Today is an exciting day in the world of mountain gorilla conservation:
A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough, premieres on Netflix — bringing the remarkable history of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the iconic Pablo group to a global audience.
In honor of this, we’re taking you into the field for a deep dive on the health history of Pablo group — a gorilla family whose story might have been very different without the life-saving interventions of Gorilla Doctors.
Part 1: The Arrival of Pablo
We begin with the birth of mountain gorilla Pablo in 1974, into Group 5, one of Dian Fossey’s original research groups in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. At the time, Kelly Stewart was a graduate student at the Karisoke Research Center, working on her PhD. Her day started like any other, rising early under the mist-shrouded, moss laden canopy of hagenia trees, a quick cup of hot tea, and then off in search of Group 5 to collect behavioral data. Little did she know a surprise was waiting for her…
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READ + WATCH THE FULL STORY
Some members of Pablo group during a recent health check, March 31, 2026. © Gorilla Doctors
Teta, adult female mountain gorilla and her infant, Pablo group, March 31, 2026. © Gorilla Doctors
