Bwindi forest national park in Uganda has a record of 459 mountain gorillas in 50 groups and 13 solitary individuals in its thick impenetrable forest occupying a coverage area of 331 square kilometers. The population of mountain gorillas has increased from 400 in the past 10 years to 459 individuals following the recent concluded mountain gorilla census in December 2018 and results have been censored and released December 2019.
Mountain gorillas find their home in Bwindi forest national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park in Uganda, Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga National park in D.R. Congo. In 2017 mountain gorilla census was conducted in Virunga conservation area and the result showed massive increase form 400 individuals to 604 individuals, including those of Bwindi the population rose to 1004 individuals, as of today the population of mountain gorillas surviving in the whole world has massively increased to 1,063 mountain gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic republic of Congo. Uganda shares 51% of the gorillas.
The current population of 1,063 mountain gorillas is so far the highest ever recorded for Eastern Gorilla species to which the mountain gorilla belong. This number represent committed dedication in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo to conserve the giant apes. The improved status of mountain gorillas from critically endangered to endangered is due to dedicated efforts of conservation teams including Veterinary doctors, anti-poaching patrols by park rangers credited by IUCN. While all the techniques are credited mountain gorillas are still threatened by habitat loss, climate change, civil un arrest, poaching and human transmittable human diseases especially respiratory diseases like Tuberculosis, Influenza, Ebola among others.
Mountain gorilla census aimed at estimating current gorilla population in Bwindi forest national park since 2011 when census was last conducted, also document information on illegal activities, and compile information on other mammals in the ecosystem.
The method of during census included sweep method as well as fecal samples collected for generic analysis. In the sweep method, teams traverse each marked sector of the park in a zigzag manner. They look for fresh gorilla trails till their nests are found and counted. The estimates are made based on nests encountered in the due course of the census. The estimates are made based on nests encountered in the due course of the census. census results provided vital information for establishing best management strategies that could be applied at both local and global scales to conserve the mountain Gorilla population.
On the other hand other than mountain gorillas in Bwindi, there are 120 notable mammals in the Eco system include forest elephants, duikers, bush pigs, chimpanzees, Blue monkeys, L’hoest monkeys, Grey cheeked mangabeys and civets cats among others The park has a record of 350 birds including 20 endemics of the Albertine rift valley,51 reptiles, and 310 butterfly species.
Bwindi forest national park is a popular destination for gorilla safaris in Uganda, the park alone is divided in four tracking sectors including Rushaga, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Buhoma. These sectors have several habituated gorilla families open for tourism and gorilla trekking safaris. Habituated gorilla families in Bwindi are Kahungye, Mishaya, Nshongi, Busingye, Bweza, Bikingi, Bushaho, and Rwiji, Bitukura, Oruzogo, Kyaguriro, and Mukiza, Mubare, Rushegura, Habinyanja, and Katwe, Nkuringo and Christmas.
While planning a gorilla safari, you need to acquire a gorilla permit directly through Uganda Wild life authority or contact us at Africa tours adventure and we secure your gorilla permits and still go ahead to organize a memorable experience with the Gorillas in their natural habitat. Gorilla permits in Uganda cost usd 600, however with effect 1st July 2020 the gorilla permits fees have been increased to usd 700 per person, part of the gorilla permit fee goes back to the community and also implementing the conservation techniques.
In conclusion the increase in Mountain gorillas of Bwindi forest is a great achievement to the conservation techniques put in place and all thanks goes to stake holders, park rangers, visitors who contribute part of finances to the conservation scheme as well the surrounding community for conserving the environment
