Scientists count rare mountain Gorillas

Scientists are conducting a census of rare mountain gorillas in the mountain range that straddles Congo, Uganda and Rwanda for the first time in 14 years,

A team of 100 Congolese, Ugandan and Rwandan scientists began counting the endangered primates on September 8 to find out their exact number and what natural and man-made factors had affected the gorillas, said the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

Normally such a census should be carried out every five years, but insecurity and conflict in the region had made it impossible to conduct such a study, said Moses Mapesi, director of field operations at the authority.