Guidelines On The Conservation

Guidelines On The Conservation

Very many social media highlights have shown how tourists have gotten close to the mountain gorillas and how they touch the mountain gorillas so these have inspired many tourists to come to visit the wild mountain gorillas which are located in East and Central Africa.

There are 4 major mountain gorillas destinations in the whole world whereby some of them are found in central and East Africa including the Western Lowland gorillas which are only found in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the rest are found in Virunga National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda.

Endangered mountain gorillas are said to be left about 1,000 in the three national parks but the massive conservation practices introduced by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Rwanda Development Board, and Virunga with the partnership of other organizations of the International Gorilla Conservation Program, Gorilla Doctors, World Wide Fund for Nature including the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda have been able to provide guidelines to the tourists who came to visit or spend time with the endangered species for their long time survival for also the future generation.

The guidelines that are put in for the protection of the mountain gorillas go across to the tourists, researchers, and those intending to visit, and the Gorilla Veterinary project has some guidelines that can help to conserve the mountain gorillas as below;

Gorilla Friendly Pledge

The Gorilla Friendly Pledge campaign was initiated by the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) – a coalition of Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International, and Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) as a way to raise awareness and willing compliance with established gorilla visitation rules and regulations meant to ensure a rewarding experience for the visitor and minimize the risk of disease transmission to and behavior change of the gorillas.

The Gorilla Friendly Pledge is an online awareness-raising campaign aimed at encouraging all those planning to visit the mountain gorillas and even those who are not to pledge to observe gorilla tourism rules during treks and to share feedback on their trekking experience after the visit through the Gorilla Friendly Pledge website gorillafriendly.org

Those having the desire to connect with the mountain gorillas who are our close relatives with a DNA of 98% so close contact can also be dangerous for their conservation so before visiting make a pledge to conserve about 4% of the mountain gorillas that die every day because of the infectious diseases that can be contacted from the humans such as Flu, Cold, Scabies and other virus diseases. So we can taste to it that the work done by scientists and researchers is very vital.

Guidelines On How We Should Conserve And Protect The Mountain Gorillas

Conserve the mountain gorillas by trekking in the three countries of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.

Mountain gorillas would have been extinct if not for the gorilla tourism that came on board. Mountain Gorilla habitats are home to the human population in Africa whereby the majority of the humans are farmers so land is so essential to them, the governments of the three countries have maintained the gorillas by putting limits on human encroachment to the gorilla habitats since the money generated from the tourists can be used to improve the different park resources.

Gorilla trekking is the best experience that one can have in the entire lifetime though the permit is quite expensive US $ 400 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, US $700 in Uganda, and US $1,500 in Rwanda whereby purchasing the permit to visit the gorillas provides an economic incentive for the protection of the gorillas and the communities around who were evicted from the forest to create space for the gorillas.

Postpone your gorilla trekking safari if you are not feeling well

Due to their genetic closeness to humans, gorillas can also be affected by human diseases which means they are vulnerable to some human diseases. Many gorillas have died because of infectious diseases that they contact with humans according to research done by Gorilla Doctors. The most common infection is respiratory disease including cold, and flu so to protect the gorillas from infectious diseases, the national park authorities always ask anyone who is not feeling sick not to trek with gorillas.

Wear a mask and other protective gear while trekking

The mountain gorillas are also at a high risk of contracting the Coronavirus so tourists are highly advised to wear their masks when trekking the gorillas and footwear which protects the habitats of the mountain gorillas. Tourists can also practice the following while trekking.

• Food must be eaten 500 meters away from the mountain gorillas.
• Non-essential personnel must remain a long distance away from the gorillas.
• Human quarantine for those who wish to stay longer for trekking.
• Avoid urinating in the park so you will have to wait until you return from the hike.
• No smoking in the forest.

Minimum age of 15 years

Children below the age of 15 years are not allowed to trek the gorillas because they are more prone to getting different communicable diseases though fitness also matters.

