Mountain gorilla population – Mountain gorillas are a subspecies of the Eastern gorilla that live in the Virunga Mountain Range, which stretches across parts of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mountain gorillas are found in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as in the national park of Bwindi Impenetrable in southwestern Uganda.
Mountain gorillas were threatened with extinction in the 1800s but were saved by the conservation efforts of the great American primatologist Dian Fossey, who devoted her life to the conservation of mountain gorillas.
Dian Fossey tragically lost her life in 1986 in Rwanda.
The mountain gorilla population has increased to 1,063 individuals as of 2024, up from 1,004 individuals recorded in 2018.
According to a 2018 study, there were only 1,004 remaining mountain gorillas in the wild, down from 786 in 2010.
The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to 50% of the world’s mountain gorilla population.
The population of mountain gorillas is estimated to have increased by 26.3% over the past seven years, with an average annual growth rate of 3.7% in that time.
Conservation efforts have improved significantly since 1981, when a census estimated there were only 254 mountain gorillas living in the wild.
In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, there was a 6% increase in population in 2006 compared to 2002, and the population is said to have increased by 12% from 1997 to 2006 in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Estimates of the mountain gorilla population are based on traditional dung sampling from nests.
Studies have shown that gorilla families habituated to research experience higher population growth than uninhabited mountain gorillas.
Mountain gorillas have been removed from the list of endangered or threatened species, but they still rely on conservation efforts to survive.
The mountain gorillas face a variety of challenges, such as poaching, habitat destruction, disease, war, and civil unrest.
Some of the best places to see mountain gorillas are in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and the Virunga National Park in the DRC.
You can help increase the number of mountain gorillas by going out on a gorilla trekking safari in Africa.
Most of the money collected from the gorilla permits is used for the conservation of the mountain gorillas.
In Uganda, a gorilla permit costs $800; in DR Congo, $400; and in Rwanda, $1500.
The best time to get a gorilla permit in all of these countries is three months in advance due to the high demand for permits, especially during peak season.
Mountain gorillas can be seen year-round in the DRC and Uganda, although some months are better than others.
The best times to visit are from December to February and June to August.
Mountain gorillas live at higher altitudes with cold temperatures, and sometimes it rains, even in the dry season.
Therefore, tourists should carry the right gorilla trekking gear, such as good hiking boots, good raincoats, warm clothes, energy snacks, water, sunscreen, hats, insect repellents, garden gloves, and more.
In conclusion, the mountain gorilla population was declining in the 1800s due to poaching and other dangerous activities, but after the conservation efforts of the American primatologist Dian Fossey, the population has been gradually increasing over the years.
Today, you can contribute to the conservation of mountain gorillas by going on a gorilla trekking safari in either Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of Congo.
