Writes Leo Odera Omolo,
THE population of the endangered Mountain gorillas in Virunga Massif has increased by 26.3% over the last seven years, the government owned NEWVISION daily has reported this morning.
A statement from the wildlife agencies of Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo, shows that the current gorilla population in Virunga is estimated at 480, up from 380 individuals.
Virunga Massif comprises of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and Parc National des Virunga in DR Congo. Gorillas are also found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.
According to the statement, the annual growth rate of the gorilla population, estimated at 3.7%, matched that of the human population in Uganda.
“The analysis of a census conducted in March and April in the Virunga Massif confirms a 26.3 % increase in the population of mountain gorillas, Gorilla beringei beringei, in this area over the last seven years, with a 3.7 % annual growth rate,” said the agencies.
The census team encountered a total of 480 mountain gorillas in 36 groups and 14 solitary silverback males in the Virunga Massif. Of the 480 gorillas, 352 (73%) were habituated (349 in groups and three solitary males), while 128 were unhabituated (117 in groups and 11 solitary males).
The census was conducted by six teams of 72 people from Rwanda, DR Congo and Uganda, who trekked over 1,000km through the range, documenting fresh signs of mountain gorilla groups.
The last census, conducted in 2006, estimated the gorilla population at 340 in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Ends
What about 10,000,000 (10 million) unarmed Africans who have been slaughtered by African elites financed and promoted by corporate war-lords who seem to be very concerned about the gorillas in the region? When will Africans with voices start talking about their protection?
I knew some asshole will be complaining about Africans in the comments. I don’t know where these people come from. I’m glad along with the bad things that the colonial governments did they also set up National parks and nature reserves otherwise there would be little wildlife left.
I cannot imagine how sad it would be for me to hear that there used to be baboons and lions or cheetahs and rhinos here but if you want to see them you have to travel to Europe to some zoo.
We should support all efforts to protect nature. If our people get their heads out of their asses we can develop industrial economies that will relieve some of the pressure from the forest and the parks.
Annihilating wildlife will not save African lives. Africans will continue slaughtering each other until they have good governance.
The only way to keep Ugandans/Kenyans etc out of the wildlife’s way is to do away with subsistence.
Koronya Mwambia;
I guess if you are put in a position to choose between your life and that of a gorilla, you will sacrifice your life for the gorilla, Mhh? You must be very brilliant indeed!
Akech
Obviously you are not ready to have a fact based discussion. My point is that your argument have very little to do with the issue at hand. This is not about people killed in wars or whatever else is killing us ( preventable diseases, general violence etc). Our population has exploded and that of our wild neighbors has plummeted – both to obscene proportions. I’m only repeating this in the hope that you might learn to think a little more logically. To illustrate the stupidity of your anger I’ll pose a simple question, if there wasn’t a single wild animal in Rwanda, Congo, Uganda would those 10,000,000 been saved ?