After 10 years, another round of gorilla census is undergoing in the Virunga conservation arae. After every 10 years, Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in conjunction with the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and the government conducts Gorilla counting in Bwindi and Mgahinga gorilla national parks. This years counting started in March 2018 and is expected to end in mid May 2018 after which the findings will be transferred to Europe for accurate analysis. Every morning, the census team that comprise of gorilla doctors, rangers and professional conservationists descend and hike into the forest to collect gorilla dung and hairs from different nests. The need to improve the wellbeing and conservation of these critically endangered species in their natural habitats as well as promoting sustainable gorilla tourism in the pearl of Africa is the key reason for the on going gorilla census.
Based on last gorilla census findings, Uganda expects a higher population of gorillas in this ongoing gorilla counting hence great assurance of increased gorilla safaris to Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2011, Uganda registered a great increase of mountain gorilla numbers from 302 in 2006 to 400 gorillas in 2011 Great thanks go to the responsible government bodies in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo, which have worked tirelessly, to restore the once lost mountain gorillas. These bodies have put in place several strategies such as hiring armed park rangers to protect mountain gorillas from any harm, gorilla doctors to ensure good health of these endangered species and gorilla tourism to ensure safety of gorillas and travelers. Also, the rise of gorilla population is attributed to the huge birth of baby gorillas in gorilla national parks. This year, Rwanda celebrates the naming of 18 baby gorillas which were have ben born late last year and early this year an indication of stayed increase in gorilla numbers.
As reported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), mountain gorillas are one of the highly endangered species surviving in the world. The less number of gorilla populations remaining call for extra conservation efforts to restore their populace and encourage more travelers. The whole world accommodates roughly 880 mountain gorillas half of which live in Uganda’s Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The remaining populations inhabit the Virunga massif shared by Volcanoes national park (Rwanda) Virunga national park (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda.
The less number of gorilla population is attributed to human activities mostly agriculture and settlement. Local people who live in the boundaries of gorilla national parks are found of encroaching forestland to expand their agricultural land. Also, the boundaries of gorilla national parks are over populated with many people living on limited space. This forces them to intrude on the forestland to expand settlement land that can accommodate their big families. Also, deforestation for firewood, timber and building poles has largely affected the survival of mountain gorillas. The endangered species survive on vegetation, which is continuously cut by people for firewood, timber and firewood, which shrink gorilla habitats. The civil wars especially DR Congo’s Viruga national park has greatly affected the survival of mountain gorillas in the park hence affecting gorilla tourism in the area. However despite in the past decades, peace has been restored, civil wars put to an end and gorilla tourism is now done successfully in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo.
Presently, gorilla tourism has become a key source of foreign exchange from tourism revenue for Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The money is collected from the sale of gorilla permits, which are quite expensive. Rwanda sells the most expensive permits at 1500usd, Uganda at 700usd and DRC at 450usd. This money is used to promote gorilla conservation projects/programs, paying park rangers, paying gorilla doctors and also supporting local communities adjacent to these respective gorilla national parks.
In economic developments, gorilla tourism in Uganda contributed over 50% of the country’s total revenue, which has improved the gross domestic product of Uganda and so as Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Conclusively, mountain gorillas are exceptional creatures that are worth visiting. The on going census in Uganda is expected to bring great news of expected of increased gorilla population. Book a gorilla safari now to Uganda, Rwanda and Congo, meet face to face with man’s closest relatives and Enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.
