SUPPORTING THE ENDANGERED MOUNTAIN GORILLAS IN UGANDA AND RWANDA
From 2006 - 2016, LCA provided critical support to the Ugandan and Rwandan Wildlife Authorities in the protection of the endangered mountain gorillas. Below is what we were able to accomplish with your support.
Thanks to conservation efforts, which LCA has helped support, mountain gorillas have been lifted from the edge of extinction and their population has now surpassed 1,000. In 2018, the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) downlisted the mountain gorilla from "critically endangered" to "endangered" for the first time since 1994.
2016 GOAL REACHED - STEALTH CAMOUFLAGE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS
In 2016, your support enabled LCA to provide 30 Reconyx HC500 Hperfire surveillance cameras to the Ugandan Wildlife Authority. The cameras were fitted in Bwindi’s Impenetrable National Park in Uganda to monitor both gorillas and other wildlife and poachers who enter the protected area. Poachers will be apprehended and arraigned in courts of law which will instill fear in those intending to poach. These undetectable waterproof stealth cameras will operate 24 hours a day capturing and delivering quality images and enabling observation of wild animals without disrupting their environment.
 HC500 Surveillance Camera |
 HC500 Inside of Surveillance Camera |
2014 GOAL REACHED - MOTOROLA AERIAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
In 2014, with your help, LCA succeeded in purchasing and shipping a new Motorola Aerial Communication System to the Ugandan Wildlife Authority (UWA). This updated radio equipment has had a significant impact on the safety of the gorillas as the coverage and speed of radio communications has vastly improved for all park operations, especially patrols.
The new Motorola Aerial system included:
11 VHF Aerial Outstations
11 Motorola DP4400 VHF Desk Top Units
50 Motorola DP2400 VHF Portable Digital Radios
“I, on behalf of Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area, would like to pass on to LCA a special appreciation for this great donation that has all of a sudden improved our communication system within the Conservation Area. Our monitoring of the habituated groups of gorillas and the tourism has hence been boosted. This alone has also boosted staff morale, which will go a long way in conserving the wildlife in the protected area and particularly so the critically endangered mountain gorillas.
We are looking forward to further close working relations to continue to protect the wildlife of this park and Uganda at large. Thank you and thank you again!”
- Pontious Ezuma, Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Area Manager for Bwindi National Park in Uganda
 Solar Panels installed for Radio Equipment |
 UWA Staff with Radio Equipment |
 Installation of Outstation Radio Equipment |
 Radio Installation at Rushaga Outpost |
 Repeater Installation in Iremera |
 Motorola DM4400 VHF Desk Top Unit |
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 Typical Outstation Configuration
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Conservation Area Radio Installation Sites
2012 GOAL REACHED - GARMIN GPS UNITS AND RAIN SUITS
In 2012, with your help, LCA was able to provide the following equipment to the Ugandan Wildlife Authority:
22 Garmin Map GPS units
271 "Bang for your Buck" rain suits
The GPS unit is manufactured by Garmin International, one of the world's leading manufacturers of cutting-edge navigation and communications devices.
 271 - “Bang for your Buck” rain suit |
 22 - GPS Garmin Map 62 |
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| Senior staff checking GPS units and ranger field force distributing units to patrol outposts and gorilla monitoring points. |
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 UWA team wearing the rain suits. |
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2008 GOAL REACHED - GARMIN GPS ETREX LEGEND UNITS
In 2008, with your help, LCA was able to provide 120 very specialized Garmin GPS units, the eTrex Legend HCx (including accessories); 80 units to Rwanda and 40 units to Uganda. The unit is a particularly rugged version that is dependable for pinpointing locations.
 UWA Rangers in Bwindi on patrol collecting data with the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx |
 eTrex Legend HCx GPS |
2006 GOAL REACHED - MOTOROLA GP340 RADIOS
UWA rangers receiving Motorola radios
In 2006, with your help, LCA was able to provide 100 Motorola GP340 handheld radios - 60 to the UWA in Uganda and 40 to the Rwandan Wildlife Authority (RWA) in Rwanda. The GP340 radios are specialized equipment that allows them to monitor the location of the gorillas at all times. The radios allow for daily tracking to keep them safe and protect them from poachers and illegal activity.
The radios enabled the UWA and the RWA to cover a larger territory and extended communication to an area that had previously only received messages via foot. The UWA told LCA this “closure of the gap” added immensely to their conservation efforts of the mountain gorilla.
 LCA's Chris DeRose and UWA |
 LCA's Chris DeRose and UWA |
Africa participates in “Eco-Tourism;” tourism that provides revenue through gorilla trekking both in Uganda and Rwanda. Revenue earned through tourism benefits both the mountain gorilla and surrounding communities and helps the local people understand the value of the gorilla’s continued survival. Gorilla treks are very restricted and help to fund future preservation efforts of the mountain gorillas and fund community project – schools, roads, clinic and community center.
To learn more about the African mountain gorillas and gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, please visit www.ugandawildlife.org, www.rwandatourism.org and www.virunga.org.
 The Majestic Silverback |
 Father-son bonding in Uganda |
 Juvenile gorilla foot |
 Baby gorilla riding on his mother's back |
 Mountain gorilla family |
 Silverback in Uganda |
