“Bwenge” – original linocut print. oil based ink on Somerset paper.

In 2008 the status of Mountain Gorillas changed from “Critically Endangered” to “Endangered”. They are the only great ape whose numbers are increasing, from 480 to just over 1000 in 2018. They are found in small areas of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I have been lucky enough to track gorillas twice, once in Rwanda and once in Uganda.
Bwenge was the son of legendary gorilla Titus, he was head of his own small family group. I had the honour of sitting with them for a short while, in the wilds of Parc des Volcans, Rwanda. Despite growing numbers, the fate of mountain gorillas still hangs in the balance. They face many challenges, one of which is increasing numbers living in decreasing areas of habitat. The chance of family groups coming into contact with lone silverbacks is higher, often with tragic consequences. Bwenge died in his prime, at the age of 25, after a such an altercation with a lone silverback. There is much to do in finding a balance between conserving a species, and giving both gorillas and humans the land they need to survive.