AWF Unveils Life-sized Mountain Gorilla Sculpture in Uganda

Bart Walter's 'Mountain Silverback' in front of the UWA headquarters in Kampala, Uganda.

(Kampala, Uganda) The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) today unveiled a life-sized bronze sculpture of a mountain gorilla in recognition of Uganda's commitment to gorilla conservation. The bronze sculpture entitled "Mountain Silverback," created by renowned wildlife sculptor Bart Walter, will be placed in a specifically designed public park site adjacent to the new Uganda Wildlife Authority's headquarters. The sculpture is AWF's tribute to the Ugandan people who have worked tirelessly to help protect the endangered mountain gorilla population. While the work of protecting the mountain gorilla is far from over, thanks to the work of many, the mountain gorilla population is realizing a comeback.

Uganda is one of three African countries that are home to the world's only mountain gorillas. The mountain gorilla population, currently estimated at 700, grew 17 percent from 1989 to 2003. This is welcome news for mountain gorillas, and for the local people who benefit from the estimated US$20 million in revenues generated from gorilla-related tourism. Aptly named, mountain gorillas reside in the steep, forested and mountainous region of East and Central Africa, including the Virunga Volcanoes that form the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

"We are thrilled to be able to present a Bart Walter's sculpture to the Ugandan people. We hope this life-sized mountain gorilla sculpture will not only be a tribute to the important conservation work that Uganda is undertaking, but also serve as the centerpiece of an even greater awareness building effort," said Patrick Bergin, President of AWF. "Uganda's commitment to conserve the mountain gorilla has been extraordinary. Despite many regional challenges related to poverty and political unrest, Uganda has been part of a phenomenal conservation success story."

Gorilla conservation efforts date back to 1925 when King Albert of Belgium established a Gorilla Sanctuary in the Congo, the precursor to the DRC's Virunga National Park. In the late 1950s and 60s, scientists like George Schaller and Dian Fossey began studying mountain gorillas in their natural environment and quickly discovered the conflict between mountain gorillas and humans. Beginning in the late 70s, conservation groups began collaborating to protect the remaining gorilla populations, focusing on three primary threats and habitat loss, disease, and poaching.

Today, one of the main groups working on gorilla conservation is the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP), a coalition of AWF, Fauna & Flora International, and the World Wide Fund for Nature. Despite the political instability of the region, IGCP continues to work successfully to create widespread support for conservation among local communities and interest groups, and to encourage the relevant authorities to adopt a consistent, collaborative approach to conservation policy and legislation throughout the region.

# # #

Bart Walter is internationally renowned for his bronze sculptures which primarily depict the natural world. Mr. Walter's work is admired for his ability to powerfully and sensitively capture a moment in the life of his subjects. His sculptures are placed prominently throughout the United States and abroad in private and public collections and are exhibited at the National Geographic Society Headquarters and the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park in Washington, DC. For more information about Mr. Walter's work, visit www.bartwalter.com.

# # #

For more information, please contact:
Elodie Sampere
Director of Communications
esampere@awf.org.
Tel: +1-202-939-3333