Makumba (the silverback)

Makumba, meaning “with speed”, is the silverback of the group. A good-looking gorilla with a tall crest, muscular form, and a heart-shaped nose. He is predominantly calm and is often found waiting patiently for lagging group members to catch-up; he spends a significant amount of his time resting or sleeping. Makumba is usually found with an ‘entourage’ of infants trundling along after him, finding security and comfort at his side.
 

However, being the group’s protective leader, he can at times show considerable turns of speed, power, and aggression. He can cover 30m in seconds, break trees clean over, stand between bull elephants and the rest of the group as they pass-by, and if necessary use his impressive canines to inflict significant injuries. His proven success as the leader of the group for over 10 years has resulted in a healthy family group with 12 offspring, all but one surviving.

Bombe (adult female number 1)

The largest and most dominant of the females, she can be sufficiently intimidating even in the absence of Makumba. Despite her nature, she is quite an attractive female gorilla with a wide, flared nose and a permanently round stomach (Bombe being a very round, hard forest fruit). Her hair is light coloured and fine, particularly around the head, neck and shoulders. The most 'volcanic' and temperamental of the family, Bombe can within minutes, exhibit both aggressive and remarkably accepting/calm behaviour. A very protective mother, particularly with her youngest infant, Mobangui, and is often seen rescuing him from overly-boisterous play sessions, or restraining him from clambering about in the tree canopy. She is also very possessive of Makumba and is most often seen in close proximity to him. Already the successful mother of three, Silo, Essekerende, and Mobangui (link to each), she will no doubt to continue to be a source of contention!

Malui (adult female number 2)

Malui is the easiest adult female of the group to identify, owing to her prominent T-shaped nose print, strong brow ridge and cheek bones, slanting eyes and sticking-out ears (Malui meaning “ears”). The top of her head is relatively flat-looking, and has a significant crest at the back. Though not of the size and bulk of Bombe, she is a strong, wily female and is not to be challenged. Constantly contesting and usually monopolising food, she is also the source of much of the family's arguments. Malui is also a successful mother of three, Mio, Mossoko Abuli, and Tembo (link to each).

Mopambi (adult female number 3)

The most gracile of the adult females, Mopambi, named after a fruit tree, has long limbs and a slender body. She has a slim face, with obviously-indented cheeks and a long, drawn-out nose and mouth. One of the calmest and most passive individuals in the group, not much flusters Mopambi. She is always patient and careful with her offspring, allowing her youngest, Bokata, to roam and play as he pleases, until it's time to move on. A largely passive individual, the other adult females often dominate over her in competitive situations. In addition to Bokata, Mopambi is also mother to Etefi and Mai.

Kunga

Kunga (estim. date of birth 1999, sub-adult/ blackback male) is the oldest offspring. He is the only blackback in the group, but he still has mostly a juvenile body size and shape. He has always been the most darkly-coloured individual in the group with thick, seemingly well-groomed hair (Kunga meaning ‘hairy/black’). His face is mostly smooth and lacks any obviously distinguishing lines. An infant when the group was first found, Kunga is the only mother-less offspring in the group, Mopatapata leaving in 2006 after the death of her infant. Kunga has since grown up to take a strong supporting role to Makumba, at times both leading and protecting others, and is even developing an adult male 'strut'. He is spending an increasing amount of time away peripheral to the group, exploring and foraging on his own. Nevertheless he can frequently be located by his hoom-humming singing as brings up the rear of the group. Despite his progression into adulthood, he is still, nonetheless, one of the most playful group members, and is capable of rousing even Makumba into a frenzy of pig-grunting, wind-milling and play-boxing.

Etefi

Etefi (estimated date of birth 2000, sub-adult/ adult female) was named after a small forest shrub, and has a slim build and long legs identical to her mother Mopambi. Her face is very characteristic with strongly-indented cheeks and small eyes with two diagonal lines under each. Her 'sideburns' of thin, light-coloured hair can be the most useful characteristics when distinguishing her. Like her mother, Etefi is predominantly calm, quiet and reserved. However, under the influence of her brothers Kunga, and in the past, Silo, she can become very boisterous and playful. She often greets the habituation team upon arrival with a simple short grunt, and quite happily remains in their presence unperturbed. Etefi is on the cusp of adulthood and, like Kunga, has become increasingly independent. She has already left the group twice following group interactions with lone silverbacks but subsequently returned. However, it will only be a matter of time before she leaves her family permanently.

Silo

Silo (estimated date of birth 2000, juvenile/ sub-adult male, left the group in Dec. 2007 ) has a round body, with fluffy hair. His nose is wide and flat, with a distinctive indentation in its centre, filled with three wavy lines. Like his mother, Bombe, his coat is distinctly lighter in colour than the other older juveniles. His name means “alone” in the local BaAka language, after the fact that he was frequently found motherless, only in the company of Makumba, when the teams first started really observing the group (2003). A boisterous yet bashful character, Silo often terrorised the younger members of the group with his rough play. He was frequently seen initiating play with others, often by slapping the ground, a tree or the individual, and then running off play-grunting or head-bobbing. Although most likely just a year younger than Kunga, he was absolutely still young at heart and was one of the most inquisitive members of the group.

