Kigali — A census that was conducted in the Virunga Massif between March and April, this year has shown a 26.3 percent increase of the mountain gorillas over the last seven years, with a 3.7 percent annual growth rate.

The census indicates a total of 480 mountain gorillas in 36 groups! Which is fantastic news!

This is along with 14 solitary silverback males in the virunga massif.

Of the 480 gorillas, 352, representing 73 percent, are habituated.

The last census conducted in the massif was in 2003, when the population was estimated at 380 gorillas.

The Virunga Massif covers the three neighboring national parks spanning the Virunga volcanoes, that cut across three countries.

The parks are Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Parc National des Virunga in DRC and Mgahinga Gorilla National park in Uganda.

Mountain gorillas also exist in the Bwindi impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, the head of Tourism and Conservation at Rwanda Development Board, Rica Rwigamba, said that the increase in the mountain gorilla numbers was a sign that the region is now reaping from the conservation efforts sowed on a daily basis.