Tracking Mountain Gorillas In Uganda



There are only 800 mountain gorillas left in the wild and half of them live in Uganda’s forests. A biologist from Leipzig’s Max Planck Institute has learned a lot about them by analyzing their feces.

It’s early morning and two dozen tourists have gathered at the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda. They’re hoping to visit with the rare mountain gorillas that live here. Kathrin Paul and her daughter Teresa have joined the group. “I am a veterinary assistant and I just feel drawn to animals,” Teresa says with enthusiasm. “My mother was coming, so I just had to join her!” Both mother and daughter are eager to see the impressive gorillas right here in the wild.

Mountains gorillas can only be found in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are only 800 left.

The species is in danger of extinction. About half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas live in Bwindi. Visitors are willing to pay 500 euros ($600) for the chance to visit the great apes. It took park employees many years to get individual gorilla groups comfortable with human visitors.

Gaad, the local tour guide, has gathered a group of vistors around him. “Remember, you’re going to see mountain gorillas,” he jokes. “You have to climb mountains. If you’re not fit enough to do that, you should go home, practice jogging, and come back again.” The group laughs. Gaad then explains the rules. “We don’t want you to be in direct contact with the gorillas. They could contract diseases. So, you have to keep at least a 7-meter distance.” Eating and drinking when near the gorillas is forbidden, he says, and so is taking pictures with flash.

 

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