After the recent census of mountain gorillas in
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the population of mountain gorillas stands at 880: 480 in
the Virunga Massif (based on 2010 census) + 400 in Bwindi (based on
2011 census)
A century of persecution
In 1902, the German explorer Oscar von Beringe became the
first non-African to encounter the mountain gorilla. In the ensuing
century, a combination of hunting and habitat destruction has
driven this very rare primate to the verge of extinction.
To the rescue – the first gorilla champions
But for the intervention and dedication of a handful of
people, the mountain gorilla would surely already be extinct. The
work of conservationists such as Carl Akeley, George Schaller and
Dian Fossey focused global attention on the plight of
gorillas
Local heroes
It is the people of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),
Rwanda and Uganda, for the most part unsung heroes, who deserve the
credit for ensuring the survival of the mountain gorilla, and who
offer the greatest hope for its continued survival over the
coming centuries. The continued protection, monitoring and
management of the mountain gorilla and its habitat have
demanded huge commitment and cost many lives. The dedication
of park staff in the three countries is the chief reason why
mountain gorillas are thriving today
Limited range
Mountain gorillas are effectively divided into two
distinct populations. The first is confined to an area of around 330
square kms in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The
second is found in the Virunga Volcano Region (VVR), which
lies across the international borders of Rwanda, Uganda and
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Although it comprises
one single ecosystem covering approximately 450 square kms,
the VVR is separated into three national parks:
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcano National Park in
Rwanda and the Southern Sector of the Virunga National Park in DRC
Threats to the survivel of mountain Gorillas
The primary threat
to mountain gorillas comes from forest clearance and
degradation, as the region’s growing human population
struggles to eke out a living. Conversion of land for agriculture and
competition for limited natural resources such as firewood
lead to varying degrees of deforestation. The only way to
maintain gorilla habitat is to develop alternative economic
activities that allow people to meet their daily needs, so
that they see gorillas not as competitors, but as a means of
improving their own situation.
Disease
Gorillas are closely related to humans, with similar
anatomical and physiological features. This makes them vulnerable to
many of the same diseases. Because the gorillas have not
developed the necessary immunities, first time exposure to an
illness or virus that is relatively innocuous to humans may
devastate an entire population. Gorillas live in small groups
that may never recover from a sudden fall in numbers brought
on by disease. Any human contact is potentially harmful,
even life-threatening.
Tourists who visit the gorillas are instructed to keep
their distance, but conservationists, scientists, rangers,
poachers, militia groups and local communities also pose
threats. Some gorillas already suffer from common skin
diseases like scabies and mange, which can quickly spread from
group to group as families interact. Debris left behind in the
park by refugees, poachers and the military is being cleared in order
to minimize the contamination risk to wildlife, and a health
education programme is helping to combat the threat of disease
Poaching
In the first two decades after their discovery, European and American
scientists and trophy hunters killed over 50 mountain gorillas. To this
day, poaching continues to jeopardize the gorillas’ survival. Poaching
of mountain gorillas for food is extremely rare. It is now largely the
result of unselective hunting with snares, which are set to catch
antelope, bush pigs and other wildlife but occasionally kill or injure
gorillas. In the ’60s and ’70s gorillas were poached for sale to
foreigners as trophies and captive specimens. None survived in
captivity. Recent events have shown that hunting of mountain gorillas in
order to capture babies ‘commissioned’ by unscrupulous dealers remains a
very real threat.
In 2002, poaching attempts occurred in all three countries, two of
them successful. In Rwanda, two adult females in Susa Group were killed
and one baby stolen. A second infant, Ubuzima, was found next to its
dead mother and reintroduced to the group. In the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC), four gorillas from an unhabituated group were killed. A
three-year old infant, Mvuyekure, believed to be part of this group, was
found alive in Rwanda, but died later in captivity. Park guards
thwarted two further attempts, in Rwanda and Bwindi respectively.
Security throughout the parks has since been increased. In 2004 another
mountain gorilla infant was confiscated from poachers by Rwanda
authorities. This infant is currently under the care of the Mountain
Gorilla Veterinary Programme (MGVP) in Kinigi, Rwanda. In June 2007 an
adult female in Kabirizi group (DRC) was shot and her two month old
infant recovered. The infant is currently under the care of MGVP in
Goma, DRC..
Other threats
The region’s ongoing conflict and civil unrest are an
ever-present risk, while illegal mining in DRC has had a devastating
effect on wildlife, including gorillas. At the same time, weak
institutional management structures, a feeling of
disenfranchisement among local communities, and insufficient regional
collaboration all pose serious challenges
