How many gorillas are in Mgahinga gorilla national park?

How many gorillas are in Mgahinga gorilla national park? Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, located in southwestern Uganda, is part of the larger Virunga Massif, which spans Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This massif is home to about 604 mountain gorillas as of the most recent census, out of the total global population of around 1,063 mountain gorillas.

Gorilla Population in Mgahinga

In Mgahinga, the focus is on the Nyakagezi Gorilla Group, which is the only habituated gorilla group in the park. This group is regularly tracked by tourists.

Key Details about the Nyakagezi Group:

• Size: The group typically consists of 8 to 10 members, though the exact number may vary.
• Structure: Includes silverbacks (dominant males), adult females, juveniles, and infants.
• Uniqueness: Known for being a stable group with frequent sightings. It has a dominant silverback named Mark, who leads alongside other members.

Gorilla Movement

One challenge in estimating the exact number of gorillas in Mgahinga is their transboundary nature.

• Gorillas in the Virunga Massif, including the Nyakagezi group, occasionally migrate between Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC. This movement affects their visibility in Mgahinga, making the population somewhat dynamic.

Conservation Context

While only the Nyakagezi Group is habituated for tourism, unhabituated gorillas might also move through the park. These gorillas are not included in routine park statistics because they are difficult to monitor.

Summary

• Habituated group: Nyakagezi (8–10 individuals).
• Potential additional gorillas: Other unhabituated individuals may occasionally be in the park.
• Global and regional context: Mgahinga contributes to the conservation of mountain gorillas within the Virunga Massif, where roughly 604 reside.

Efforts by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) ensure the survival of these critically endangered primates through anti-poaching, habitat protection, and community involvement.