Despite the war, the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga National Park seem to be prospering, with as many as ten babies born while the ranger's were not able to continue their regular patrols. Stefan Lovgren reports from Bukima in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for National Geographic News.

The population—made famous by a series of murders in 2007—has grown by nearly 13 percent in the last 16 months, despite having no protection from civil war or poaching for 15 months, park rangers said Monday.

"That the mountain gorilla population has increased in this environment is quite spectacular," said Emmanuel de Merode, head of the 680-strong Virunga ranger force.

The new tally brings the Virunga mountain gorillas to an estimated 211, [...] with some 720 wild mountain gorillas worldwide