Reasons why gorillas are called endangered animals! -Uganda Safari News

 

Mountain gorillas are listed among the most endangered animals in the world. Mountain gorillas are found in only 3 countries in the world; Uganda Rwanda and Congo. These gorillas have attracted a big number of tourists fo  gorilla safaris Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park Uganda. Uganda hold’s pride that it is home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Tourists have also traveled to Rwanda for Rwanda gorilla trekking safaris in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda while visitors on safaris Congo do their gorilla trekking safaris Congo in Virunga National Park Congo.

Mountain gorillas are listed among the most endangered animals in the world. Mountain gorillas are found in only 3 countries in the world; Uganda Rwanda and Congo. These gorillas have attracted a big number of tourists for

Why are mountain gorillas called endangered animals?

Mountain gorillas are referred to as endangered animals because of the threats they face. These threats are harmful to their well-being and habitat including;  

Habitat loss

gorillas live in the cool moist Virunga mountains. These gorillas are herbivores and they feed on plants like wild celery, thistle, and nettle, as well tree species like bamboo. However, man has encroached the forests of the different parks that these gorillas occupy due to the growing human population. This has reduced the space that these mountain gorillas live in yet they cannot survive in captivity.  

Disease These gorillas are man’s closest relatives’ meaning they are vulnerable to human diseases. With the already existing burden of diseases that these mountain gorillas suffer from, tourists undertaking a Uganda gorilla safari therefore pose a further threat of infecting them with illnesses such as the flu and even the common cold which has proven fatal to gorillas. These illnesses normally devastate the entire gorilla population because gorillas live in groups called families. Because they live in the wild, they may not be able to recover from a sudden fall in numbers brought on by diseases passed on from humans.  

Poaching In the first two decades after their discovery, European and American scientists, as well as trophy hunters, killed over 50 mountain gorillas. Today, people have continued poaching other wild animals has continuously threatened the survival of gorillas as well as their habitat. Poachers usually set traps; like wire snares to catch forest antelopes, bush pigs and other wildlife, but unfortunately gorillas fall into these traps during their day movements. Gorillas end up losing some of their body parts, dying or getting an infection. There are still cases where mountain gorillas have been killed for their body parts that are sold to researchers, while the infants are sold to people as pets. Hunting gorillas for food (bush meat) is still carried out in the Democratic Republic of Congo area of Virunga.