Gorillas in our Midst - Rwanda

Duration: 03:00 minutes Upload Time: 07-05-09 11:43:02 User: journeymanpictures :::: Favorites

Description: May 2007 Eco-tourism is helping to ensure the survival of the world's last wild mountain gorillas. Tourists pay up to 0 a day for the privilege of watching these animals in their natural habitat. Leonidas Zimarinda has watched over Rwanda's gorillas for almost 30 years. "I track them until I find them and then keep an eye on them". Protecting these endangered animals has become high priority since the government realised just how lucrative eco-tourism could be. "The worth of gorilla permits is probably million a year", states Rosette Rugamba from Rwanda's tourist authority. In recent years, sales of permits have doubled. But not everyone with money is welcome. As gorillas share 98% of our DNA, they are vulnerable to our diseases. Anyone with a cold is turned away. SBS