Approximately 75% of gorilla permit fees go into conservation initiatives to protect endangered mountain gorillas in the wild. Gorilla conservation involves significant investments into scientific research and employing rangers and scientists to carry out the work. Gorilla trekking permits are expensive because a large proportion of the costs go directly into gorilla conservation and protection. Why are gorilla trekking permits so expensive in Rwanda and Uganda? Once you sit a few meters from a four-hundred-pound silverback and his family, you gain a unique new perspective on the natural world. Gorilla trekking is one of the most thrilling wildlife activities in Africa and indeed the world. The cost of a gorilla permit varies depending on which country you are in, ranging from $700 USD per person per day in Uganda, to $1,500 per person per day in Rwanda. A gorilla permit includes interacting with the gorillas, park entrance fees and ranger fees. In order to go gorilla trekking, you must obtain a gorilla permit. How much does it cost to go gorilla trekking? Gorilla’s size makes them easy targets for hunters and in some areas gorillas are favored by hunters because of the weight of meat they can sell. The demand for ape meat is due to the attitude that it is a delicacy among the wealthy elite. This slow reproduction rate makes gorillas vulnerable to population declines because it takes many generations for numbers to recover. Gorillas reproduce slowly, giving birth to only one baby at a time and then raising their infant for several years before giving birth again. Efforts to protect gorillas are often hampered by weak law enforcement, and civil unrest in many places where gorillas live. The Ebola virus, which is deadly to both gorillas and humans, is also having an effect. This contributes to their struggle with the bushmeat trade because logging routes create paths for hunters to be able to access previously inaccessible areas of the forest. They also suffer from habitat loss due to deforestation. The commercial trade in bushmeat throughout west and central Africa is the biggest threat to gorillas today. They are gentle giants (and vegetarian), but it’s still important to remember that they are wild animals and must be respected. Gorillas will defend themselves if attacked or threatened, but they’re not naturally aggressive creatures. It’s valid to feel vulnerable when seeing large and powerful gorillas in the wild, but gorillas are not interested in hurting humans. The guide ensures that visitors and gorillas remain safe during an encounter. It is a legal requirement to have an expert guide with you to visit gorillas. This makes them less likely to become alarmed and agitated by our presence.Ī limited number of permits to visit gorillas are issued per day, to avoid causing too much disruption to the animals. This means they’ve passed through a long process of slowly becoming accustomed to the presence of humans. The gorilla troops that are visited on a trek are habituated. Gorilla trekking is safe for both humans and gorillas, as long as safety precautions and visitation rules are followed. All species of Gorilla are endangered or critically endangered. The exact populations of the different species of gorilla are hard to know because they inhabit some of the most dense and remote rainforests in Africa. There are just over 1,000 mountain gorillas in the wild according to the latest census. How many mountain gorillas are left in the wild? The Western Lowland Gorilla ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla ) and the Cross River Gorilla ( Gorilla gorilla diehli ) live in the west of the region, whereas the Mountain Gorilla ( Gorilla beringei beringei ) and the Eastern Lowland Gorilla or Grauer’s gorilla ( Gorilla beringei graueri ) live in the east. Each of the two species of Gorilla has two subspecies, one which lives in the lowlands and one which lives in the highlands. They are split into the eastern gorilla and the western gorilla. There are two species of gorilla, both live in equatorial Africa, but are separated by about 560 miles of Congo Basin forest. Mountain gorillas, a subspecies of gorilla, live in the eastern part of central Africa in two groups – one in the Virunga Volcanoes across Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, and one in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, which connects to Sarambwe Nature Reserve, DRC. They can be seen in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Sitting meters away from silverbacks and their family is incredible – this article has everything you need to know if you are thinking about experiencing it for yourself Where can I see mountain gorillas in Africa? Gorilla trekking is one of the most exhilarating experiences in the world.
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