Mountain gorillas often make headlines because of gorilla trekking. Only a few people care about gorilla conservation. The majority of people only know about the existence of mountain gorillas because of gorilla tourism. It is usually in the process of attempting to encounter the mountain gorillas in their natural environment that most people learn that they are some of the endangered species that less than two decades ago were on the brink of extinction.
These endangered mountain gorillas can only be found in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. But because of tourism, it is Rwanda and Uganda that are often considered by many as the only destinations for gorilla trekking on the African continent. This is partly because the continuous civil wars in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo have relegated the country to oblivion when it comes to mountain gorilla trekking.
There are more mountain gorilla conservation needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo than in Uganda and Rwanda. But again we cannot overlook the efforts that Uganda and Rwanda have put in to ensure that the mountain gorillas are preserved. In just two decades; the population of mountain gorillas has doubled thus surpassing the 1000 population mountains in the three countries combined.
The Virunga Region hosts the highest population of the remaining mountain gorillas in the whole world. The Virunga Region is shared between the Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and the Virunga National Park. A separate population lives in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park of South Western Uganda.
On the other hand, Rwanda hosts close to half of the remaining mountain gorilla population in Volcanoes National Park. It is the same park that crosses over to Congo to form Virunga National Park in Congo and Mgahinga in Uganda.
Mountain Gorilla Conservation In Volcanoes National Park
Rwanda is the most vocal country when it comes to gorilla trekking. They have put in a lot of effort to encourage people to visit Rwanda. These efforts are the reason Rwanda stands out among all gorilla trekking destinations in Africa.
Previously Rwanda has been known for the gorilla naming ceremony; Kwita Izina, the Ellen DeGeneres Gorilla campus, bonding with gorillas by sharing their photos on Instagram and now it is introducing something new in regard to leveraging AI for gorilla conservation.
Leveraging A.I For Gorilla Conservation
Rwanda has chosen 20 mountain gorillas from the Volcanoes National Park to pilot its new A.I driven idea of giving each mountain gorilla a digital identity through A.I simulation and then created a Digital wallet for each animal. At the heart of the idea is an interesting question, “is it possible for other creatures that are not human to hold and spend money?”
Though the country practices a revenue-sharing policy with the local communities around the national parks, Rwanda thought it would work out better if people were paid for participating in conservation activities and these payments should come from the animals themselves.
Of course, animals do not have a conscience. It is human beings to think on their behalf with the aid of AI. Rwanda believes that if it can get different people to participate in conservation activities such as gorilla photography and then have these people paid using the money that each animal holds in its digital wallet, there would be a difference in conservation efforts.
For instance, if a person takes a photo of a mountain gorilla and earns money out of it, it would be fair that they give back some money to that particular mountain gorilla whose photo-generated money. In this case, the gorilla will get money into its wallet.
If the same gorilla wanders off in the community and somehow injures itself to the point that it has to be carried to a Veterinary doctor for quick medical attention, the people who saved the life of this gorilla should be paid by the mountain gorilla thanking them for saving its life
If people realize that the forest cover on the national park border is deteriorating then they choose to plant some trees. Once these trees grow which is to the benefit of the mountain gorillas, the mountain gorilla family that survives in that neighborhood should appreciate the people for taking care of its home by getting money collectively from each family member wallet and paying these people.
The idea is to make it possible for the communities around the conservation areas to directly benefit from their conservation efforts. This money will easily be tracked because there is no third party involved. They can trace it and see the final receiver of the money.
In conclusion, Rwanda is attempting to leverage A.I by creating a system where other creatures can also hold and spend money for their survival. If each tree in Nyungwe forest is given a digital identity, it can pay off all the people who live in that forest. If a zebra in Akagera pays people that are willing to leave the land of Akagera national park, this will be supporting conservation efforts without the government of international organizations putting in money. The money that goes not the digital wallets of animals will mostly be generated through donations and loyalties.
