Ndahura, Uganda’s dominant male gorilla in Bwindi dies at 28
Ndahura in Bwindi National Park in November this year. Photo by Mike Davison
What you need to know:
- Mr Andrew Seguya, the executive director to Uganda Wild Authority (UWA) said his death was accidental.
- According to the Bwindi National Park website, every gorilla permit goes for $ 600.
- On a single day, nearly 72 people travel into Bwindi to see gorillas and only eight people are allowed to see a gorilla family.
Conservationists in Uganda are mourning the death of Ndahura, a dominant silverback of the Bitukura family of gorillas.
Ndahura died on Sunday morning after falling off a tree branch in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located in South Western Uganda.
In an interview with the Daily Monitor Mr Andrew Seguya, the executive director to Uganda Wild Authority (UWA) said his death was accidental.
“This morning it was a sad day for Uganda when we lost Ndahura, at a tender age of 28 years, the silverback (dominant male) of the Bitukura family. He fell down when the branch he was sitting on broke,” Mr Seguya said.
Dr Seguya added: “We however, believe that his next line, Rukumu will take over the family and keep it together and so if this happens, we don’t expect much effect on tourism,” he added.
Ndahura died on Sunday morning after falling off a tree branch. Courtesy photo
Mr Seguya observed that about Shs10billion is realized from the sale of gorilla permits annually.
According to the Bwindi National Park website, every gorilla permit goes for $ 600. On a single day, nearly 72 people travel into Bwindi to see gorillas and only eight people are allowed to see a gorilla family.
Several Ugandans mourned the loss of the gorilla describing it as a total economic setback to the tourism industry.
“So sad to hear such bad news of the loss of the most endangered species family member,” Mr Osbert Nyebirweli said.
