The strong and formidable mountain gorillas seem demanding and fearsome. However, the moment a visitor shows the respect they can connect with them as equals, both just beings who coexist in harmony. Today, many people are trying to save the mountain gorillas that are endangered.
Until recently, the world’s mountain gorillas were classified as critically endangered. Unfortunately, there are many other dying species in the world that are near extinction. This highlights the overarching biodiversity crisis, where scientists estimate that species are going extinct at a rate that is at least 100 times more than the normal rate of evolution. As more species go extinct, our biodiversity weakens, and the natural world can be thrown off balance.
Fortunately, the mountain gorilla conservation has an ongoing success story. Recently the population of mountain gorillas has been steadily rising, and over 1,000 strong gorillas now live in the wild. Five mountain gorillas were born in late 2020, which is an unprecedented number compared to birth rates in the past 40 years.
One reason the gorillas have been thriving is because of increased tourism. According to Dr. Gladys Kalema Zikusoka, an Uganda Conservation Authority, “Tourism really does help wild animals if it is done right.” Many tourists are willing to pay high prices to encounter mountain gorillas, and now many lodges surround the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a natural mountain gorilla habitat, to increase tourism. Zikusoka says that “there are as many as 70” lodges that “have created jobs” and are boosting the regional economy. This covers the funds necessary to keep running Uganda’s wildlife protection service.
The money raised from tourism has also been able to neutralize poaching threats. Mountain gorillas occasionally get killed in hunting traps set for deer and other animals. Uganda authorities can now afford to offer former poachers jobs in the park that would support their families as long as they abandoned hunting. Vincent Nshmarairw, a former hunter, proudly stated that “Now we are ambassadors of the park.”
Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y3QpY6N-O69TQ8f9aDJ2_-83UnB03ett/view?usp=drivesdk
Until recently, the world’s mountain gorillas were classified as critically endangered. Unfortunately, there are many other dying species in the world that are near extinction. This highlights the overarching biodiversity crisis, where scientists estimate that species are going extinct at a rate that is at least 100 times more than the normal rate of evolution. As more species go extinct, our biodiversity weakens, and the natural world can be thrown off balance.
Fortunately, the mountain gorilla conservation has an ongoing success story. Recently the population of mountain gorillas has been steadily rising, and over 1,000 strong gorillas now live in the wild. Five mountain gorillas were born in late 2020, which is an unprecedented number compared to birth rates in the past 40 years.
One reason the gorillas have been thriving is because of increased tourism. According to Dr. Gladys Kalema Zikusoka, an Uganda Conservation Authority, “Tourism really does help wild animals if it is done right.” Many tourists are willing to pay high prices to encounter mountain gorillas, and now many lodges surround the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a natural mountain gorilla habitat, to increase tourism. Zikusoka says that “there are as many as 70” lodges that “have created jobs” and are boosting the regional economy. This covers the funds necessary to keep running Uganda’s wildlife protection service.
The money raised from tourism has also been able to neutralize poaching threats. Mountain gorillas occasionally get killed in hunting traps set for deer and other animals. Uganda authorities can now afford to offer former poachers jobs in the park that would support their families as long as they abandoned hunting. Vincent Nshmarairw, a former hunter, proudly stated that “Now we are ambassadors of the park.”
Source: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y3QpY6N-O69TQ8f9aDJ2_-83UnB03ett/view?usp=drivesdk
