Beetsme's Group continues to shine as the most tranquil of the gorilla groups studied by the Karisoke Researchers. The occasional skirmish is quickly resolved, and feeding and resting continue as if never interrupted. The authority of Titus, dominant silverback gorilla, is clear, and his mellow manner seems to influence the whole groups' dynamics. This group of gorillas is often found deep in the park in Rwanda, sometimes even in Congo, and sometimes near the summit of Mt. Visoke. Previously dominant silverback Beetsme, for whom the group is named, died in 2001.
Titus is the dominant silverback of Beetsme's Group. Titus was born on August 24, 1974, as recorded in Dian Fossey's journals. His mother was a gorilla Fossey had named Flossie and his father was named Uncle Bert. Titus had a "rough" beginning to his life. Flossie was not a particularly loving mother and he had a serious breathing problem as an infant, according to Fossey. When he was 4 years old, tragedy struck his group. His father and younger sibling, Frito, were killed by Beetsme, a newcomer to the group. Soon after, his mother and sister left to join another group. By 1979 only three members were left in the group: Titus, Beetsme, and Tiger. These three males were joined by another solitary male, Peanuts, forming a bachelor group of gorillas.
In 1985, this bachelor group joined what remained of Nunkie's Group after Nunkie died. However, this combined group did not remain cohesive and several males left. What remained was a group led by silverback Beetsme. Titus, an 11-year-old male on the brink of becoming a silverback, was now the second in command. For six years Titus remained the subordinate silverback gorilla, all the while growing into one of the most "handsome" males in the area. Then, in 1991, Titus began questioning authority by systematically "displacing" or showing his dominance over every member of the group, except Beetsme. Finally, in March of 1992, Titus was observed displacing Beetsme. After this, Beetsme remained in the group, often working together to help maintain and protect the gorillas.
