The Fossey Fund is deeply saddened to report that our trackers found dominant mountain gorilla silverback Rano dead this morning. The body is being recovered for necropsy but there were no immediate signs of injury. Rano (full name Umushikirano) was a 21-year-old silverback and son of legendary silverback Titus. Rano spent some years as a lone silverback, and then was successful in taking over his father’s group after his death, after spending some years as a lone silverback. He established a peaceful routine and was successfully leading a growing group, including the birth of an infant earlier this year. We will follow closely how the group deals with his loss. There are three other very young silverbacks in the group, Turakora, Pato and Urwibutso. Maybe, with luck, one of them will take the leadership.