THE GORILLA THEY RESCUED AS A BABY JUST HAD ONE IN THE WILD.
Rescued at 18 months. Rewilded eight years later. Now Lulingu is raising a baby of her own in the forest.
THE GORILLA THEY RESCUED AS A BABY JUST HAD ONE IN THE WILD
A gorilla rescued from the illegal wildlife trade as a baby, rehabilitated for years and returned to the wild has now become a mother there.
WHAT HAPPENED
Lulingu was rescued in 2016 at about 18 months old and cared for by GRACE after being taken from her family for the illegal wildlife trade. In late 2024 she was among the first GRACE gorillas to return to the wild on Mt. Tshiaberimu in Virunga National Park. On May 21, 2026 she gave birth to a baby fathered by Mwasa, the wild silverback whose group she joined.
WHY THIS IS HOPESLOP
Because this is conservation completing a full circle: rescue, rehabilitation, rewilding and a new generation born in the forest. The outcome is real, rare and bigger than one animal.
ORIGINAL SOURCEGRACE GorillasRead the original report