International Lifestyle Magazine Issue 52 | Page 9

Also understand that your visit
helps to demonstrate to the locals
that their is a business, and money
to made, from tourism rather than
from killing these beautiful animals
and turning them into trinkets for
tourists. We have a responsibility
as a civilised race to ensure the
protection of these animals not just
for us but for future generations.
The mountain gorilla is the world’s
most endangered ape and only
found in small portions of protected
forests in southwestern Uganda,
northwestern Rwanda and eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC). The forests are also home
to many wonderful birds, primates,
large mammals, reptiles, insects
and plants. The mountain gorillas
are divided into two populations.
2003 figures estimate the total
population to be about 706
individuals. One population of
about 320 is found in Bwindi
Impenetrable National Park in
southwestern Uganda, covering
330 km², and the other 386 in the
Virunga Volcano Range (covering
3 National Parks in 3 countries:
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in
Uganda, Volcanoes National Park
in Rwanda and Virunga National
Park in the Congo (DRC).
Gorilla tracking (gorilla trekking)
is an intense experience that can
take up to 6 hours. The guide leads
you through the gorilla’s world,
explaining aspects of their ecology
and behavior along the way.

To fully appreciate their beauty
you need to see them living in their
family groups, within their own
environments, as they should be.
Mountain Gorillas share up to 98%
of their DNA with us. They live in
close family groups, usually led
by one dominant silverback male.
They are primarily vegetarian
and around 85% of their diet
is composed of leaves, shoots
and stems. They also eat small
amounts of wood, roots, flowers
and fruit, and occasionally larvae,
snails and ants.
So what has gone wrong, why are
these animals near extinction?
The mountain gorilla has endured
a combination of hunting, regional
conflict, destruction of its forest
habitat, and capture for the illegal
pet trade. These factors have led
to a dramatic decline in gorilla
numbers, although efforts by
the government, conservation
organisations and local people are
now leading to a small, gradual
increase in numbers.
Loss of habitat is still a great threat.
The two areas where the mountain
gorillas survive are virtual islands in
one of the most densely populated
regions of Africa.
Every square kilometre contains an
average of over 400 people. Over
90% of the population practice
subsistence farming. Over 95%
of these people rely on firewood,
often harvested unsustainably, as
their main energy supply.

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