Rare ... with fewer than 750 left, the mountain gorillas are one of world's most endangered species and are found only in the dense forests straddling the border between Rwanda, Uganda and eastern Congo. UGANDA will begin exposing two groups of rare mountain gorillas to human contact, paving the way for more visits to the country's most lucrative tourist attraction, Uganda's Wildlife Authority (UWA) said.
Uganda's legendary mountain gorillas - renowned for the shimmering silver hair adorning the backs of their males - draw thousands of tourists each year, many of them high-end travellers paying $US500 a visit plus hefty safari lodge prices.
The gorillas are found only in the dense forests straddling the border between Rwanda, Uganda and eastern Congo. With fewer than 750 left, they are one of world's most endangered species.
The UWA has habituated four social groups of six to seven gorillas each in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, meaning they are accustomed to seeing people and do not lash out or run away.
Rangers and primatologists accustom the gorillas by spending progressively more time close to them each day. The UWA says each group can only receive eight tourists per day - any more stresses them out and puts them at greater risk of catching potentially lethal diseases.
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