Uganda wildlife Authority (UWA) has yet again something to be glad about. Following the tough times brought about by the Corona virus pandemic that left the tourism sector greatly bruised, the future of the industry was uncertain.
However, a rise in the numbers of primates in UWA reserves shines a ray of hope to the struggling industry with the latest being a new baby gorilla born in Rushegura family in Buhoma.
The new born was delivered on 11th November 2020 to an adult female Munyana who welcomes her second born in the family.
Listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, the total population is estimated to comprise 1,004 individuals in two populations as of 2018. One population lives in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park while the other in the Virunga Mountains in three adjacent national parks, namely Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Uganda’s dense forests are home to over half the world’s 1004 or so mountain gorillas (as of May 2018), with the rest living in neighboring Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Because they do not survive in captivity, preservation of these fragile habitats is essential for their survival.
UWA says that the mountain gorilla is one of two subspecies of the Eastern gorilla.
In Uganda, according to UWA, Mountain Gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (MGNP). In these areas, tracking takes place at 5 locations Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, Nkuringo in BINP and Ntebeko in MGNP.
All locations combined give a total of over 18 gorilla groups, however, the permit number is limited, where only eight people are allowed to visit a gorilla family per day for only one hour.
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