Join a mountain gorilla family and contribute to the conservation of this endangered species: launch of My Gorilla Family app and My Gorilla Family Festival, Kampala, Uganda.
A pioneering initiative to protect Uganda’s mountain gorilla population has officially been launched, leveraging technology to create sustainable sources of non-trekking revenues to fund conservation.
“Uganda is absolutely ready for an application and a festival like this. It is time for the world to come and see how much more Uganda has to offer.”
Lily Ajarova, Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Tourism Board
“UWA is mandated to ensure sustainable management of wildlife resources. We are proud to work with our partners to ensure this, but also to educate local communities and people from all over the world about the value of protecting these majestic animals, and keep them for future generations.”
Sam Mwandha, Executive Director, Uganda Wildlife Authority
“As a child, I went hunting in the forest; when the conservation areas were carved out, I grew into a poacher. I am now known as an advocate for conservation and continue to champion community awareness.”
Fidelis Kanyamunyu, reformed poacher, Honorary Wildlife Officer with Uganda Wildlife Authority and Co-Founder of Home of the Gorillas
Home of the Gorillas Initiative, in partnership with Uganda Wildlife Authority, seeks to commercialise activities that generate alternative ways of funding conservation. This is done by leveraging technology that enables the global community to engage with the gorillas remotely.
“It is important to note the investment opportunities presented by conservation.”
Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, a leading scientist and conservationist at the forefront of gorilla conservation efforts in East Africa, emphasised the importance of community inclusion
“In addition to the subscription-based application My Gorilla Family, the Home of the Gorillas initiative will launch the first conservation limited NFT collection linked to the ±200 habituated individual mountain gorillas in the wild.”
David Gonahasa, Co-Founder of Home of the Gorillas, further explained the importance of this initiative.
“We all need to be conservationists, regardless of our background or physical location. By leveraging technology, we are making more people aware of this natural capital we are blessed with, resulting in more mountain gorilla ambassadors globally.”
Terence Chambati, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Home of the Gorillas
Download My Gorilla Family on the Google PlayStore. iOS and web application versions will be available end of February 2022.
Follow @mygorillafamily on (X) Twitter.
Thanks for this amazing initiative. I love Gorillas and appreciate any efforts in their conservation. Haven’t tracked gorillas though but have been working with chimpanzees.
Planning soon.
This app is a huge development for gorilla conservation funding. It’s really fun as well!
I hope you get to track Uganda’s gorillas one day soon. They are very gentle (and quiet) compared to our raucous chimpanzees!
PANT HOOTS from Sunbird Hill… I heard the chimps calling from Kibale Forest just two minutes ago.
In August 2023, Home Of Gorillas Initiative Co-Founder David Gonahasa spoke at the relaunch of the My Gorilla App.
https://youtu.be/PcgijsFaB_w
Uganda Wildlife Authority wrote:
August 15, 2023 – Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) launched a pioneering initiative to protect Uganda’s mountain gorilla population by leveraging technology to create sustainable sources of non-trekking revenues to fund #conservation activities in gorilla parks.
The subscription-based technology enables anyone to follow as many gorilla families as they wish, knowing that their subscription goes towards protecting these glorious creatures and building the local communities around them.
For a monthly subscription of $2 paid through a mobile application My Gorilla Family, subscribers will receive an all-access pass to Bwindi-Mgahinga Conservation Area, home to more than 50% of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas.