The killing of a mountain gorilla baby in the jungles of the Virungas has led to the formation of a joint anti-poaching team by the governments of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mountain gorillas are found in the Virungas as well as Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park in Uganda. Half of them are found in the Virunga's which comprises Volcanoes national park in Rwanda and Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The other half is found in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park. Mountain gorillas live in social units with families ranging from 2 to just about any number. The families are headed by the silverback whose main role is to protect the family from outside dangers as well as to mate with the females in the families. Their DNA makeup is over 97% similar to that of human beings and are regarded as one of man's closest cousins.

The virunga national park and Volcanoes national park are close to one another and separated only by the border of their respective countries. It was thus necessary to form a joint patrol team to help protect these highly endangered species of apes. A joint patrol makes it more effective to patrol and conserve the remaining mountain gorilla population.

In the last month along since its inception the anti-poaching team have retrieved several snares from the national parks thus averting the threat posed to the mountain gorillas. It is not uncommon to find several maimed mountain gorillas some without hands and fingers. This is usually as a result of the snares and traps.

Mountain gorilla trekking in Africa can be done in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo were these primates can be found in the wild. A gorilla tour in Uganda includes a mandatory $500 charged as gorilla trekking permit fee which is used as park entrance fees, guide costs and taxes. While a Rwanda gorilla safari cost includes a mandatory $750 unlike in Uganda. The increase in the cost of the permit in Rwanda is help conserve not only the mountain gorillas but also the environment in which these mountain gorillas live.

Mountain gorillas are faced with many threats and this includes poaching, habitat destruction, diseases and climate change. Given the fact that mountain gorillas are closely related to human beings that means that they are susceptible to diseases from humans and that is why there are stringent measures for everyone going on a gorilla trekking safari.