Most of the world's mountain gorillas are found in the Virunga massif including Virunga National Park which is a world UNESCO heritage site, which includes three contiguous national parks in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The population of the iconic but endangered animal in that area increased from 380 individuals in 2003 to 480, according to a census carried out earlier this year and funded by a number of local and foreign wildlife organizations.
"The increase in mountain gorilla numbers is a testament that we in the Virunga massif are all reaping from the conservation efforts sowed on a daily basis," Rica Rwigamba, from the Rwanda Development Board said in a statement.
The only place outside of the Virunga massif where mountain gorillas are found is Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Along with 302 individuals believed to dwell in Bwindi and four orphans living in a sanctuary in DR Congo, the census put the known world population of mountain gorillas at 786.
Mountain gorillas, who have fallen prey to conflict and poaching over the years, were famously brought to the world's attention by the late Dian Fossey and are one the region's main tourist attractions.
Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania have it all: The highest mountain-range and free standing mountain of Africa, the largest lake, tropical beaches, the best savannah parks in the world, the biggest volcano caldera in Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater and vast tropical rainforests with chimpanzees and mountain gorillas.
Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania offer the best of everything from East & West Africa. A unique combination of the large animals -Elephants, Lions, Rhinos, Buffaloes, Leopards, Giraffes, Zebras, Hippos and Crocodiles- and the forest animals like Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Forest Elephants and Forest Buffaloes
ETT- Kenya Safaris Desk
Etton Travel and Tours
No comments:
Post a Comment