Recent Surveys have shown the number of endangered Mountain Gorillas increasing
From 2003 to 2010 Mountain Gorillas have increased by 27% – 3.7% annually
What is the reason behind the increase?
Amazingly the endangered Mountain Gorillas of Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Cong are increasing. The most logical question would be –Why? The
answer is simple-the governments of each of the three countries are receiving 500 USD per visitor. In Uganda at the present time there are 10 habituated gorilla groups where tourists are allowed to visit and track them, 9 of them at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and one at Mgahinga Gorilla Park. 80 permits a day represent a 40,000 USD income to the Ugandan Government from permits alone – add on top of that lodging that can run from a few dollars to a 100 USD per night, transport, food, taxes gained and other things and you have are dealing with a lot of money.
Why are the Mountain Gorillas of Uganda and other nearby countries increasing in numbers? It is about the money – During the Summer months and Christmas and January there are hardly any permits to find, 40,000 USD a day in Uganda alone. Reasons enough for the Uganda Wildlife Authority to do everything it can to protect the Mountain Gorillas from Harm. Should harm in the form of sickness, infighting, or even being caught in the snare of some poachers, there are even the dedicated and selfless men and women-the Gorilla Doctors who go out and check on the wellbeing of the various Gorilla Families.
The local community also benefits in various ways. Uganda Wildlife passes on a percentage of the Mountain Gorilla Permit money to aid the local community. There is however much more – there are the jobs created by the lodges around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest including some community lodging programs such as Buhoma Community Rest Camp, guided village walks that aid the community, crafts created and sold within the area, the guided mountain biking rides created by Ride 4 a Woman and you have a community behind protecting the gorillas.
For the most part the community is totally behind protecting the ancient forests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla Parks and there has been a lot of input into educating the communities around the parks to realize that it is best for the community to protect the forest and the mountain gorillas. There are some exceptions – just recently Mizano a Black-Back Mountain Gorilla was speared to death by poachers who had set snares but Mizano became entangled in it – unfortunately the judge did not share the sentiment of most others and gave them a pittance of a fine and released them causing loud protest form far and wide. For the most part however – most want to protect the mountain and even if the only reason is the money that they make off of tourism, so let it be, the main thing is to protect the Mountain Gorillas. If the wildlife of Africa has any chance of survival, it needs to make money – sorry I am a purist – in Africa it is about not only wildlife survival but people survival who often live on less than two dollars a day and the 500 USD permits plus all the other things tacked on add to the wellbeing of the Mountain Gorillas and the people who live in the surrounding communities.
Walter Baumgärtel, who I refer to as the father of Gorilla Tourism would be in for a surprise today, he came and wound up buying the Travellers Rest Hotel in Kisoro, Uganda, it became the second home Dian Fossey and others such as George Schaller. Walter Baumgärtel began to venture into the hills around Kisoro in search of the Mountain Gorillas, he appealed to the British Colonial Administration to be able to take visitors to see the Mountain Gorillas, Walter Baumgärtel would be surprised if he could see what was happening today, that his beloved Mountain Gorillas that he wanted to protect and preserve are actually on the increase and they why of it? Simple Answer – Track for Cash…from Kampala…jon
Gorilla Links
Visiting the Gorillas of Uganda
Complete Guide to Gorilla Tracking in Uganda
Meet the habituated Gorilla Families of Uganda
Background and Information regarding the Mountain Gorillas of Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Guide and Information – all the things to do and see there.
Uganda Safaris with Gorilla Tracking
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