Virunga National Park

The analysis of the census conducted in March and April 2010 indicates that there were a total of 480 mountain gorillas, Gorilla beringei beringei, in 36 groups along with 14 solitary silverback males in the Virunga Massif. 352 (73%) were habituated (349 in groups and three solitary males) and 128 were unhabituated (117 in groups and 11 solitary males). Along with the 302 mountain gorillas censused in Bwindi in 2006 4 four orphaned mountain gorillas in a sanctuary in Congo, this brings the total world population to 786 individuals.
The last census undertaken in the Virunga Massif was in 2003, when the population was estimated at 380 individuals. The current figure represents a 26.3 % increase in the population of mountain gorillas in this area over the last seven years, which is a 3.7 % annual growth rate. This increase in the population occurred despite the killing of no less than nine mountain gorillas, in four separate incidents, during this time period.
In the census over 1,000 km were systematically walked by 6 mixed teams of 72 people from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Teams covered the entire range and meticulously documented fresh signs of mountain gorilla groups. Genetic analysis of fecal samples collected were analyzed to identify and correct for any double-counting of individuals or groups, ensuring the most accurate estimate for the population.
The census not only recorded the presence of mountain gorillas, but also the presence of other large mammals and illegal activities like bamboo cutting and snares. The full report of the census, which will be available in 2011, will include details on population dynamics and distribution of the Virunga gorilla population as well as population structure and genetic composition.

From a press release by IGCP, 7 December 2010

_{The Virunga Massif mountain gorilla census was conducted by the protected area authorities in the three countries: L'Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, the Rwanda Development Board and the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The census was supported by the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (a coalition of the African Wildlife Foundation, World Wide Fund for Nature, and Fauna & Flora International), the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project.IGCP played a lead role in the census and coordinated all participating institutions and organizations. IGCP played a lead role and coordinated all participating institutions and organizations. It was funded by WWF-Sweden, Fair Play Foundation, and the Netherlands Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS) through the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration.}