GORILLA BABY BORN IN BWINDI
Boom the birth of another gorilla baby in the habituated Ruhija sector of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is confirmed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
The baby gorilla was born in Mukiza Gorilla Family in Ruhija Sector whose mother is Mugwere.
“The baby was born on Sunday, August 7th and the authorities are yet to determine its sex because the mother is too protective of it.” Bashir Hangi Uganda Wildlife Authority Senior Communications Officer confirmed.
Due to the fact that the baby gorilla was born, there is a population increase to 28 individuals in Mukisa gorilla family which is soon separating into two groups.
These gorillas can also be spotted in mgahinga national park, virunga national park and volcano national park adding up to Virunga mountain ranges in Congo and Rwanda respectively. However, Uganda inhabits half of the gorillas compared to others in virunga ranges.
After the death of Rafiki gorilla silverback, the two gorilla babies were born in Bwindi impenetrable national park which has not only increased its population in the Bwindi but also in virunga ranges.
On Friday 15th July 2022, the other bundle of joy was born in Bwindi from kutu gorilla family group in Rushaga sector although rangers discovered the birth on sunday afternoon which was great joy in Bwindi impenetrable national park
What to pack?
- Camera
- Raincoat
- Comfortable hiking boots.
- Long trousers, long stockings, long t-shirts.
- Water & snacks.
How to access the park?
Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda neighboring Volcano national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in Congo. The park can be accessed by either road or flight depending on the client’s choice. While by road, visitors will have a drive for 9-10 hours to reach the park. It might look to be a long drive but it’s worth it because of spotting various attractions along the way like lake Mburo national park, lake Bunyonyi, Equator and many more. Despite the fact that Bwindi is so close to Rwanda, visitors can use Rwanda Kigali airport to have a few drives from Kigali international airport to Bwindi which is also an adventurous and shorter route than that of Uganda.
Whereas by flight from kajjasi or Entebbe International Airport, the visitors will reach Bwindi in one and half hours which is also adventurous however expensive.
What are the challenges faced by gorillas?
Poaching is the most typical illegal act done by mostly poachers who kill gorillas for meat like Rafiki silverback which was killed by a poacher who was imprisoned for 11 years. It is recorded that poachers have increased in number during covid lockdowns where most people around the park poached to get what to eat. The punishment for poachers is now life imprisonment which has resulted in fear of poachers thus the population increase of animals in parks.
Illness is also one of the challenges that affect gorillas since they are 98% DNA. Since they are close relatives of humans, gorillas can be affected easily by human diseases like cough, flue, covid and Ebola. Historically in 1990s, Gabon has been affected by Ebola which wiped out 90% of the gorillas in the verdant north. Due to such an incident in Gabon, the outbreak of covid brought fear and that’s why most primate parks were put to stand thus safe guiding the lives of mountain gorillas.
Human encroachment is commonly done by local communities living around the parks. Most people clear the park looking for land for farming their crops since there are against poaching in the park. The human encroachment has affected the gorillas by hiding in the forest far from the community thus affecting the trekkers by hiking in the jungle for a long time which is so difficult for some of them that aren’t fit for exercise however an interesting and amazing experience to those trekkers searching for them in their thick forest of Bwindi and mgahinga national park.
What are the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking?
- Before trekking, guides divide visitors into 8 individuals to trek gorillas to avoid the congestion of people in the jungle that are hard to manage.
- During trekking, visitors are warned to stay together while at trekking time in order not to get lost in the jungle.
- Children above 15 years of age are allowed to trek gorillas in the forest.
- Visitors are allowed to trek with cameras with exceptional of removing flashlights. These flashlights might threaten gorillas and end up attacking visitors thinking they are enemies to them.
- Illed Visitors are not allowed to trek the gorilla in the forest. Due to the fact that gorillas are close relatives of humans, they are easily attacked by diseases like Ebola, covid, cough and flue.
- Visitors are warned to wash their hands before trekking as well as sanitize.
- During the briefing, visitors are warned to lower their voices while in the jungle to be able to listen to singing birds and feel the fresh air of the forest.
- Visitors are briefed to keep 7m distance while they are with gorillas.
Where to stay while in Bwindi?
Are you worried about where to stay while in Bwindi? Worry not for Bwindi is a home of various lodges that are luxurious, mid-range and budget. Depending on the class of a visitor, matters the lodge he or she wants to stay in while in Bwindi. Some of these lodges in Bwindi include Rushaga gorilla lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi lodge, buhoma lodge, clouds mountain lodge, Nkuringo bwindi lodge and many more. These lodges are credited for cleanliness, free wifi, workers are good at speaking fluent English, and have comfortable rooms which some are twin beds, double beds and family rooms. Their delicious meals and breakfast are served in time.
How much is a gorilla permit in Uganda?
Gorilla permits in Uganda are issued by Uganda Wildlife Authority which costs $700 per person which is cheaper than Rwanda permits which are issued by RDB at a cost of $1500 per person. Although Congo is more affordable than Uganda at a cost of $400 per person, the country is less visited due to its instability of the country. Visitors are also advised by tour operators, to always book their permits in time to avoid inconveniences since the visitor’s number is limited to 8 individuals per day.
About Bwindi impenetrable national park
The park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda and is home to unique mountain gorillas. The gorillas have inhabited four sectors that are Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo sector. Both mgahinga national and Bwindi impenetrable national park inhabits half of the gorilla population unlike other countries like Rwanda in volcano national park and Congo in virunga national park. The park is allocated in virunga ranges with Volcano national and virunga national park.
About Uganda Wildlife Authority.
UWA is a government agency that is established by the Uganda Tourist Board Statute 1994. UTB manages and protects Uganda’s touristic attractions aiming at populating Uganda as a viable holiday destination both domestically and internationally. UTB to reach its aims successfully had to partner between the private sector and public sector. Despite the fact that UTB has been hit by Covid-19, it has tried its best to get back what it had lost during the pandemic launching the ‘My gorilla family app’ and ‘Explore Uganda’ which both have not only improved on their objectives but also exposing the pearl of Africa all over the world.
