Occupying the slopes of Karisimbi and Bisoke Mountains, Titus Family is one of the 13 habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park and was popularized by Dian Fossey’s research. It was one of the groups studied by this American primatologist who was murdered by poachers in 1985 thus making it one of the oldest groups in the Park. The Group was named after Titus, born on 24th August 1974 and named by Kelly Stewart a gorilla researcher after the “Titus Groan” novel. This Silverback died on 14th September 2009 at the age of 35 years.
Titus Gorilla Family is one of the oldest gorilla families, established and habituated during Dian Fossey’s time in Karisoke Research Center. When Titus was four years old, a lone blackback joined his group and was later named “Beetsme” by Dian Fossey. Titus’ father and dominant silverback at the time (Uncle Bert) was brutally murdered by poachers. Since Beetsme was older than Titus, he tried forcefully taking over leadership of the group leading to the death of Aunt Flossie’s infant daughter. This made females to reject him and even leaving the group.
Titus and Beetsme that seemed close lived in bachelor family without females for over 8 years. These two male gorillas were on several occasions observed engaging in homosexual tendencies. Five female gorillas later joined their group and Beetsme, the fully-grown silverback at the time became the leader and sent away all other male gorillas in the family, leaving only Titus. At this time Titus was still a black back and became Beetsme’ subordinate for at least 6 years and even enjoyed the privilege of mating the group’s females.
DNA evidence shows he fathered his first offspring – Kuryama with the group’s Alpha female in 1985 making him the youngest male gorillas to have sired a baby. By 1991 he had fully grown into a silverback and began showing Authority over other male gorillas in the group. A year later, 18 years, Titus ousted Beetsme to become the leader but the latter still remained in the family until his death in 2001.
Titus is believed to have held the World’s record of fathering the highest number of children but became more jealousy and authoritative as he grew older. He was once seen biting one of the female gorillas for secretively mating with his son Kuryama. This according to Researchers was strange and different from the calm and peaceful gorilla that Titus was. During the wet/rainy season of 2007, Titus led his group to the colder summits of the Virunga Mountains and the low temperature threatened the infants of the group.
As Titus loitered there, his son Kuryama began showing interest in dominating the group. He successfully dislodged Titus and led majority of the group members including the adult females and their babies from the Mountain. A wise decision he took but Titus perceived it as undermining his leadership but played along. He however didn’t give up his position, making the group to split into two.
Some older members that were loyal to Titus including Tuck and their off springs as well as Tuyizere (then young silverback) remained with Titus. However in 2009, another challenger (Titus’ 17-year old son Rano) returned from exile after two years of not being in the group. Rano’s return immensely stressed Titus making him to try sending him off. Wounds inflicted from these encounters as well as stress/lack of rest made Titus weary and ill. Camp and peace was restored in the group with Rano presence but Titus later died on 14th September 2009 at the age of 35 years. Rano then became the leader of the family, restored the group and their numbers also increased in size.
Titus Gorilla Family is currently one of the habituated gorilla groups reserved for research purposes in Volcanoes National Park. However, the group is sometimes opened for trekking (when permits are overbooked) at only $1500 per person per trek. Other habituated gorilla groups in Rwanda are Pablo, Hirwa, Agashya (group 13), Karisimbi (Susa B), Umubano, Susa A, Kwitonda, Sabyinyo, Ugenda and Amahoro Groups.
