Mountain Gorilla Safaris

In Uganda, two major gorilla species do exist in the Western Tropical rainforests: - the western lowland and the eastern lowland gorilla. These two groups are subdivided into various subspecies. The western lowland gorilla is the type that is mostly kept in the zoos. Whereas the one that dominates the Virunga, Mhavura, and Bwindi Impenetrable forests is the eastern gorilla species. In this category we find the mountain gorilla which occupies the Virunga and Bwindi; and the Grauer’s gorilla found in the Parc des Volcans-Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They all make half of the world population. The mountain gorilla constitutes a small population with about 700 in southwestern Uganda. However Grauer’s gorilla population is quite bigger-estimated at 5000 in number.

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI)’s Karisoke Research Centre in the Virungas, established by Dr Fossey in 1967, has a number of programmes under way to monitor and protect the mountain gorilla, including tracking and anti-poaching patrols. The Fund shares its knowledge and experience in order to promote the use of common gorilla protocols and practices; collects demographic, behavioral and environmental data. Three groups of mountain gorillas are closely monitored in National des Volcans: - Beetsme’s, Pabro’s, and Shinda’s groups.

BEESTIME’s GROUP
Beestme, the silverback - whom the group is named after, died recently in 2001. According to Karisoke Researchers, this is the most peaceful group whose resting and feeding are less interrupted.
The dominant silverback in this group is called Titus. His father, Uncle Bart and the mother Flossie were named by Dian Fossey respectively. According to Dian Fossey, Titus had an unpleasant childhood as his mother neglected him when Beestme joined the group killing her child Frito. The group ended up composed of only male bachelors - i.e. Tiger, Titus and Beestme. But after a time this group joined Nunkie’s group after he had died. However this group further disintegrated leaving Beestme in charge.

PABLO'S GROUP

This is the largest of the mountain gorilla groups with 2 silverbacks in-charge:- Pablo and Cantsbee. Umrava has also grown into a silverback. With more than 55 members, it is the most breath-taking group many tourists would wish to visit. All the silverbacks in this group have enough females to have fun with. Puck is the mother to Pablo and his elder brother Cantsbee.
Shinda’s Group
This group is under the leadership of the silverback called Shinda - who was born in 1977 at a time Dr Fossey was carrying out gorilla studies in the mountain forest. Shinda is now an adult leading the group in the company of other silverbacks -Ntambara and Ugenda. Despite the dominance exercised by Ugenda, the group still enjoys some reasonable tolerance.