Gorilla tourism at risk as report urges stricter tracking rules

What the report says

The Independent Uganda reports that a new assessment of the Gorilla Friendly Pledge has flagged weaknesses in responsible gorilla tourism in Uganda and Rwanda, including gaps in enforcing visitor rules, training guides and tour staff, marketing practices and coordination among conservation partners. The findings were presented at a validation meeting in Kampala on October 28, organized by the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), and were based on research carried out between December 2025 and February 2026.

According to the report, most respondents said they had signed the pledge and many had received training, but far fewer were passing the message on to tourists. The assessment says this gap could weaken conservation efforts while tourism continues to generate income. It also points to concerns about gorilla health and behavior, possible disease transmission, unregulated tipping, inappropriate visitor conduct and social media material that may encourage unsafe proximity to the animals.

IGCP and Uganda Wildlife Authority officials said they supported the recommendations and want stronger compliance with visitation rules. The report calls for tighter enforcement, better guide preparation, clearer tourist briefings, improved waste handling, more responsible marketing and stronger monitoring of tourism impacts. It also recommends certification and better feedback channels for tourists. In background, mountain gorillas live only in the Bwindi-Sarambwe and Virunga ecosystems, making careful tourism management important for both conservation and the regional tourism economy.