For this week's positive conservation story: thanks to conservation efforts in Uganda, mountain gorillas have been re-graded from "critically endangered" to "endangered." How, you say?
Over half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas reside in Uganda, where traditional beliefs of many indigenous groups encourage ape conservation -- though in the 20th century, population growth brought humans and gorillas into conflict.
Today, conservation groups are working to harness traditional knowledge to protect these amazing creatures ++ develop techniques to allow humans and gorillas to coexist.
There had been problems before because the local population felt that the gorillas were favored against the local people by the government. They share water sources with the gorillas, and the gorillas kept contracting infections and disease. Things weren't great.
Traditional beliefs in the region, though, considered the gorillas as totems with spiritual significance. The UWA and local conservation activists have drawn on these traditions in their efforts.
These efforts, combined with a growing wildlife tourism industry i.e. $$, play a role in conserving the gorillas and encouraging peaceful cohabitation. "I used to think that the gorillas are being favored by the government, but now I know that they are here to benefit all of us..
I now educate my children about the importance of conserving our animals," a local resident says. Conservation teams have also mobilized to send gorillas back to the forest (in a friendly way) whenever they come too close to humans or crops -- thus preserving a balance.
"If we succeed at educating and informing the communities about the park about the importance of gorilla conservation and harmonious co-existence, our beloved animals will be a source of great livelihood for future generations," says Davis Munyaneeza, a local activist. Success!!
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