Uganda mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park have recorded ‘baby boom’ after five (5) births have been registered within a period of only 6 weeks. The latest birth was recorded at Rushegura gorilla family group of Buhoma sector, one of the best regions where gorilla trekking is carried out by tourists on Uganda gorilla safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Since January and amidst covid-19 pandemic, 7 bouncing baby gorillas have been recorded in Uganda just before the end of 2020 unlike only 3 that were registered in 2019. It should be taken note that mountain gorillas are listed among the endangered species with fewer than 1063 of them still in existing in the wild and only in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They were removed from the list of ‘critically endangered species’ by IUCN in 2018 following the intense efforts put to protect and conserve them.
With all the challenges Uganda Wildlife Authority and other conservation agencies are still facing in ensuring gorilla conservation and protection, new births like these ones are indication of conservationist commitment to save the lives of these rare apes and their natural habitat. Other gorilla births that have been recorded this year in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park are from mother gorilla Nyampazi on 22nd July 2020 (Mubare gorilla family) and Katoto female gorilla on 25th July 2020 in Oruzongo group. Another gorilla birth was recorded from Kibande Rushegura family in addition to the latest birth from Ruterana adult female gorilla still in Rushegura group.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda shelters 459 of the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas. Of these, about 20 groups have been habituated and readily available for gorilla trekking experience in this park and treks are limited to only persons above 15 years provided he or she has a valid gorilla permit. Each Uganda gorilla permit is obtainable at $700 for foreign non-residents, $600 foreign residents and Uganda UGX 250000 for East Africa community citizens.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park sits in an area of 331square kilometres and it was established in 1991 with a purpose of protecting and conserving mountain gorillas, their habitat and other wildlife species. There are 4 regions where visitors on Uganda gorilla tour can commence their search for mountain gorillas in Bwindi and these include Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Rushaga area.