BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt visits Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda to discover
what the conservation of Mountain Gorillas may reveal about protecting other species. On his visit, he notices that though the burly matriarch of the mountain gorilla family could sense his presence, she ignores him as she munches on leaves. When suddenly a baby gorilla passes by, she looks across and makes eye contact with Rowlatt. What’s more amazing to him is that he knows that her glance was not hostile, but instead making sure he knew his place.
It was this instinctive connection between the human and gorilla species that made this
visit such a profound experience for Rowlatt. Unfortunately, the world’s mountain gorilla species seems to be on an inevitable path towards extinction. While extinction is a natural part of the evolutionary process, the problem is that species are becoming more extinct far faster than usual in evolutionary history. In fact, extinction within a species has been occurring 100 times faster than the “normal rate.” It is warned that the world is facing an extinction event that is comparable to the scale of the wipe-out of the dinosaurs.
This is especially crucial, since biodiversity is not only essential for the functionality of the
natural world, such as the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink, but it also helps protect the world from pollution and natural disaster. The UN negotiations aim to protect at least 30% of the world’s land and seas by year 2030. The ultimate goal is so that humans and animals may “live in harmony” with each other.
When Sir David visited the family of the mountain gorillas, the species was critically
endangered, with only 600 gorillas left. Mountain gorillas live in two groups, one in the Virunga Forest, and the other in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. The gorillas face the same challenge as many endangered species today; much of their habitat has been destroyed by human activity.
40 years later, the species have grown to 1000 thriving gorillas. It is now listed as
“endangered”, which is a significant improvement.
How was this success achieved? Dr Gladys Kalema Zikusoka explains that strictly
managed tourism has been crucial.
“Tourism really does help wild animals if it is done right. But only,” she clarifies, “if the
income from tourism really does flow into the local community. The income of tourism has been crucial because it underpins the support of the local community.” Gorillas are a lucrative tourist attraction, and since visiting gorilla families is not cheap (you pay $600 per person), the tourists provide a financial boost to the conservation of mountain gorillas.
The success of the conservation of mountain gorillas shows that we can save species from
the brink of extinction, says the UN’s head of biodiversity, Elizabeth Mrema. The question is how much effort and resources we are willing to put into it.
what the conservation of Mountain Gorillas may reveal about protecting other species. On his visit, he notices that though the burly matriarch of the mountain gorilla family could sense his presence, she ignores him as she munches on leaves. When suddenly a baby gorilla passes by, she looks across and makes eye contact with Rowlatt. What’s more amazing to him is that he knows that her glance was not hostile, but instead making sure he knew his place.
It was this instinctive connection between the human and gorilla species that made this
visit such a profound experience for Rowlatt. Unfortunately, the world’s mountain gorilla species seems to be on an inevitable path towards extinction. While extinction is a natural part of the evolutionary process, the problem is that species are becoming more extinct far faster than usual in evolutionary history. In fact, extinction within a species has been occurring 100 times faster than the “normal rate.” It is warned that the world is facing an extinction event that is comparable to the scale of the wipe-out of the dinosaurs.
This is especially crucial, since biodiversity is not only essential for the functionality of the
natural world, such as the food we eat, the air we breathe, and the water we drink, but it also helps protect the world from pollution and natural disaster. The UN negotiations aim to protect at least 30% of the world’s land and seas by year 2030. The ultimate goal is so that humans and animals may “live in harmony” with each other.
When Sir David visited the family of the mountain gorillas, the species was critically
endangered, with only 600 gorillas left. Mountain gorillas live in two groups, one in the Virunga Forest, and the other in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. The gorillas face the same challenge as many endangered species today; much of their habitat has been destroyed by human activity.
40 years later, the species have grown to 1000 thriving gorillas. It is now listed as
“endangered”, which is a significant improvement.
How was this success achieved? Dr Gladys Kalema Zikusoka explains that strictly
managed tourism has been crucial.
“Tourism really does help wild animals if it is done right. But only,” she clarifies, “if the
income from tourism really does flow into the local community. The income of tourism has been crucial because it underpins the support of the local community.” Gorillas are a lucrative tourist attraction, and since visiting gorilla families is not cheap (you pay $600 per person), the tourists provide a financial boost to the conservation of mountain gorillas.
The success of the conservation of mountain gorillas shows that we can save species from
the brink of extinction, says the UN’s head of biodiversity, Elizabeth Mrema. The question is how much effort and resources we are willing to put into it.
