Amahoro means peace in Kinyarwanda.  Yesterday was a routine health check for Amahoro group and we found the group to be very peaceful!  We walked up the gentle slopes of the saddle between Sabinyo and Visoke volcanoes through a bamboo forest, finally arriving at a lovely valley.  Sabyinyo and Mikeno volcanoes were beautiful in the morning sun, and we could see across the valley to Congo!

Mikeno volcano – the only volcano in the Virunga range that is totally in DRC.

The group was on a hill above the valley, so the trackers and I headed up the slope for the health check.   On our way up we found a snare set for bushbuck.  The snare was only 100 meters from the gorilla group and very near the trail they might have used to come down the slope they were on.   Ramond cut it, and we were on our way, but I was worried because where there is one snare there are usually others.  While Ramond and I were with the gorillas the other trackers did a small patrol and found one more snare. Tomorrow the wildlife authority here in Rwanda, RDB, will send a full patrol to comb the area for snares.

Snare set for bushbuck right on a trail used by gorillas.

Ramond cut the snare.As we slowly walked up the slope making gorilla comforting vocalizations we came to a lovely scene.  Ubumwe, the chief silverback was sitting in the sun grooming  his beautiful coat, flanked by Mbele and Kubaha and their children.   Here’s a video of this peaceful grooming session.  Kubaha and her 2.5-year-old son Abashitsi are in the foreground with Mbili and her 3-month-old infant Umurage and her 4-year-old daughter Agaseke are behind Ubumwe.

 

Here’s Kubaha intently grooming Abashitsi’s leg. Kubaha has moved on to the chin of Abashitsi. Ubumwe is making sure his hands and arms are clean!

Ramond and I left that lovely scene to find the others, and ran into Himbara and Ibigwi playing like crazy. They were clearly in good health! Here is a video:

We had to look a bit to find Karisimbi – Ramond informed me that she doesn’t like Ubumwe so she stays on the periphery of the group.  And we didn’t find Itusa before it was time for me to leave – Ramond told me she is very fast and often slips away unnoticed!  But he will be sure to find her before the day is done, and report back if there are any health issues.  The last gorilla we found was Kajoriti, the second in command.  He was sitting quietly in the sun, looking to be enjoying a moment of solitude.  Ramond and I watched for a bit, then backed away to leave him in peace.

Kajoriti, the silverback who is second in command of Amahoro group.

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