Not only savannah parks are affected by climate change, but also rainforest parks home of endangered mountain gorillas, in the Greater Virunga Landscape shared between Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Uganda.

Queen Elisabeth National park threatened by an invasive plant called dichronostactys cinea, locally known as Kalimanjojo. This plant has taken over 30% of the park and the Park is struggling to remove it using human effort, which seems to be an impossible task.

The Expert from Karisoke Research Center based in Rwanda, Dr. Winnie Eckardt has told the participants attending the Vanishing Treasures Global Partners meeting being held in Ruhija, Republic of Uganda from 6th June 2023 through 11th June 2023, that water is vital for animal growth, reproduction and survival and that daily requirements depend on climate, diet as well as metabolic rates. She added that endotherms need more water for evaporative cooling to thermoregulate and avoid dehydration as global temperature increases. Water availability will change with climate change and higher-elevation regions are experiencing faster increases in temperature than lower-elevation ones.

Dr. Winnie making her presentation to the Vanishing  Treasures                                           Participants of the Vanishing  Treasures

       Global Partners  meeting in Ruhija, on 8th June 2023                                            Global Partners  meeting in Ruhija, on 8th June 2023

For mountain gorillas, they rarely drink water as 60% to 90% of the water they need is found in the food they eat. However, it was recently noted that gorillas have increased their needs in terms of water consumption, which may be considered as the result of climate change and global warming.

Mountain Gorilla drinking water

More studies are required in this landscape, home of endangered species including mountain gorillas,  to elaborate on this, as Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration, together with its partners, work hard to protect biodiversity in this unique ecoregion. Otherwise, we may be the last generation to see these  wonderful creatures

Mountain gorilla from Bitukura Family of the the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park