When primatologists such as Dian Fossey in the 1960s began insisting that mountain gorillas would go extinct, efforts by governments and conservation agencies started investing money to save gorillas. Eventually, the conservation of gorillas became possible and presented benefits for wildlife, and the highest human population density living around gorilla habitats is more than 300 people per sq km.
Mountain gorillas live in only two habitat ranges: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Virunga Conservation Area, which includes Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in southwestern Uganda, and Virunga National Park in eastern DR Congo.
These areas protect critical ecosystems, including tropical forests, swamps, and savannahs. These ecosystems are rich in biodiversity and provide social, environmental, and economic benefits by acting as a source of food, fresh air, and water catchment areas. Local people depend on these areas to reduce the harmful effects of climate change by storing carbon and other greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
Therefore, protecting mountain gorilla habitats helps secure water catchment areas. For instance, the Bwindi rainforest alone has five streams providing fresh water. This also saves other wildlife species that live alongside gorillas, including Albertine rift endemic birds, forest elephants, buffaloes, primates, and small living creatures.
Gorilla tourism and tracking safaris generate income and create jobs for conservation area managers, wildlife rangers, guides, etc.
Yet mountain gorillas are critically endangered, having declined to less than 500 individuals in the 1980s. Their habitats are threatened by human encroachment, which leads to habitat loss through unsustainable farming. Now, gorillas are confined to only four national parks worldwide.
Uganda and Rwanda are committed to creating lasting solutions, such as reducing poverty levels and supporting and empowering local communities, benefiting both gorillas and people.
However, DR Congo’s Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest park, is highly affected by civil war and political instability, which displaces people. This increases the loss of forests through illegal mining and charcoal burning, which continues at a high rate. This creates imbalances in sustainable conservation within the range of gorilla habitats.
Fortunately, booming gorilla tourism and increased gorilla tracking safaris in Rwanda and Uganda significantly increase revenue generation to meet people’s economic, social, and environmental needs. Hence, conserving gorillas and their habitats creates a win-win situation for current and future generations.
Gorilla habitats were restored when national parks like Virunga were gazetted a world heritage site in 1979, and the Bwindi rainforest was added to the UNESCO heritage list in 1991. Rwanda plans to expand Volcanoes National Park to further enlarge gorilla habitats.
In addition, due to increased security and conservation, the mountain gorilla population has been growing. Currently, there are estimated to be about 1070 individuals thriving in the wild. It’s no secret that mountain gorilla numbers declined to less than 500 individuals in the 1980s due to poaching and human encroachment.