Former hunter Peter Tumwesigye now belongs to the Reformed Poachers Association that works to protect endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi National Park, one of only two places in the world where the species is found.
The park's flora and fauna, home to many other threatened species, faces challenges not just from poaching but also habitat loss and disease, making local awareness programs crucial to conservation success.
Tumwesigye recognizes that protecting the region's famous gentle giants also benefits local communities, bringing in tourism revenue, boosting employment and improving infrastructure. He and the other poachers-turned-protectors now understand the importance of maintaining ecological balance in the area, shifting from setting snares to planting trees as part of a forest restoration project that aims to rebuild lost habitats.
They are also helping with a census that's currently underway, with park rangers tracking and counting the gorilla population.Their findings indicate that conservation efforts are effective; around 450 gorillas are estimated to live in the Bwindi forest.
Gorilla treks and tourism have played a vital role in conservation, by funding development projects and supporting the local economy. A revenue-sharing scheme directs part of the profits into community projects, fostering sustainable livelihoods.
The conservation work in Bwindi National Park is helping ensure that humans and gorillas coexist in harmony, securing a future for both the species and the surrounding communities.