Mountain Gorillas – one of Africa’s most endangered animals | Tunde Folawiyo

April 14, 2014 Editor Africa’s Endangered Primates, Tunde Folawiyo, tunde folawiyo africa, tunde folawiyo london, tunde folawiyo oil, tunde folawiyo profile

The mountain gorilla resides in the dense forests of Africa; only during the last three decades or so have scientists begun to explore these areas and learn more about the behaviour and biology of these creatures. The vast majority live in the mountainous parts of the Rif Valley, which can be found along the borders between Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda; however, some are also housed in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Those who, like Tunde Folawiyo, are interested in wildlife conservation might be aware of the census that was carried out two years ago, which revealed that the mountain gorilla population stood at 880. Being physically powerful, these animals have very few natural predators; the only real threat posed to this species is human interference. Deforestation and the subsequent loss of habitat, as well as the spread of human diseases amongst groups of mountain gorillas, have led to a dramatic decline in population numbers. They have now been classified as being critically endangered.

However, steps are being taken to prevent further deaths amongst this species. Many local residents in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo have joined forces in order to protect, monitor and manage the mountain gorillas residing in the surrounding forests.

The staff working within the Bwindi National Park have also gone to great lengths to ensure the survival of the remaining gorillas. Three separate schemes have been established; these enabled the management team to teach locals about why these animals need to be protected, and to control the harvesting of the park’s resources. The launching of annual celebratory events like Kwita Izina have also helped the community around the park to better understand the importance of gorilla preservation.

As a conservation enthusiast, Tunde Folawiyo will probably be quite relieved to know that the park’s approach to conservation is working well; although mountain gorillas remain on the endangered list, their population numbers rose by 10% between 2010 and 2012. The WWF species programme manager, Drew McVey, who was involved in the carrying out of this census, noted that one of the most effective aspects of the conservation work was the park rangers’ engagement with the local community, as these people’s actions have an enormous impact on the survival of this particular species.

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