News

Mountain gorilla population grows

20.11.2012

The total world population of mountain gorillas has risen to 880, according to census data released a week ago by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The critically endangered animals live only in two locations, Bwindi and the Virunga Massif area, which spans parts of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Rwanda. “Mountain gorillas are the only great ape experiencing a population increase. This is largely due to intensive conservation efforts and successful community engagement,” said David Greer, WWF’s African Great Ape Programme Manager. Many mountain gorilla groups have been used to human presence and are a major tourist draw. In addition to supporting the important surveillance activities of park staff, visitors’ revenue has been reinvested into community projects such as wells and schools.
The greatest current threats to mountain gorillas are entanglement in hunting snares, disease transfer from humans, and habitat loss. The prospect of oil exploration in Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park by petroleum companies is also cause for concern. An influx of workers and heavy equipment could greatly threaten the biodiversity of the Virunga National Park, Africa’s first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Photo (c) Derek Keats/ Flickr