The Uganda gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) is a subspecies of the eastern gorilla that can only be found in East and Central Africa. It is a big primate (great ape). It is the largest primate still alive. It can only survive in hostile conditions at high altitudes and in extremely cold temperatures thanks to its larger size, greater strength, and longer, thicker fur than other gorilla species.
The uganda gorillas has a nose print that is particular to each individual, much like human thumbprints.
The only gorilla species present in Uganda is the mountain gorilla, which is the race most in danger of going extinct. On the slopes of the Virunga Mountains in Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda is home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorilla population.
Mountain gorillas reside where?
Only two distinct populations of mountain gorillas exist in east-central Africa; one is found in the Virunga Volcano Mountains, a transnational area that spans three forest reserves in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The other is found in a remote, rift valley montane forest in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which also includes the DRC’s Sarambwe Natural Reserve.
Only high-altitude montane and bamboo forests, between 8,000 and 13,000 feet (1,400 and 3,800 metres), free of human habitation are home to mountain gorillas.
Conservation of mountain gorillas
The mountain gorilla’s status was changed from “critically endangered” to “endangered” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which determines the conservation status of species. Owing to intensive conservation initiatives centred on these great apes that involve governmental entities, non-profit organisations, tour operators, and private citizens.
Experts caution, however, that if conservation efforts are not given the attention they merit, they risk rapidly reverting to being critically endangered.
The mountain gorilla conservation tale, however, is regarded by conservationists as one of the most effective initiatives in the field of natural history.