Mountain Gorillas, an endangered animal species in Uganda

There are actually two subspecies of gorillas: Low land Gorillas and Mountain Gorillas. The former live in lowland forests while the latter 10,000 feet or higher, mostly along the slopes of volcanic mountains .Mountain Gorillas are some of the world?s  endangered species inhabiting the tropical region in Africa mostly in the D.R Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. Currently, their numbers are estimated between 600-800(a slight increase from the scary low population mainly due to the protection of areas where they stay). In Uganda, Mountain gorillas are found in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest.

Mountain Gorillas basically feed on vegetation, lead a peaceful, playful life and are hardly aggressive unless threatened. These creatures just like humans are primates and share a great percentage of DNA, about 98%. I also agree with  George Schaller, one of the world?s leading gorilla researchers who emphasized this by saying: '' No one who looks into a gorilla's eyes-intelligent, gentle, vulnerable- can remain unchanged, for the gap between ape and human vanishes; we know that the gorilla still lives within us.''

Causes of Reduction in the Gorilla Population.

Sport Hunting: This involves killing gorillas and taking their hands, heads as trophies or souvenirs. The activity is not common nowadays as a lot of focus has been put on the protection of the gorillas.

Poaching: Hunters usually set traps for game like antelopes and unfortunately, the poor gorillas end up falling into the traps which as a result may kill them or cut off some legs and hands.

Deforestation: Due to the increase in population, demand for land and wood has increased as a result, people encroach on forests to get land for housing, agriculture and wood for furniture and fuel. Gorillas are also affected by some sicknesses/ infections from human beings and vice versa due to their genetic similarity. As a result, if not given quick care, they die.

Ways to promote increase in Gorilla Populations

ü  Act more movies and documentaries to create awareness, in this case giving a positive idea about gorillas. Some movies such as King Kong and Congo exist but these may give a negative impression of violence due to the characters shown by gorillas in the movies.

ü  Monitor remote or areas that are not easily accessible using drone technology.

ü  Promote and encourage gorilla trekking: This involves walking through the tropical forests and observing the gorilla?s way of life and taking some photos. It?s an interesting activity that can help us relate with them and also embark on conserving the endangered species. The revenue gotten from this should further more be used to not only to finance patrols and reserves but also to develop the regions in which the gorilla reserves are located so that the natives realize the treasure that gorillas have become to their communities.

ü  Furthermore, just to make the presence of gorillas in society more interesting, prices for permits to enter the reserves should be reduced for at most two weeks when a gorilla gives birth, a duration during which I would recommend the planting of a tree per tourist in memory of the new-born.

References:

George B. Schaller, ??Gentle Gorillas, Turbulent Times, ?? National Geographic, vol.188. No.4(October 1995, p.66)

www.bagheera.com/inthewild/van_anim_gorilla.htm