THE Democratic Republic of Congo’s mountain gorilla population grew by about 13% in what one primate expert called a “baby boom” even as a rebel conflict forced rangers to flee the park.

The first census of critically endangered mountain gorillas carried out by Congo government authorities since rebels seized the area shows that 10 babies have been born in the last 16 months, wildlife officials said.

FOLLOWING the publication of my column about the mystery of our missing dog, 14 readers were good enough to phone the Irish Examiner or to email me to offer advice or help.

AN infant gorilla in a Congo sanctuary is smashing palm nuts between two rocks to extract oil, surprising and intriguing scientists who say they have much to learn about what gorillas can do - and about what that says about evolution.

A Belgian judge today upheld a UN arrest warrant against a Rwandan man facing charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.