There has an exciting resurgence in the population of Rwanda’s famous mountain gorillas. Although their numbers once dwindled due to rampant poaching, conflicts, and habitat loss, the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda has over the past years witnessed steady growth of the mountain gorillas.
This has widely been attributed to the country’s conservation efforts. Rwanda’s tourism industry is buoyed by the existence of these primates. The relationship between Rwanda and the gorillas is some unique form of interdependence.
Gorillas are Rwanda’s most popular attraction
There might be a lot to see and feel in Rwanda. This is a country of picturesque rolling hills and dazzling beauty, captured by its rich culture and enticing dance, the Intore.
However, the mountain gorillas still remain Rwanda’s flagship tourist attraction, as they bring most of the tourists to the country. Lodges like luxurious Bisate Lodge and campsites like Red Rocks Cultural Center in Musanze are built around the very concept related to gorilla tours.
New tourism-related organizations like the Virunga Community Programs, restaurants, tour companies and boutiques have sprung up to offer mountain gorilla-related services. It’s in this regard that the mountain gorillas have undoubtedly contributed significantly to Rwanda’s international recognition.
Saving deforestation and gorilla habitat loss
There is about 1,000 mountain gorillas left in the world. Half of these reside in the Virunga mountain range. The range is shared by Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Among the biggest threats to the existence of the gorilla is habitat loss. But Rwanda has made significant, and laudable, efforts in ensuring the size of the park are maintained. This has contributed to ensuring the gorillas are suitably protected. Perhaps, as a result, over 60 percent of gorillas in the Virunga massif reside in Rwanda.
Peace and prosperity has led to more mountain gorillas
Sadly, just some few years after Dian Fossey’s relentless gorilla conservation efforts, conflicts in gorilla habitats deterred the growth in the population of the gorillas. But after the harrowing 1994 genocide, the country embarked on an ambitious plan to rebuild itself literally from the rubble.
Together with the rehabilitation of towns, cities, and communities, also the gorilla population began making a strong comeback. Since the 1994 genocide, the country has experienced unprecedented peace, political and social stability, and fewer human threats to mountain gorillas.
Restricted tourist activities to keep the gorillas both happy and healthy
Did you know that gorillas share 98 percent of their DNA with the human being? Consequently, gorillas notoriously have frail immune systems concerning interacting with humans. But Rwanda has done everything possible to prevent the spreading of airborne viruses, bacteria, and disease.
Tourists are not permitted to trek the gorillas when they have cold or flu, and when they reach the gorillas can’t stand closer than 10 meters (30 feet).
Basically, to keep the gorillas happy, tourists are only permitted to observe them for one hour before they return down the mountain. And the gorilla doctors also are always ready in case any of the gorillas happens to fall ill.
The gorilla permit costs fund directly sustainable community development, and this has further led to the primates’ conservation.
In 2017, Rwanda doubled its gorilla trekking permits from $750 to $1500. Though the decision was met with some outcry, it was nobly done to raise more fund for conservation efforts and support the surrounding communities.
Previously, communities were provided $37 from each gorilla-trekking tourist for hospitals, schools, business development and clean water sources. Rwanda now provides surrounding communities $150 per tourist.
Before the institutionalized funds, the communities were among the biggest threats to the gorillas, since impoverished families would poach these gorillas, take food and trees from their habitat, or even accidentally kill them while poaching for other animals.
But now, with tourism dollars impacting directly these communities, the motivation to preserve them is greater, and also now reformed poachers can be found in a range of roles like porters, gorilla trackers, conservationists, and park rangers.
