African mountain gorillas stage unlikely comeback

By Gary Strieker
CNN Environmental Correspondent

(CNN) -- During years of civil war in Central Africa, endangered mountain gorillas have been able to survive and multiply.

Several hundred mountain gorillas live in the high-altitude forests that stretch into Rwanda, the Congo and Uganda. And while virtually surrounded by deadly civil conflict, they have actually increased by 40 percent.

"The fact that mountain gorillas have sustained so little loss, just a few gorillas during a civil war. During a period of genocide in which 800,000 people were killed, three gorillas were killed in Rwanda. I have to be optimistic," said Amy Vedder of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The Rwandan government now provides serious military security in the national park, because the gorillas are a valuable asset, generating millions of tourist dollars for the nation's economy.

The main reason for that is the mountain gorilla project, started 23 years ago by Vedder and her husband, Bill Weber, who realized the primates could be saved from extinction only through a combination of education, research and eco-tourism.

The scientific duo have a new book out, "In the Kingdom of Gorillas", which provides a front-line report of the grim early days with legendary gorilla researcher Dian Fossey, and of the catastrophic genocide and civil war in the region.

Despite the unlikely success of the gorillas in recent years, they still need considerable protection, Vedder said.

"The population is also at a very precarious point right now because of the continuing war in Congo, because of the challenges of peace in Rwanda. We all need to help."

The future of the animals depends on tight security in the park and on the continued understanding by Rwandans that they have tangible economic benefits from a thriving population of mountain gorillas.