Mountain gorilla population up by 17%
Jan 26, 2004
THE population of the endangered mountain gorillas roaming Uganda, Rwanda and the DR Congo has increased to 380 gorillas up from 324, according to a new census report.
By Gerald Tenywa
THE population of the endangered mountain gorillas roaming Uganda, Rwanda and the DR Congo has increased to 380 gorillas up from 324, according to a new census report.
This represents an increase of 17% in the last 15 years, according to a press release issued by the wildlife agencies of the three countries last Monday.
Dr. Arthur Mugisha who heads the Uganda Wildlife Authority, UWA, said that a detailed report of the census would be presented at a press conference this week.
“The census was conducted by six teams traversing the entire gorilla habitat range, searching for fresh signs of gorilla groups,†said the statement.
“Each gorilla makes a fresh nest to sleep each night, and these are used to establish the number of gorillas in each group.â€
The census in Bwindi impenetrable National Park, which was conducted two years ago, counted 320 gorillas. This puts the total population of mountain gorillas at 700, which is a good landmark, according to the statement sent to The New Vision by UWA.
Barbara Musoke, the spokesperson of UWA attributed the increase to conservation measures being taken by the three countries.
“We have been protecting their habitats and preventing diseases,†she said.
Mountain gorillas are categorised as endangered species under the red data list of the World Conservation Union meaning that they would become extinct if not protected.
The Virunga gorilla census was conducted between September and October by a team of 100 members drawn from staff of the protected areas.
The International Gorilla Conservation Programme (a coalition of the African Wildlife Foundation, World Wide Fund for nature, Flora and Fauna International) spearheaded the conservation activities.
THE population of the endangered mountain gorillas roaming Uganda, Rwanda and the DR Congo has increased to 380 gorillas up from 324, according to a new census report.
This represents an increase of 17% in the last 15 years, according to a press release issued by the wildlife agencies of the three countries last Monday.
Dr. Arthur Mugisha who heads the Uganda Wildlife Authority, UWA, said that a detailed report of the census would be presented at a press conference this week.
“The census was conducted by six teams traversing the entire gorilla habitat range, searching for fresh signs of gorilla groups,†said the statement.
“Each gorilla makes a fresh nest to sleep each night, and these are used to establish the number of gorillas in each group.â€
The census in Bwindi impenetrable National Park, which was conducted two years ago, counted 320 gorillas. This puts the total population of mountain gorillas at 700, which is a good landmark, according to the statement sent to The New Vision by UWA.
Barbara Musoke, the spokesperson of UWA attributed the increase to conservation measures being taken by the three countries.
“We have been protecting their habitats and preventing diseases,†she said.
Mountain gorillas are categorised as endangered species under the red data list of the World Conservation Union meaning that they would become extinct if not protected.
The Virunga gorilla census was conducted between September and October by a team of 100 members drawn from staff of the protected areas.
The International Gorilla Conservation Programme (a coalition of the African Wildlife Foundation, World Wide Fund for nature, Flora and Fauna International) spearheaded the conservation activities.