New Mountain Gorilla Joint Anti-Poaching Unit Formed

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda whose two national parks of Virunga and Volcanoes respectively are separated by the border of the two countries have formed a joint anti-poaching team as a result of the death of baby mountain gorilla on the 12th of February 2012.

Poachers encroach into these national parks and lay traps in order catch small animals like duikers and other lesser antelopes that are resident within these national parks. These snares however end up catching some of the mountain gorillas and killing the babies that are most susceptible to being trapped by these poacher's snares.

It is not uncommon to find maimed mountain gorillas, with some limbs missing due to the horrible snares that poachers lay in the national parks for other animals.

Mountain gorillas are highly endangered and the greatest threat to these animals include encroachment into their habitat leading to loss of habitat and human wildlife conflict. The other threat is poaching which was the number one cause of the huge loss to the number of mountain gorillas.

The plight of these great apes was made known to the world by the renown primatologist Dian Fossey who spent the better part of her life protecting and advocating for the protection of these mountain gorillas and other beautiful primates found in the region.

The formation of the anti-poaching unit has led to the capture of many snares and traps laid in the jungles of these mountain gorilla habitats.

The Virunga's which comprises the Volcanoes national park and Virunga national parks in Rwanda the Democratic Republic of Congo have half of the world's mountain gorillas in the wild.

The other half of the mountain gorillas are found in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park in Uganda. The park has a great number of mountain gorillas and is considered by most travel expert as the best place to do mountain gorilla trekking trips in Africa.

The other place where mountain gorillas can be in Uganda is Mgahinga gorilla national park however the mountain gorillas in this place often cross over to Volcanoes and Virunga national park.

Gorilla safari packages bring in lots of money for both Rwanda and Uganda where gorilla trekking permits are charged

Rebels Hampering Gorilla Conservation in The Congo

Mountain gorillas are an endangered species with just over 750 left in the wilds of the region bordering Uganda, Congo and Rwanda. These 3 countries have greatly tried to increase conservation efforts to protect these primates, however, the Democratic Republic of Congo's efforts are being hampered by the take over of the Virunga national park since september last year. This is home of approximately half of the mountain gorilla population left in the wild.

Early this month a group of the Mai Mai rebels set ambush on a vehicle carrying conservationists killing 2 and wounding three. This on the heels of the murder of 5 mountain gorillas last year. This a very huge number of gorillas considering their population. These rebels do not only kill these mountain gorillas but have also started taking naive tourists gorilla tracking. This is not only financing the rebels but also paying the very same people who kill these primates for meat. Besides they do not follow the rules associated with gorilla tracking tours.

For Bwindi gorilla tracking in Uganda and Rwanda gorilla tour visit the gorilla tracking company.
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