In Uganda, former poachers now protect mountain gorillas

DW (English)

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda is home to almost half of the world's mountain gorilla population. Former poachers turned "gorilla guardians" are now supporting conservation efforts.

Transcript

00:00This mountain gorilla lives in Bwindi National Park in Uganda.

00:05It's one of only two places in the world where the species is formed.

00:10Just a few decades ago, it was on the brink of extinction, due in part to illegal hunting.

00:20This man used to be a hunter who killed gem and gorillas until he realized this was wrong

00:27and he joined a group of reformed poachers dedicated to preservation of these endangered creatures,

00:35coexistence and improving livelihoods.

00:41As reformed poachers, we take care of this park because it provides an income.

00:47Our people get employment and we benefit financially.

00:52Visitors and tourists come to the park and the country gets an income.

00:56And thanks to revenue sharing, our children can go to school and we have hospitals and improved road infrastructure.

01:05That's how we benefit compared to when I was a poacher.

01:09Bwindi National Park and the surrounding region are home to many protected plants and animals.

01:25Threatened not just by poaching, but also habitat loss and disease.

01:30Awareness rising projects among local communities are key to conservation efforts.

01:36Their participation has helped stabilize the gorilla population.

01:41This year, a census is underway.

01:44Peter Tumesiji joins park rangers to count the gorillas in the Windy National Park.

01:49As a former poacher, Peter knows the area like the back of his hand.

01:55The group carefully follow the tracks of the gentle giants.

01:58And here, a band of gorillas enjoying a snack.

02:16They don't seem bothered by being watched.

02:19Not even by someone who used to hunt them.

02:24The census helps identify if conservation is working.

02:28Today, there are thought to be some of 450 mountain gorillas here in windy, impenetrable forest.

02:36You see, they are better.

02:38They are bringing us tourists and other visitors who can give us some money in Uganda.

02:45And we will make some improvements in our country.

02:57Peter Tumesiji and the rangers are glad to see gorillas populations thriving again.

03:03Currently, after sensitizing the community members,

03:07we are so happy that the number is really increasing slowly but sure.

03:13Because most of the gorillas families that we are having here right now,

03:18most of them are having three babies, four babies, five babies,

03:22which shows that the number of gorillas is really increasing slowly but sure.

03:28Before becoming a gorilla guardian,

03:31Peter Tumesiji, like many others, used to hunt using snares like this.

03:36While others poached gorillas deliberately for rituals or illegal trade,

03:42he trapped game in order to provide food for his family,

03:46like antelopes, bush pigs, and forest hoax.

03:50But the trap doesn't choose what it catches.

03:56When we set traps to catch edible animals,

04:02we would sometimes trap other non-edible animals such as foxes,

04:07chimpanzees, or even gorillas by accident.

04:10I would find them in the traps, but this was not intentional.

04:17When he's digging holes today, he's not setting up snares,

04:21but planting trees with his companions.

04:24This area used to be an animal corridor surrounded by trees,

04:28but it was destroyed by human activity.

04:32It's now being restored as part of a wider forestry project.

04:35Right in this region, in the Gindi Mugahinga conservation area,

04:40we have helped development of district development plans

04:43that have aspects for communities to be able to engage

04:47in productive forestry on their land,

04:51which includes, for example, planting of fruit trees,

04:54which means planting some fast-matureling trees

04:58and also agroforestry trees on their farm.

05:01The region around the National Park has also benefited from tourism.

05:05It has helped fund several conservation and development projects.

05:10A revenue-sharing scheme ensures that

05:1220% of tourism revenue in the National Park

05:15goes directly into community projects,

05:18providing locals with a sustainable livelihood.

05:23Meanwhile, the mountain gorilla census continues in the forest.

05:27The final number won't be based on sightings alone,

05:31but also with the help of DNA analysis.

05:35Fecal samples from nests provide information about the number

05:39and relationship of the mountain gorilla troops in the park.

05:43The results of the Great Ape Census will be published in 2026.

05:48In the meantime, the rangers and conservationists

05:51in and around Bindi National Park keep up their work

05:55to ensure that humans and apes can continue to live side by side in harmony.

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