How many gorillas are in Bwindi’s impenetrable national park?

How many gorillas are in Bwindi’s impenetrable national park? Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to approximately 604 mountain gorillas, based on the most recent 2023 survey conducted by the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC). This accounts for about 50% of the global population of mountain gorillas, making Bwindi a critical habitat for their survival.

Gorilla Groups and Habitat

How many gorillas are in Bwindi’s impenetrable Forest National Park? Bwindi is home to half of the world’s total population; some have been habituated for trekking, while others are undergoing habituation, and others are still roaming in the wild. Here are detailed insights about the park’s gorilla population:

1. Habituated Gorilla Families: Bwindi has 23 fully habituated gorilla groups open for tourism. These groups are spread across the park’s four sectors:
   • Buhoma (north)
   • Ruhija (east)
   • Rushaga (south)
   • Nkuringo (southwest)
2. Unhabituated Gorillas: Besides the habituated families, the park harbors many unhabituated gorillas that remain undisturbed to ensure the ecosystem remains balanced.
3. Research Groups: Some gorilla families are reserved for scientific research rather than tourism.

Conservation Efforts

• Population Recovery: Mountain gorillas were once critically endangered, with numbers as low as 250 in the 1980s. Conservation efforts in Bwindi, including anti-poaching patrols, habitat protection, and community engagement, have been vital in reversing this trend.
• Strict Regulations: Gorilla trekking is regulated to protect the gorillas from stress and diseases. Only 8 tourists can visit a gorilla group daily for one hour.

Census Techniques

The census involved modern techniques such as:

• DNA analysis: To accurately distinguish individual gorillas from fecal samples.
• Extensive Surveys: Researchers walked transects to locate gorilla trails, nests, and dung.

Gorilla Trekking Highlights

• The unique topography of Bwindi includes steep hills and dense forests, providing a challenging yet rewarding trekking experience.
• Bwindi is one of only two places in the world where mountain gorilla trekking is available (the other is the Virunga Mountains region, spanning Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC).

Bwindi’s gorilla population is a conservation success story. It offers a rare chance to encounter these majestic primates while contributing to their continued survival.

How many gorillas are in the Bwindi Imoenetrable Forest? For more information about gorillas, population, and gorilla trekking experience, contact us at Adventure in the Wild, and we will arrange the safari for you. You can also find more information through the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which manages all the national parks in Uganda.