Saving a Species: Gorillas - Inside Rwanda's Plan to Protect Mountain Gorillas from Extinction

Spending an hour with gorillas in the wild is life changing.

In this episode, Charles Nsabimana, Conservationist at Singita Kwitonda, chats to Prosper Uwingeli, Chief Park Warden of Volcanoes National Park (VNP), about mountain gorilla conservation in Rwanda. Prosper’s been in the role for 18 years, in charge of research, monitoring, and planning. Previously, he was a research assistant at Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund/Karisoke Research Centre. His career in gorilla conservation in VNP spans 25 years, the same as Charles, who started out habituating gorillas when there were just eight families and amusing stories.

They discuss the role of mountain gorilla in the ecosystem, conservation efforts, and the importance of reforestation and real community engagement. There are two species of gorilla (lowland and mountain). We unpack the threats in Rwanda - ironically, rising gorilla populations have created new challenges: shrinking habitat (no buffer zone), infanticide, human-wildlife conflict and disease transmission.

Learn about the Rwanda Development Board’s work in Volcanoes National Park - one of the critical strongholds of gorillas in Africa (26 families). Prosper explains how the success of the species is interconnected with conservation, community well-being, and sustainable ecotourism in Volcanoes National Park, as well as collaboration with the governments of Uganda and the DRC.

For twenty years, 10% of the revenue from permits has been channelled towards local communities, to build schools, health centres, and roads. A compensation fund helps farmers affected by crop damage, while gorilla trekking employs rangers, trackers, porters, and drivers, which builds peaceful co-existence. The growth of gorillas here proves that this model works. All other great apes are in steep decline, making this recovery remarkable - from 600 to 1,063 in thirty years.

Tune in to hear this story of renewal with two passionate custodians (and hear about the moment they met gorillas for the first time). Visit Rwanda Gorilla Tracking · Singita Volcanoes National Park · Conservation at Singita · Gorilla Trekking with Singita · Conservation Room at Kwitonda Lodge · The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund · Tips for Gorilla Photography · Singita website