Mio

Mio (estimated date of birth 2001, juvenile/ sub-adult female) meaning “nose” in the BaAka language, is named after the distinctive line she possesses across her nose, making her the most recognisable member of the group. She is rather black with the bulky build of her mother, Malui. Mio at the age of six, sits approximately in the middle of all the juveniles and as a consequence is never quite included in the exploration parties of her older siblings, but is often too old to play with her younger siblings. As a result, she is often seen at her mother’s side. She shares her mother’s confident, sometimes prickly character, and stands her ground in disputes. Since the birth of her youngest brother, she is now fully occupied following her mother and trying to hold Mowane whenever she can.
 

Essekerende

Essekerende (born in March 2003, juvenile male), named after a forest fruit, has an instantly recognisable body profile; he has a large round belly, a small round head and short stick-thin limbs. His face is covered with character-giving lines and he has a nose not unlike his mother’s, Bombe, and older brother’s, Silo, but with an even more obviously flat and wide shape. His hair is fluffy and messy, and has a reddish tinge. A confident, easy-going and inquisitive individual, not in the least concerned with the presence of observers. He is fully independent from his mother and is most often found with his playmate Mossoko Abuli or following Makumba’s shadow. He shares with his mother a passion for food and is always seemingly chomping down on some fruit or termites.

Mai

Like (estimated date of birth March 2003, juvenile fe male) her mother, Mopambi, and indeed her older sister, Etefi, Mai has a slim, gracile build, with long slender limbs. She has a distinctive nose, which is long and straight with parallel lines across its bridge and with close-together nostrils. Mai meaning “water” has a gentle and quiet temperament. She often attempts to play unselectively with anyone and everyone around her, but if no-one responds, she is quite content to amuse herself with chest beating and solitary play. Lately she has spent a considerable amount of time with her recently independent younger brother Bokata, often carrying him around on her back.

Mossoko Abuli

Mossoko Abuli (estimated date of birth February 2004, juvenile male), means 'big head', due to his distinctive head which certainly, in the past, seemed out of proportion to his small body. He has very dark, thick hair. Like is older sister, Mio, he is developing a deep line on the bridge of his nose. He is the smallest independent individual in the group and retains the white 'tail' of newborns. Mossoko Abuli has a serious air, often too occupied with filling his belly than with play. Like Silo in the past, He spends the majority of time with his father, often seen trailing behind Makumba’s heel and quickly following on when Makumba decides its time to move on.

Bokata

At just over two years of age, Bokata (* January 2006) is still defined an infant. He is a small, long-limbed, skinny gorilla, with thin hair on his head and a long nose resembling his mother, Mopambi and older siblings, Etefi, and Mai. At a young age, he seemed to be suffereing from some kind of skin fungus, and was thus named ‘Bokata’ a type of forest mushroom. A hyper-active, confident and inquisitive young male, Bokata has already begun to make his bid for independence from Mopambi. He is often captivated by his human observers and, when his mother’s not watching, will creep forward to get a better look. He likes to clap his hands and walk bipedally and actively plays with both younger and older individuals of the group. Bokata is developing rapidly, and is fast catching up with Mossoko Abuli. He very recently begun to spend significant periods of time away from his mother, and is already showing a magnetic attraction towards his father’s side, often hurriedly trying to keep up with his long strides.

Mobangi

Mobangui (born in July 2006) at less than three years and is the second youngest member of the group. He is named after a forest vine and still spends much of his time being carried by his mother, Bombe. He has thicker, fluffier hair than the infant Bokata, and a round face with a pig-like nose. Recently, he has begun to attain some independence, but is still an unsteady walker and the ever-watchful Bombe is always there to snatch him up on to her back if danger approaches or play gets too boisterous. He has a growing interest in the observers which is bringing more opportunities to get to know him. Mobangui will grow up under the protection of the dominant female in the group, which will no doubt give him a headstart in life.

Mowane

Mowane (an infant male born in December 2007) is the newest addition to the group at only a few months in age. Whilst named ‘gift of God’ by the former CAR minister for the development of Tourism and Handicrafts, he is nicknamed Tembo, after the tree in which he was born. Even now he already has distinct lines about his nose like his mother, and older siblings, Mio, and Mossoko Abuli. Born to the feisty Malui, he is bound to be a well protected individual while growing up. His birth was the first Western Lowland gorilla birth to be witnessed in the wild and this unique event has provided new information as well as an unexpectedly rewarding experience for the team.