A new census of mountain gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park documents both the apes and the conservation workers protecting them. National Geographic photographer Jasper Doest, a WWF ambassador, accompanied census teams through the forest to photograph newborns, juveniles, and silverback males as researchers counted the population.
Bwindi holds roughly half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas. The census tracks individual gorillas across multiple family groups, providing data on population trends, birth rates, and survival. These counts inform conservation strategy and help measure whether protection efforts are working.
Mountain gorillas face pressure from habitat loss, poaching, and disease. Their survival depends on ranger patrols, veterinary care, and community cooperation in the regions surrounding protected areas. The census process itself requires teams to trek through dense forest, identify each animal by physical features, and document social structure within groups.
The photographic record from Doest captures the field work behind conservation data. Images show rangers and scientists in the field, the gorillas themselves at different life stages, and the landscape they inhabit. This documentation connects abstract population numbers to the animals and people involved in their protection.
Uganda's mountain gorilla population has recovered from near extinction. In the 1980s, poaching and civil conflict reduced their numbers to around 250 individuals. Through protected areas like Bwindi and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, combined with international funding and local engagement, the population has grown. Regular censuses measure this recovery and guide adaptive management.
The census work involves local communities directly. Ugandan rangers conduct patrols, researchers collect data, and tourism revenue from gorilla viewing provides economic incentive for protection. This model of combining strict protection with community benefit has proven effective for mountain gorillas, though it requires sustained funding and political commitment.