( This beautiful photo of a baby gorilla was taken by @travelconmigophotography found on instagram)
Did you know that the mountain gorilla is one of the most endangered species on earth?
According to the African wildlife association https://www.awf.org :
"For mountain gorillas, the biggest threats come from political instability, human encroachment, and forest degradation. Their sanctuary in Virunga National Park is fertile and rich in biodiversity making it one of the most populated regions in Africa. As people move closer to gorillas, they also bring the risk of human diseases such as the flu, pneumonia, and even Ebola. The continued encroachment pose serious threats to critical eastern gorilla habitat."
On a recent trip to Rwanda I went to the Virunga National Park.
Unfortunately I didn't get to actually see the gorillas as there is a hefty permit fee. (which is great as they are using the money for conservation purposes and it also keeps the visitors to a minimum.)
Even though I didn't get to see them, I learnt a lot about these gorillas and the dire situation they're in.
The good news is that actually during the time I was there, the IUCN moved them from 'critically endangered' to 'endangered' for the first time since 1994.
(a park ranger involved in keeping the Gorillas safe)
While I was there I got to see another endangered primate, called the Golden Monkey!
These monkeys are so cute and energetic, it was hard to take a photo that didn't blur!
They are endemic to the region and unfortunately due to the gradual destruction of their habitat and recent wars in their limited habitat they are sadly now listed as an endangered species.
Not much is known about their behavior but they love eating bamboo shoots and fruits 🐒