President Kagame has lauded as encouraging the rise of the Mountain Gorilla Population, a success due to intensive conservation initiatives. He also took the opportunity to thank Famous TV host Ellen DeGeneres and wife, Portia de Rossi for coming to Rwanda and contributing to the development.
President Kagame took it to twitter to praise the conservation efforts being made and the people that are contributing to the move.
“Encouraging to see the mountain gorilla population in the Virungas has grown 25% in the last eight years. Conservation efforts must continue. Thank you @TheEllenShow & Portia for coming to Rwanda & getting involved.” Reads Kagame’s tweet.
Recently, new census results were released, showing that the surviving mountain gorilla population has now risen to above 1,000, representing a 25% rise since 2010.
The survey found the Virunga gorilla population has risen to 604, in 41 social groups, compared to the 480 individuals counted in the last survey in 2010. The only other place mountain gorillas survive is in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable national park, where the last census in 2012 recorded more than 400 animals.
The rise in numbers follows the introduction of park guards, veterinary care, community support projects and regulated tourism.
The plight of the mountain gorillas has drawn international attention, including from celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who traveled to Rwanda this month to oversee the initial stages of the construction of the Ellen DeGeneres Campus that will be dedicated to the late Dian Fossey’s work in Rwanda.
According to the information from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the campus will help expand science, research and conservation activities, enhance educational programmes, and engage people from Rwanda and the rest of the world to join the effort.
The Express News