Staying 10 meters away from the gorillas when spending time with them

To decrease the transmission of illness and disruption of the gorilla’s normal behavior, the Gorilla Doctors with the national park officials created rules of keeping 10 meters away from the gorillas at all times. The juvenile and the young gorillas with the excitement of seeing new faces would jump to where you are so when that is done, just turn away and avoid touching them. Even when the gorillas leave their natural habitats to the nearby lodges please the rules still apply.

Donate to the gorilla conservation organizations

Donating money to the groups working to save mountain gorillas is the most efficient method to save the species. Dian Fossey Foundation and Gorilla Fund have tried to do reasonable research on the techniques for protecting the mountain gorillas and the funds come from grants and contributions.

When contributing money, you have to analyze the organization you are going to help on how successful the organization has been to carry out its objective and you should also be able to obtain answers to the questions like ‘’ What strategies does the organization use to achieve its goals?’’, Does the organization have data demonstrating that its methods are having an impact?’’

Funds collected from the donations provide medical care to the gorillas in the wild, for doing more research on the gorillas, provide anti-poaching done by the park employees who take responsibility for up to 40% of the human-habituated growth of the mountain gorilla population in the Virunga Massif over the last 10 years.

Guidelines On The Conservation

Taking part in other activities during the gorilla trekking safari

The majority of the tourists come to the national parks to do gorilla trekking for 2 or 3 days and leave however, there are other activities that the parks do offer in the natural habitat since the incentives that are generated from the activities are used to conserve the mountain gorilla habitats

Tourists can engage in hiking at the Nyiragongo volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo home to the world’s largest lava lake, and hike extinct volcanoes in Rwanda and Uganda such as the snow-covered Mt. Karisimbi, fluted peaks of Mount Sabyinyo and Muhabura.

Both Rwanda and Uganda always offer treks in search of Golden Monkeys and in Rwanda, you can visit the gravesites where the victims of the genocide were buried and also the former research station of Dian Fossey who was killed in Rwanda.

Support local businesses and community projects in Gorilla national parks

Though the government and conservation groups have worked hard to conserve the gorillas with the assistance of the local communities surrounding the park is important to ensure the preservation of the gorilla habitat and the mountain gorillas.

Since the locals receive in a share of the tourism revenue and benefits from the non-profit and community efforts in the area thus making the locals protect the gorillas with high regard.

The tourists can also contribute by buying and being a client of the restaurants, stores, and other businesses or by donating to the community initiatives across the parks.

Tourists can visit the Iby’wacu cultural village near the Volcanoes National Park which employs the poachers as cultural performers and interpreters, Batwa cultural trail in Mgahinga national park, and also Batwa community tours around Bwindi impenetrable national park.

Guidelines On The Conservation

Do not purchase any products made out of Gorilla parts

Mountain gorillas are always targeted by poachers, especially in Congo and Rwanda mostly the poachers set snares to catch the young gorillas for food, cultural benefits, and as a source of income.

Furthermore, the presence of poachers in the forest is a disturbance to the environment which raises the danger of zoonotic disease transmission since the main purpose of poaching is to get bush meat, wild animal skins, bones, and ivory which are used for crafts and other items to be sold to the tourists so if you have doubt about the product’s origin don’t buy it and in the rare circumstances when you see someone selling a live wild animal, report to the national park authorities.

Guidelines On The Conservation

Spread the word about gorilla trekking and gorilla conservation

Anyone can be of help by telling friends, family, and colleagues about the mountain gorillas and the efforts to save the apes, especially those who have visited the mountain gorillas. Though mountain Gorillas have been termed an endangered species and their story is a positive one since their number is gradually growing.

Due to the uncertainties that happened a few years ago, the gorillas reduced in number to about 250 animals during the research by Dian Fossey but today the population number has increased nearly to 800 gorillas this means that the gorillas have a chance of survival if we continue to address the conservation challenges. Guidelines On The Conservation

Vibrant Holiday Safaris takes 100% responsibility in this act by offering gorilla experiences as a package and as well as teaching the clients about these endangered species.

Guidelines On The Conservation