Story perspectives

Uganda Gorillas Upgraded to Endangered as Numbers Surge

7/31/2026

Summary

Story summary

Uganda’s mountain gorilla numbers have risen, prompting reclassification from critically endangered to endangered.
The 2018 census recorded 459 gorillas in Bwindi—up from about 300 in the 1990s—and 1,049 across Bwindi and Virunga.
Gorilla tourism grew from roughly 1,300 visitors in 1993 to almost 39,000 in 2023, generating $31.7 million locally.
Since 2015, Gorilla Conservation Coffee has expanded from 75 to over 630 farmers, more than one-third of whom are women.

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Story summary

Uganda’s mountain gorilla numbers have risen, prompting reclassification from critically endangered to endangered.
The 2018 census recorded 459 gorillas in Bwindi—up from about 300 in the 1990s—and 1,049 across Bwindi and Virunga.
Gorilla tourism grew from roughly 1,300 visitors in 1993 to almost 39,000 in 2023, generating $31.7 million locally.
Since 2015, Gorilla Conservation Coffee has expanded from 75 to over 630 farmers, more than one-third of whom are women.