these two gorillas.	Sabana and her baby Uburanga	The baby looks at us.
	The baby gorilla (Inyenyeri) plays under mother's watchful eyes. The adult is Kirezi.		Mother (Ntamuhezo) and baby (Agasaro) enjoying some food

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schieva		30-Aug-2009 06:20
i saw hirwa group three days ago. the five babies are growing up but they want to go near the people. Fantastic

dg		19-Aug-2008 13:45
From reading the vet blog for the Hirwa group - the silverback's name is Muninya.

Debbie		06-Jul-2008 03:01
Saw Hirwa group in June. There are now 5 babies! Awesome experience.

Andrea Wuerz		13-Mar-2008 20:13
Dear Guest, we were at Hirwa Group in December 2007 and our John, our guide told us, the name of the silverback is Omoninya.

Chris Willis		02-Aug-2007 01:37
As far as I know, it did not have a name at the time we visited the group, and I still don't know if it has been named. Perhaps at this year's gorilla naming ceremony?

Guest		02-Aug-2007 01:25
Do you recall the name of the silverback in the Hirwa group?

Digital Rebel		26-Apr-2007 21:11
Wonderful gallery and what a privilege to see these wonderful creatures.

Fundipa		18-Jan-2007 16:40
Great pictures!

Ena		18-Jan-2007 14:33
Este grupo de fotos tambien estan estupendas, felicitaciones, Ingrid, tienes muy buena tecnica y unos modelos de primera, que lástima que encierren a estas criaturas en el zoo.

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