Mountain Gorilla Numbers Rise Worldwide
Amazing news coming though from Uganda, where Mountain Gorilla numbers have risen by 10% in the last two years alone. The Mountain Gorilla, which has been on the critically endangered list for many years, are a subspecies of the Eastern Lowland Gorilla. They live in the mountain forests of only two areas of the world, South West Uganda and a range of extinct volcanoes on the border of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda.
A recent survey by the Ugandan Wildlife Authority found that Mountain Gorilla numbers had risen from 786 to 880 in the last two years at the Bwindi Impenetrable national park. This amazing news also confirms that there are now more than 36 different mountain gorilla social groups living in the park, with another 16 solitary males.
Due to various threats including war, disease and poaching, it was thought that the Mountain Gorilla could become extinct by the end of the 20th century. But thankfully these new findings show that the conservation work of many charities, including WWF, really are starting to pay off now.
Species programme manager at WWF-UK, Drew McVey, said –
Mountain gorillas have only survived because of conservation. Protected areas are better managed and resourced than they have ever been, and our work is a lot more cross-cutting to address threats – we don’t just work with the animals in the national parks, but also with the people. Gorillas are slow breeders and we’re quite impressed with how much the population has increased. Mountain gorillas are only found in protected areas, and outside these areas there are more than 600 people per square kilometre, so there is immense pressure to secure their habitat and pay their way. We haven’t got everything right yet, but it’s vital we continue to keep working and build on this success.
Mountain Gorilla numbers began to decline back in the 1960s, then started to increase again in the 1980s. Unfortunately the war in Rwanda and civil unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo led to the poaching of these beautiful creatures along with the destruction of their habitat. Here’s hoping that these fantastic new figures continue to rise to ensure that the Mountain Gorilla is here to stay for a long, long time.
If you would like to learn more about the outstanding conservation work of WWF, or would even like to adopt a Mountain Gorilla yourself, check out out dedicated charity page for more information on how you can help save the world’s most endangered animals.