A BRIGHTER TOMORROW

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda 2017         

I'd like to use this relevant and timeless image of the mighty mountain gorilla to tell a conservation story of unparalleled paradox of tragedy and triumph.

Modern history has not been kind to the mountain gorilla. After many millennia of living in a respectful harmony with mankind, their luck began to change around the turn of the 19th century. Local tribal populations began to unite and expand, turning to subsistence farming, rather than gathering, to support and sustain their growing populations. Simultaneously, the mighty gorilla became the subject of global fascination and terror through several Hollywood's blockbuster releases. An uptick in poaching soon followed to supply zoos or prevent local conflict, while habitat loss and violent political unrest laid waste to previously untouched habitats. Mountain gorilla populations dropped to only a few dozen families in only three countries; Rwanda, Uganda and DRC. The future was grim for the king of the apes.

In 1991, recognizing the grave threat to one of their most prised ecological residents, Uganda took a giant step forward in the protection and conservation of mankind's second closest relative by uniting several reserves into what became known as the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Impenetrable as it may be, it was not uninhabitable.  Uganda's historic move to designate these reserves as a national park displaced the entire tribe of the Batwa Pygmies, an ancient clan of forest dwelling hunter-gatherers known for their diminutive stature and extraordinary ability to thrive in the dense highland jungles. By 1994, the evicted Batwa became squatters living on the edge of society, marginalized by the very people who forced them from their jungle homes. However, despite the hardships faced and threat of cultural genocide, hope was not lost.  Word of the Batwa's plight soon spread through the global community and through follow-up conservation efforts, the first hospital was established to help the Batwa and expose them to modern medicine.  Schools, homes, health clinics and water programs soon followed. Today, life for the Batwa people is not perfect, and it will never be what it used to, but it is improving each day. 

Saving the mountain gorilla cost the world an ancient and unique tribe of people, isolated from modern society and everything that comes with it by their dense jungle home. On the surface, most conservation efforts seem like a no-brainer, however not all are as cut and dry as they seem. Here's to the Echuya Batwa. Here's to the mountain gorilla. Here's to a brighter tomorrow.

• AVAILABLE SIZES

• LARGE: 42" X 68"

• STANDARD: 21" X 44"

• AVAILABLE EDITIONS

• LARGE: Edition of 14

• STANDARD: Edition of 14