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Dr. Jan Finds Healthy, Happy Babies in Hirwa Group
Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 10:45AM 
As Dr. Jan observes the Hirwa twins, they enjoy observing her.
Dr. Jan reports on her routine health check visit with Hirwa group in Volcanoes National park, Rwanda.
Today I visited Hirwa group for a routine health check. We found the group at 8:00 am in the area called Sanzari. The group was very calm, feeding and resting just outside the bamboo, eating thistles and galium. It was a beautiful, clear, sunny morning.
Aheza, who has lip lesions.We first came across Ikerezi’s 7 month old infant Aheza, who is showing some of the lip lesions we frequently see on these gorillas. These don’t really look like herpetic vesicles to me, but we can’t know for sure unless we do a biopsy.
Icyamamare got a nice ride on his sister Agasoro.Several of the infants and juveniles were playing in the bamboo, and Icyamamare got a nice ride on his sister Agasoro when the play was finished and they came out of the bamboo for a snack.
The Hirwa twins bouncing on Kabatwa's back.We finally found Kabatwa and her twin babies in the thick foliage – the babies were as interested in Safari and I as we were in them! When Kabatwa turned to face us we noted that she has a fresh wound above her left eye. The wound looks superficial, but the tissue around the eye is swollen. There are no other obvious wounds on here, and the babies are fine.
Kabatwa's wound.I wonder if she fell, or scraped her head on a branch while she was trying to manage the two growing babies. Safari took some nursing and activity data on the babies to document their development. Kabatwa moved to a more open area, allowing us a much better view of all 3 of them. At one point Kabatwa took both babies from her back and placed them on her belly, looking like she wanted to rest, but the babies were not interested in resting… they played all around and on her, rolling, falling, trying out vegetation as food... poor Kabatwa has her hands full, but is so patient and gentle with her charges.
Not interested in sleeping!
See a video of the twins:
The rest of the group were either eating or resting. Impundu sneezed once, but it was while he was rolling in the leaves. No other signs of respiratory illness in him or the group.
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Dr. Jan, Hirwa, gorilla twins in Rwanda, routine health check
Reader Comments (6)
Thanks for such a happy story after the tragic loss recorded in your previous log. Any mother of twins can relate, I'm sure.
This was the first group we ever visited and so great to see them looking well and healthy. The twins are so cute and we wish them a long and happy life. Can't wait to see them again.
Proudly I wear my Hirwa Group T-Shirt from 2010, bought from some clever young residents.
I´m deeply pleased about your work and news.
Looking forward to realize our next visit of the groups in Volcanoes National park in 2012
Is it possible doing some volunteering weeks for Gorilla Doctors?
I have been following your blog, especially the entries about the twins since my own twins were born at the same time. I hope that my twin girls will be able to watch these babies grow up, so we have committed to a monthly donation from now on. I look forward to reading more posts. Thank you for what you are doing.
"Your" babies are so cute, Dr. Jan! We were there right after they were born and it was quite exicting even though Kubwa kept them hardly visible. Fun to see you enjoying them so much, also. I went rootie-kazootie over new elephant Kalina here but those twin babies are just as cute. Wish they were closer!
Ann
OOOPS!! Kubwa is Kalina's Mom; Kubatwa, I should have said!
A.