Nestled in the misty mountains of southwestern Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park stands.
It is a dense jungle.
It shelters many mountain gorillas.
Half of the world’s mountain gorillas live here.
Conservation efforts save them.
People and wildlife share a strong bond here.
COVID-19 now looms as a new threat.
The Shadow of a New Threat
Mountain gorillas share 98% of our DNA.
This closeness makes them weak to human diseases.
COVID-19, from the virus SARS-CoV-2, reaches them as it reaches us.
The virus may end entire groups of gorillas.
Humans get hospital care.
Gorillas do not.
Wild treatment is very hard.
Bwindi Park reopens for tourists after lockdown.
This step brings hope and risk.
Tourism funds conservation.
Tourism also may carry diseases from people to gorillas.
This mix calls for careful steps.
Walking in Fragile Territory
Tourists reach gorillas by foot.
They walk steep paths from 1,000 to 2,600 meters high.
They pass thick jungle.
Gorilla steps demand a 10-metre distance.
This rule is hard in the wild.
Rangers and guides, like Emmanuel Mpastwe, wear masks and use hand sanitizer.
They observe closely to keep all safe.
Yet, challenges persist.
Poaching increased during lockdown.
Less travel and fewer ranger visits helped poachers.
Conservation teams work hard to stop poaching.
Local lives and funds share a close tie with conservation.
Community Connection: The Key to Survival
Gorillas and local people share a complex bond.
Sometimes, gorillas eat crops like bananas and sweet potatoes.
This act creates local strife.
Farmers now plant tea and other crops.
Gorillas do not touch these crops.
This strategy helps and earns income.
It builds a safe home for all.
Health efforts join with conservation.
Health teams share hygiene tips and masks.
They train community health ambassadors.
This work stops disease from moving from people to gorillas.
All health and nature share one goal.
Tourism: A Double-Edged Sword
Tourism makes 60% of the funds for Uganda wildlife work.
Tourism funds ranger patrols and community help.
The pandemic showed how much work relies on these funds.
Stopping tourism means less disease but also less money.
Less money may mean more poaching.
Tourism must be managed with care.
Good trekking helps wildlife protection and human health.
Bad trekking may hurt gorillas.
All actions must be watched and adjusted.
Guardians of the Forest
Vets and conservationists watch gorilla health close.
They check dung for early signs of COVID-19 and other illness.
If sickness comes, they plan to separate the group.
Early checks give gorillas a better chance.
Bwindi Forest is old—25,000 years strong.
It shows strong life and time.
Rangers, scientists, locals, and visitors all guard it.
The trust of the gorillas is rare and must be kept safe.
Looking Forward
COVID-19 casts unseen risks on more than humans.
It can harm majestic gorillas too.
Saving mountain gorillas needs care for people and nature.
It also needs smart tourism and local help.
Every small act counts.
Wearing masks, planting safe crops, and helping local care make a difference.
We all share the duty to care.
Our actions keep the link between people and wildlife strong.
The forest must sing with the living steps of the mountain gorillas for many days to come.
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