By Dr. Nelson Bukamba, Field Veterinarian, Uganda
Part 1: Silverback Muyambi Severely Injured
On the 10th of July 2026, I received a call from Bwindi Impenetrable park trackers regarding an aggressive interaction between the Muyambi and Kanywanyi gorilla families. The two dominant silverbacks from each group were observed attacking each other for nearly 45 minutes.
Trackers also reported to me that silverback Muyambi was severely injured, with serious bleeding on his lips and palms of both hands, while silverback Kanywanyi sustained only a few minor injuries (scratches on the back). The fighting ended when other females from Muyambi group joined silverback Muyambi in the fight, ultimately chasing away Kanywanyi.
Silverback Muyambi with serious wounds to his lip and hands. July 11, 2026. © Gorilla Doctors
At this point it was late afternoon so I stocked our clinic ‘go bag’ with medications and supplies and prepared for an early morning departure to conduct a monitoring visit and possible intervention. We found the gorilla group by 11:30am. While the rest of the group was actively foraging, Muyambi was lethargic, not feeding, and in poor body condition. He had a severe lip wound, nearly torn in half, so his lack of feeding was likely due to oral pain. He also sustained deep cuts on both of his hands.
I was relieved to see that none of the wounds were actively bleeding or seemed to be infected. Given the severity and position of Muyambi’s wounds and the potential for infection, we provided supportive treatment of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories remotely via dart as a first step. We also planned to return the next day to perform a full intervention under anesthesia to repair Muyambi’s lip.
Part 2: Mountain Gorilla Surgery in the Forest
The next morning, myself and the intervention team found Muyambi actively feeding but with clear difficulty given his lip wound, which remained open and exposed. We moved a short distance away and began preparing the anesthesia and dart gun.
Drs. Nelson and Gloria (project-based veterinarian) discuss and prep the medication for Muyambi’s intervention. July 12, 2026 © Gorilla Doctors
We successfully anesthetized Muyambi and immediately began cleaning and preparing his lip for surgery. I then stitched the wound closed using absorbable/dissolvable monofilament intradermal sutures, which means the stitches are below the top layer of skin – important in a wild animal who may try to pick at the wound.
Dr. Nelson stitches Muyambi’s lip, July 12, 2026. © Gorilla Doctors
Muyambi’s repaired lip, post-surgery, July 12, 2026. © Gorilla Doctors
We reversed Muyambi’s anesthesia and he slowly moved away and returned to his group as he recovered from the anesthesia. Park trackers will continue close daily monitoring and we will return for a follow-up monitoring visit within five days – sooner if necessary. Stay tuned for an update on Muyambi’s healing!
Muyambi recovers from anesthesia before he moves away and joins his group, July 12, 2026. © Gorilla Doctors
A Personal Note from Dr. Nelson
It is such an honor for me to be able to support the health of endangered mountain gorillas. I never imagined as a child or even during veterinary school that I would one day be performing surgery on a silverback mountain gorilla in the forest! Protecting the health of the dominant silverback in a group helps protect the entire group. In the case of Muyambi group, that includes two adult females, a blackback, a juvenile, and an infant. This year is Gorilla Doctors 40th anniversary and veterinary care has played a significant role in the recovery of mountain gorillas over these past decades. I hope one day the gorillas will no longer need human intervention to be healthy and thriving but until that day comes, I look forward to being part of our international team to keep them healthy for the next 40 years.
Dr. Nelson Bukamba at Gorilla Doctors field station in Buhoma, Uganda. © Gorilla Doctors
