The number of mountain gorillas in the world that are only found in Uganda, Rwanda and Dr. Congo has exceeded 1000 as of the recent population census that was carried out in the Virunga massif. There was an increment of 120 mountain gorillas on top of the 880 individuals when the last census was carried out.
The completed mountain gorilla population census was started in 2016 to get to know the new number of the mountain gorillas in Virunga massif that is straddled by the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Dr. Congo of which each of the country has a gorilla park at the mountain i.e. volcanoes national park in Rwanda, Virunga national park in Dr. Congo and Mgahinga gorilla park in Uganda.
The result of the gorilla census cited that the total population of the mountain gorillas had increased from 406 to 604 in the three national park of Mgahinga, volcanoes and Virunga that are found on the Virunga massif.
The population census was carried out by the great Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) that announced the results last Thursday at Serena Hotel in Rubavu, Rwanda.
The total mountain gorilla population (604) that was got from the census stipulates that the number of mountain gorillas has risen above 100o when the figure of 400 mountain population that was counted in Bwindi impenetrable national park of Uganda in 2011 is added up.
The Great Virunga Transboundary collaboration officials said that the census will continue and the second session of the census will be finalized in August 2019.
This is good news to conservationists worldwide as different organizations have pooled efforts to save the mountain gorillas from getting extinct. The mountain gorillas are red listed as endangered species by International Conservation Union for Nature (ICUN) and therefore they need great protection and mobilizing to keep their numbers alive or else they will be no more.
Different conservationists flashed their joy for the good news on their social media accounts
The Uganda wildlife authority on facebook echoed out the milestone and pledged to add more efforts towards conserving these amazing primates.
World wildlife fund tweeted,” we celebrate the great news from the mountain gorilla census and we also remember the rangers that have lost their lives protecting these majestic icons the Virunga and Bwindi. Your efforts have not been in vain”
