| In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, lies | | | | total of 30 gorilla groups up from 28 in 1997, with the |
| south-western Uganda about 530km from the Capital | | | | numbers in each group varying between 3 and 28. |
| (Kampala) and close to the borders of Rwanda and | | | | The several conservation groups found 11 lonely |
| DRC. One of the world’s endangered primates | | | | solitary males, which don’t yet have a family. |
| have started multiplying in Number in some parts of | | | | Mapesa said the analysis of the gorillas’ different |
| their location. Bwindi is one of the areas that the | | | | age groups provides an optimistic picture of the |
| gorillas have increased in number, adding from 300 to | | | | future of these gentle giants, whose endangered |
| 340 gorillas after the produced their babies. This was | | | | conservation status has made them one of the |
| according to the census results carried out in the | | | | world's most popular tourist attractions since the |
| Bwindi impenetrable forest with the help of the | | | | 1990s. However Mapesa was quick to add that there |
| authority and the locals. | | | | is some concern that regular contact with humans is |
| An increase by 12% growth in numbers is a clear | | | | limiting the number of females joining the habituated |
| indication that the wildlife conservation programs | | | | groups from the unhabituated groups. |
| being implemented in Bwindi Impenetrable National | | | | Of the 30 groups, five are habituated of which four |
| Park the prime destination of bird watchers and gorilla | | | | are utilized for tourism while one is used for research. |
| trekking. Of over a half a population of 700 gorillas in | | | | The five habituated gorilla groups have a total |
| the world there are positive results to this families to | | | | number of 76 gorillas, constituting 23% of the total |
| increase further, said the executive director of | | | | gorilla population in the park. Because of the increase |
| Uganda wildlife Authority. | | | | in the gorilla population and the continued health |
| During the time of wars that almost ruined the east | | | | status, UWA has started a habituation process for |
| African Nations in the 1970’s and 1980’s, the | | | | two more gorilla groups in Rushaga and Ruhija (in the |
| primate were being hunted for a meal and this almost | | | | Kabale area) as part of efforts to boost tourism |
| extinguished the gorillas from their locations in the | | | | revenue and satisfy the increasing public demand for |
| three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and the DR | | | | gorilla tracking. |
| Congo, however the population of the gorillas today | | | | Some of the groups that took part in the census of |
| stands at 720 with half the number in Uganda. | | | | the Gorilla’s were the Institute of Tropical Forest |
| However, between April and June 2006, a census of | | | | Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society, UWA, |
| the gorillas was carried Bwindi Impenetrable National | | | | Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology |
| Park, and the experts registered an increase of a | | | | and others. |