Gorilla Trekking, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
June 2023
In 2018, the threat status for mountain gorillas was downgraded from ‘Critically Endangered’ to ‘Endangered’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species owing to a recorded increase in their population. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest's latest census (2018) recorded 459 gorillas. This is an increase from 400 at the previous census.
Communities surrounding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are benefiting from the increased tourism brought by the gorilla through cultural exchanges and agricultural activities such as family-owned and commercial tea plantations. Tourists with permits are allowed to trek in the Forest and spend one hour with habituated gorilla families.