Bikingi
12 Members: Last updated 22/02/2022
Bikingi group is found in Rushaga tourism sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The group is currently led by Bikingi a former solitary male following the death of the dominant Silverback Bikingi on 9th June 2018. According to Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area Chief Park Warden-Nelson Guma, the unknown wild Silverback that killed the lead Silverback and took over leadership was as well named Bikingi to keep the group’s identity that derived its name from the original Bikingi Silverback. Bikingi died after a fight with a solitary male in Bikingi area. The duo had had a series of fights before and this was the climax of them. Rangers suspect that the solitary male had interest in the leadership of the group. After the death of the dominant Silverback Bikingi all the group members dispersed and some joined other groups, for instance, about 7 individuals joined Kahungye group. However, a close search was done and 9 members including the solitary male were found. Since then, the group has registered births bringing the number of individuals to 11, these include 2 Silverbacks, 5 Adult females, 1 Juvenile and 4 Infants. Habituation of Bikingi gorilla group commenced in early 2012 as a follow-up exercise of the dispersing members of the disintegrated Mishaya group. Indeed, several members of the former Mishaya group were located in the group alongside other non-habituated members and later-on declared for habituation to keep close monitoring of the formerly habituated members.