The World Wide Fund for Nature in collaboration with Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) and other partners have begun a new count of mountain gorillas in Bwindi, Uganda.
At the same time, these partners will also carry out the first ever chimpanzee census in this landscape in the three countries of Uganda, Rwanda and DRC.
Launched today, the new scientific count will provide a robust estimate of the number of mountain gorillas living in Bwindi, and an indication of how the population has changed since the previous census was carried out in 2018 but will also help determine the number of chimpanzees in this area.
“The exercise has seen six teams comprising of staff from 11 participating institutions start systematically moving on foot through Bwindi for signs of mountain gorillas, recording their nests and picking fecal samples to be used for genetic analysis,” said Ivan Tumuhimbise, the WWF Country Director.
The Bwindi – Sarambwe where this census is taking place is one of the two natural habitats on earth where mountain gorillas can be found.
The last census for mountain gorillas in this area was carried out in 2018 and resulted in an estimate of 459 individuals in 36 social groups and 16 solitary mountain gorillas.
Together with the Virunga census results of 2015, the Bwindi census results of 2018 brought the global total population of mountain gorillas to 1,063 individuals.
Speaking on Monday, the WWF Country Director said the census will also provide information on demographics (age and sex ratio) within the Bwindi – Sarambwe population, and the location of groups in relation to each other within the ecosystem, on illegal activities, vegetation dynamics in the gorilla habitat, and the status of other large mammals.
He noted that unlike before, the latest census will see genetic analysis of the samples carried out within the region.
Previously, the samples were flown to the US for analysis.
“This will not only reduce logistics for shipping samples but also contribute to local capacity building in terms of equipment and personnel,” Ahimbisibwe said.
Dr. Andrew Sseguya, Executive Secretary of the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration described the census as a true testament to the strength of collaboration.
“Collaboration has been at the heart of efforts to save the endangered mountain gorillas,” he said.
Data and sample collection and analyses will continue through 2025 and results from the count will be released in 2026.
According to Nelson Guma, the Chief Park Warden for Bwindi - Mgahinga conservation area in Uganda, this census exercise is an important exercise in terms of conservation.
“It is an important exercise that measures our success in conserving the endangered mountain gorilla as a flagship species for our protected areas. It will also tell us about the integrity of the protected areas as critical habitats for survival of the endangered mountain gorillas. It is further an opportunity to share our experiences of conducting the mountain gorilla census and enhance methodologies that can be adopted by other gorilla range states as a best practice. The results will be significant for planning and enhancing strategies for sustainable gorilla conservation,”Guma said.