Mountain gorillas are the only great ape species whose population is increasing — from around 240 in the 1980s to around 1,063 today. The reason: the gorilla trekking permit system, which funds anti-poaching patrols, has transformed the Bwindi and Virunga ecosystems.
Mountain gorillas are one of conservation's great success stories. In 1981, the total population was estimated at around 240 individuals. Today, there are around 1,063 — and they are the only great ape species whose population is increasing. The reason is straightforward: the gorilla trekking permit system.
Mountain gorillas were first scientifically studied by George Schaller in the late 1950s. Dian Fossey continued Schaller's work in the 1960s and 70s, founding the Karisoke Research Center in the Virunga Volcanoes of Rwanda. Fossey's work was controversial — she actively fought against poaching, sometimes with methods that brought her into conflict with local communities. She was murdered in 1985, almost certainly by poachers.
By the 1980s, gorilla tourism was emerging in both Rwanda and Uganda. The Rwandan government, recovering from civil war, began to see gorilla permits as a source of income and conservation funding. The permit system, as it evolved, became the most important single conservation intervention for the species.
In 2026, gorilla permits cost $1,500 in Rwanda and $800 in Uganda. The money goes to:
The model works because it aligns the financial interests of the government and local communities with gorilla survival. A poached gorilla is a $1,500 permit lost. A habituated group is worth $1.5M per year in permits alone (8 permits × $1,500 × 365 days, though actual revenue is lower due to trekking logistics).
The biggest threats to mountain gorillas today are:
The permit system has worked. But tourism brings risks too — disease transmission is the biggest. The strict 7-metre distance rule, the 1-hour visit limit, the 8-person group maximum, and the mask requirements for sick visitors are all designed to minimise disease risk. The industry has generally enforced these rules well.
The outlook for mountain gorillas is cautiously positive. The population is growing slowly. The revenue model is sustainable. The political situation in the region is the biggest risk — instability in the DRC's portion of the Virunga remains a major threat. The two gorilla populations in Uganda and Rwanda are both in protected areas with active conservation.
In 2018, the IUCN downlisted mountain gorillas from 'critically endangered' to 'endangered' — a major win. The population has continued to grow. They are still endangered, but the trend is positive.
Around 1,063, split roughly half in Bwindi (Uganda) and half in the Virunga Volcanoes (Rwanda, Uganda, DRC).
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Uganda) and Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda). A small population also lives in the Virunga National Park (DRC), but tourism there is not currently safe.
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