2009-09-22

KAMPALA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The population of the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda has more than doubled in the last 30 years due to conservation efforts, an official said here on Monday.

Moses Mapesa, executive director of Uganda Wildlife Authority told a joint press conference with Hollywood celebrities that the current number of gorillas in the country is 380, more than half of the global population of 720.

He said because of the increasing population, Uganda is about to scrap mountain gorillas off the list of endangered species.

"In Uganda, we are about to declare the mountain gorillas not endangered although they will remain endangered globally," he said.

The executive director said the country is scheduled to launch online gorilla tracking next Saturday in a bid to raise revenues to conserve the gorillas.

Gorilla lovers on social networks like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter will be able to track the gorillas online in real time at a cost of one U.S. dollar.

Jason Biggs of American Pie and My Best Friend's Girl said their visit to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home of the gorillas, will raise awareness on gorilla conservation.

"I think we are going to have really eye-opening experience but most importantly I'm thrilled by the idea of raising awareness for the conservation of mountain gorillas," said he, flanked by two other stars, Kristy Wu and Simon Curtis.

Uganda is home to 53 percent of the world's mountain gorilla population, with the other half spread in three trans-boundary national parks, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virungas in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

xinhuanet