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| Rare cooperation to save gorillas | Rare cooperation to save gorillas |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| Three countries have come together for the first time, to try to save the mountain gorillas of central Africa. | Three countries have come together for the first time, to try to save the mountain gorillas of central Africa. |
| Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda are launching a project to improve security for the great apes. | Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda are launching a project to improve security for the great apes. |
| One of the world's most endangered species, they live at the point where the three countries meet. | One of the world's most endangered species, they live at the point where the three countries meet. |
| There are only about 700 gorillas still left in the world. Numbers have been badly affected by poaching. | There are only about 700 gorillas still left in the world. Numbers have been badly affected by poaching. |
| They have also been hit by the deadly ebola virus and the destruction of the mountain forests - their natural habitat. | They have also been hit by the deadly ebola virus and the destruction of the mountain forests - their natural habitat. |
| The volcanic Virunga mountains that straddle Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the heartland of these great apes. | The volcanic Virunga mountains that straddle Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the heartland of these great apes. |
| Diary: Protecting gorillas | |
| A census carried out in 2004 estimated that 380 mountain gorillas, more than half of the world's population, lived in the Virunga national park and surrounding region. | A census carried out in 2004 estimated that 380 mountain gorillas, more than half of the world's population, lived in the Virunga national park and surrounding region. |
| They are often poached for bush meat. Last July, five gorillas were killed - shot dead execution style - inside the park. | |
| More recently, rebel forces loyal to the dissident Congolese general Laurent Nkunda, took over large areas of the park, forcing out the rangers and leaving the gorillas vulnerable to poachers. | More recently, rebel forces loyal to the dissident Congolese general Laurent Nkunda, took over large areas of the park, forcing out the rangers and leaving the gorillas vulnerable to poachers. |
| The wildlife authorities of all three countries are well aware of how important the gorillas are as they represent an important revenue earner. | The wildlife authorities of all three countries are well aware of how important the gorillas are as they represent an important revenue earner. |
| Tourists pay $500 each for a permit to track the animals, raising $5m annually for the three countries. | Tourists pay $500 each for a permit to track the animals, raising $5m annually for the three countries. |
| The conservation project, which was launched in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, will focus on greater security and ways of discouraging local communities from destroying the region's forests. | The conservation project, which was launched in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, will focus on greater security and ways of discouraging local communities from destroying the region's forests. |
| It aims to give them a share of the money made from gorilla-trekking permits. | It aims to give them a share of the money made from gorilla-trekking permits. |