KISORO/KAMPALA. Uganda is becoming known as a place for seeing monkeys and apes. This week there were two things for people who like to see wildlife. Conservation workers were happy about a baby mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. They also made a step in helping chimpanzees live better in the Albertine Rift area.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority said that the Bikyingi gorilla group in the Rushaga area now has 11 members. That is because a female named Munyirio had a baby. This is the baby in the group. It shows that the mountain gorillas, which are in danger of disappearing are doing better.
“Good news from Rushaga ” the Uganda Wildlife Authority said. “The Bikyingi group now has 11 people, including two babies.” Scientists say that every new baby helps the group stay strong and healthy. It also shows that Ugandas way of protecting animals with the help of people is working.
Mountain gorillas are the reason people come to Uganda. The money from the permits to see them helps take care of the parks the animals and the people around Bwindi and Mgahinga. Every new baby is good for saving the animals. Also helps the money-making tourism business that brings visitors from Europe, the United States and Asia.
At the time people are working on helping chimpanzees in the northern part of the Albertine Rift. They are trying to fix the Bugoma–Budongo Corridor. The Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda and other groups are trying to protect the land in Kikuube, Hoima and Masindi. The goal is to link forests so that eastern chimpanzees can walk between Bugoma and Budongo Forest Reserves.
There are 5,000 eastern chimpanzees left in Uganda. Most of them live in this area. People cutting down trees and building roads have made it hard for the chimpanzees to move around. Fixing this path is very important for the survival of the animals and for the tourism that depends on them.
Budongo Forest is already a place where people like to watch chimpanzees and birds. Making sure that Budongo and Bugoma are connected will help protect these visits and also help people through money from the forest and better jobs.
People who watch the tourism business say that Uganda is leading in keeping monkeys and apes safe in Africa. Being careful with how people visit the places is a part of this. The money from the permits to see the animals helps pay for keeping the animals safe protecting their homes and helping the people who live near the forests.
As Uganda tries to grow business based on nature these wins show that saving animals and letting people see them can work together. For people who want to visit Bwindi or the forests in Uganda there has never been a better time.
With money and help from local people, Ugandas monkeys and the money-making business, around them look to have a bright future.