On January 8, 2017 a clash between the Isabukuru and Musilikale groups in Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda) sadly resulted in the death of infant Kura just days before her first birthday.

Kura’s death comes just one year after the remarkable birth of her and her twin to adult female Isaro in the Isabukuru group.  They were the third known set of surviving twins among mountain gorillas in the Virungas.  The first twin died in August 2016 after sustaining severe injuries when Musilikale group challenged Isabukuru.  Kura survived that interaction unharmed.

Drs. Noel, Mike, Methode, and Gaspard performed a postmortem examination and confirmed that Kura died due to multiple severe wounds causing injury and blood loss.  Biological samples were collected from Kura’s carcass, to help Gorilla Doctors detect any underlying disease conditions that may not have been clinically evident prior to Kura’s unfortunate death.

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