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Discover how mountain gorillas are coming back from the brink of extinction

4 min read

Inspiring People
Source: GorillaFund.org

Long victimised by poaching and deforestation, Africa’s Mountain Gorillas are in the midst of an amazing comeback thanks to conservation efforts backed by high-level cross-border political support.

Global mountain gorilla population grows to an encouraging 1,063

The most recent survey results (released last December) from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda, and the contiguous Sarambwe Nature Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo, have confirmed that the mountain gorilla population in the forest has grown to 459, providing further evidence that conservation efforts to protect the planet’s greatest apes are working. This brings the global number of confirmed mountain gorillas to 1,063, when combined with results from the Virunga Massif survey conducted in 2015/16. By contrast, in 2008, field surveys estimated just 680 mountain gorillas in the wild.  

“These population survey results signal a real recovery,” Anna Behm Masozera, director of the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP), based in Rwanda, told the Smithsonian. “This doesn’t mean we’re in the clear. These are still very fragile populations. But the increase is incredibly encouraging.”

Living in cloud forests at 8,000 to 13,000 feet, mountain gorillas are entirely covered in long black fur, an adaptation to cold that distinguishes them from lowland gorillas.
In Virunga National Park, a 23-member group, Kabirizi, named for the lead silverback, included seven adult females and seven infants. Living in cloud forests at 8,000 to 13,000 feet, mountain gorillas are entirely covered in long black fur, an adaptation to cold that distinguishes them from lowland gorillas. Source: Neil Ever Osborne/SmithsonianMag
Mountain gorilla habitat is limited to just 300 square miles, divided between two locations. One is the Virunga Mountain Range, including the Mikeno Sector of Virunga National Park in DRC, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The other habitat is located in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and contiguous Sarambwe Nature Reserve in DRC.
Rotary, an 11-year-old female in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, with her 3-month-old infant. Babies are nursed for up to four years. Mountain gorilla habitat is limited to just 300 square miles, divided between two locations. One is the Virunga Mountain Range, including the Mikeno Sector of Virunga National Park in DRC, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The other habitat is located in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and contiguous Sarambwe Nature Reserve in DRC. Source: Neil Ever Osborne/SmithsonianMag
One key to the gorilla population increase, says Behm Masozera, is “long-term, high-level political support.” In 2015, DRC, Rwanda and Uganda signed the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration, a treaty to foster conservation and develop tourism, including anti-poaching efforts, habitat protection and wildlife surveys. “There is serious political will in all three countries,” says Masozera, and governments as well as NGOs such as the World Wildlife Fund are also working together.
A juvenile in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Mountain gorillas remain endangered, but recent population gains buoy conservationists. One key to the gorilla population increase, says Behm Masozera, is “long-term, high-level political support.” In 2015, DRC, Rwanda and Uganda signed the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration, a treaty to foster conservation and develop tourism, including anti-poaching efforts, habitat protection and wildlife surveys. “There is serious political will in all three countries,” says Masozera, and governments as well as NGOs such as the World Wildlife Fund are also working together. Source: Neil Ever Osborne/SmithsonianMag
Andrew Seguya, executive secretary of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration says: “What has really brought mountain gorillas back from the brink of extinction is community engagement and cooperation.” A conservation initiative set to work raising awareness of the potential economic value of the mountain gorillas, especially to ecotourism. “Education and real opportunities have completely flipped their understanding of the situation,” Seguya says of the residents.
High-level diplomacy is not the sole reason for success, or maybe even the main reason. Andrew Seguya, executive secretary of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration says: “What has really brought mountain gorillas back from the brink of extinction is community engagement and cooperation.” A conservation initiative set to work raising awareness of the potential economic value of the mountain gorillas, especially to ecotourism. “Education and real opportunities have completely flipped their understanding of the situation,” Seguya says of the residents. Source: Neil Ever Osborne/SmithsonianMag
According to the IGCP, there are a remarkable 45 gorilla groups that have now been habituated to tourism and research: 28 groups in Virunga National Park, 17 in Bwindi-Sarambwe. Behm Masozera says money—cash from regulated tourism—has “been a great benefit to local and regional economies.”
Left, a silverback in Volcanoes National Park. A male mountain gorilla, weighing up to 480 pounds, is far more powerful than the strongest man. Right, the hand of a gorilla in the Rugendo group inhabiting Virunga National Park. According to the IGCP, there are a remarkable 45 gorilla groups that have now been habituated to tourism and research: 28 groups in Virunga National Park, 17 in Bwindi-Sarambwe. Behm Masozera says money—cash from regulated tourism—has “been a great benefit to local and regional economies.” Source: Neil Ever Osborne/SmithsonianMag
A mountain gorilla tour is costly: approximately $1,500 in Rwanda, $700 in Uganda and $400 in DRC. A significant share of the proceeds and park entry fees goes back to the villages. These revenues are being used to build schools, roads, cisterns and other infrastructure. Better roads mean local farmers can more easily get their products to market, and kids can more easily get to school. Community members are being hired to serve as porters and guides for gorilla tours. A beneficial relationship has formed: When mountain gorillas prosper, so do communities.
Ntibisanzwe, a male infant mountain gorilla (offspring of Nyiramurema) from the Kwitonda gorilla group in Volcanoes National Park. A mountain gorilla tour is costly: approximately $1,500 in Rwanda, $700 in Uganda and $400 in DRC. A significant share of the proceeds and park entry fees goes back to the villages. These revenues are being used to build schools, roads, cisterns and other infrastructure. Better roads mean local farmers can more easily get their products to market, and kids can more easily get to school. Community members are being hired to serve as porters and guides for gorilla tours.
A beneficial relationship has formed: When mountain gorillas prosper, so do communities. Source: Neil Ever Osborne/SmithsonianMag

The rise in gorilla numbers may be the most important ecological success story of our time

Mark Jenkins, explorer and journalist, wrote in the Smithsonian Magazine:

“Mountain gorillas would have been extinct by now if it weren’t for humans. Then again, mountain gorillas, whose only natural predator is the leopard, would never have been threatened if it weren’t for humans.

The heartening rise in mountain gorilla numbers may be the most important ecological success story of our time. It has been based on collaboration rather than competition, on communication rather than isolation, on selfless commitment rather than selfish greed. In other words, it is based on a rather encouraging change, or even evolution: Humans have been acting like gorillas.”

Source: SmithsonianMag

This is how scientists saved mountain gorillas from the brink of extinction. Source: Facebook/WorldEconomicForum
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5 Ways to help save gorillas (and other wildlife too)

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund often receive inquiries from people wanting to know how they can help gorillas as well as other wildlife. This is an important question and one that requires a multi-part answer. Successfully saving endangered gorillas in their habitat in Africa – which is the mission of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund – requires ongoing, long-term protection and monitoring in the forests every day. We do that for mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Grauer’s gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with teams of dedicated trackers, anti-poachers and scientists. This is an expensive effort and we are dependent on donations to carry out this critical aspect of gorilla conservation. Your support here is crucial. And there are many other ways you can help too. Click for details.