Mburanumwe was one of the gorillas killed in the July 2007 massacre. She was always a very calm gorilla - perhaps because she had not yet had any children because she was only 10 years old. She was often close to Senkwekwe and we enjoyed seeing her so relaxed in her family.

She used to have a younger brother called Assan (born in March 2003) but Assan disappeared mid-2004 after an interaction between Humba and Senkwekwe. Then in late 2004 Mburanumwe’s mother, Bwoba, disappeared after an interaction between Humba and a non-habituated gorilla. This is a very good example of how interactions can be dangerous for gorilla groups, even though it is an essential part of the process.

Mburanumwe is buried at Rumangabo, behind Senkwekwe, the Silverback to whom she was so close in life.

Mburanumwe was named after a Ranger who was killed in the line of duty by armed militias in the central sector of Virunga at Rwindi. This Ranger was Innocent’s cousin - but the two were very close and Innocent thought of him as a brother. This was a wonderful way to honour him.