Mountain Gorilla Conservation (Mountain Gorilla Conservation Methods) – Mountain gorillas are one of the most endangered gorilla species in the world. Mountain gorillas share 98.3% of their DNA with humans, making them close relatives of humans.
They are friendly animals with distinct features that attract attention, including from poachers. This is why their numbers have greatly reduced over time, leading to urgent conservation efforts.
Gorilla conservation is the practice of protecting and preserving gorillas for future generations.
This involves joint efforts by national and international organizations, as well as the three countries where mountain gorillas live: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Some of these organizations include the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, the African Wildlife Foundation, and many others.
These groups have developed different methods to protect these giants. Some of these methods include:
- Daily Monitoring: Game rangers, trackers, and veterinarians monitor individual gorillas and their families daily.
- Patrols: About 2,200 patrols are conducted in gorilla habitats yearly, with an average of six patrols daily. This helps reduce poaching and habitat encroachment over the past five years.
- Long-Distance Patrols: Game rangers patrol a distance of about 250,000 km to ensure gorilla safety.
- Mountain Climbing: Rangers climb over 2,500 km monthly to check on mountain gorillas. This is equivalent to climbing Mount Everest.
- Trade Checkups: Strict checks are conducted on trade items to stop the illegal trade of gorilla products across the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and their neighboring countries.
- Awareness Programs: Programs have been created to educate people about the benefits of conserving mountain gorillas, including environmental benefits.
- Trans-boundary Collaboration: Countries work together to develop ideas for conserving mountain gorillas, including conducting gorilla censuses.
- Habitat Conservation: Efforts are made to protect gorilla habitats. Deforestation is strongly discouraged to minimize habitat loss and conserve the forests where mountain gorillas live.
- Medical Care: Teams like Gorilla Doctors provide free medical care and checkups to mountain gorillas, improving their health and increasing their lifespan.
- Tourist Guidelines: Tourists are encouraged to wear face masks when near mountain gorillas to reduce the spread of diseases from humans to gorillas.
Thanks to these conservation efforts, the mountain gorilla population has increased by 73% since 1989. People are encouraged to support these efforts morally, socially, and financially to save this endangered species.
