Mountain Gorilla Baby Boom In Uganda – Hilarious Gorilla Trekking News in Bwindi
Mountain gorilla baby boom has been recorded in Uganda despite covid-19 crisis. Joy was filled allover the faces of the conservationists and the tourism fraternity with new gorilla birth in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the premier mountain gorilla trekking safari park in Uganda.
According to the statement released by Uganda Wildlife Authority, the amazing gorilla baby boom news account for 5 baby mountain gorillas Uganda has recorded in a period of only 6 weeks and 7 babies in 2020 alone unlike 2019 when the park registered only 3 gorilla births.
All the five babies are from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and East Africa’s iconic gorilla trekking safari destination.
Towards the end of August, 2020, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park recorded a new birth of baby gorilla in Rushegura gorilla family, Buhoma region in the Northern side of the park. This was from Kibande adult female gorilla and it marked the 2nd birth within Rushegura family alone within a period of less than 2 months.
Still within Rushegura group, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda’s leading gorilla safari park had earlier recorded new baby gorilla arrival from adult female gorilla Ruterana and today, the group is composed of 18 members.
This was Ruterana’s third birth as she also turns 18 years. Double baby gorilla births were also recorded in Bwindi’s Oruzongo and Mubare family in July 25th 2020 from Katoto mother gorilla and on 22nd July 2020 from Nyampazi adult female gorilla respectively.
Mountain gorilla conservation and protection still remains a major challenge and when new births are recorded, it brings a smile not only to conservationists but to entire tourism fraternity.
These apes share about 95 percent of DNA with humans and they are highly threatened due to poaching, spread of human infectious diseases and many more. They are listed among the most endangered species and considering their status, there is need for a collective effort to ensure they thrive for today and the future generations.
Gorilla trekking is one of the reasons most tourists come to explore Uganda and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park attracts majority of them then others visit Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park protects 20 habituated gorilla families and this is the highest number recorded compared to the rest of other gorilla safari parks.
The park shelters 459 mountain gorillas of total population of about 1063 that still thrives on earth and only found in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is well-positioned in southwestern Uganda, about 8-10 hours if you are to drive from Kampala and 3-4 hours if you are driving from Kigali capital city.
The prime reason why the park was gazetted in 1991 was to protect mountain gorillas and there exist all the 4 gorilla trekking regions where treks start from; Ruhija, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Rushaga sectors.
It is possible to engage in gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park provided you have a valid gorilla permit. Each of the permits costs US dollars 700 (foreign non-resident) US Dollars 600 (foreign resident) and Ugx 250,000 for the East Africa Community citizens.
These can be obtained through a reputable ground tour operator/agent or you can book directly through Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Read more about this amazing news of Mountain gorilla baby boom on BBC here.
You may also like: Gorilla trekking for the elderly people guide.