Mountain gorillas safe, say experts SALOME ALWENY & ISMAIL-MUSA LADU

The mountain gorillas, that are predominantly in Bwindi Forest are not threatened by extinction, Dr Alastair McNeilage, an ecologist who led the census of gorillas in 2005 has said.

“There has been slight increase in the number of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest in the last couple of years,” Dr McNeilage said. Speaking during a public debate on October 4, organized by nature Uganda and Uganda wild life society in Kampala, Dr Mcneilage said the gorilla species that is threatened by extinction is found in central and West Africa

“There are about 50 West and central Africa gorillas that keep crossing and these are the endangered species” he said. He said in 1990 there was a sharp decline in mountain gorillas’ population because of the insurgency and genocide in Rwanda. He said amidst the difficulties Uganda’s Mountain gorillas managed to increase.

There are now a total of over 380 mountain gorillas in 32 social groups across in Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo confirmed by head counting. However the number is put around 700 in the mountain gorilla zone of Uganda, Rwanda and Congo