21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Curious Eyes

Rwanda is home to around 600 wild mountain gorillas that range across the Virunga Massif - a shared ecosystem that spans northwestern Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Habitat loss and pressure from encroaching human settlements are the primary threat to the critically endangered species. The young gorilla pictured here, living in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, is one of the newest members of a new generation that is helping population numbers to rebound. Through community-led conservation and greater protection of mountain gorilla's home ranges, there is hope for the future. In addition to sharing 98 percent of our DNA with gorillas, we also share similar family bonds and a curiosity for our environment and those that share it. When local communities are involved in the conservation and management of protected wild spaces and the animals that live in them, that curiosity can live on to future generations of both humans and gorillas.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, Rwanda
Copyright: © Bret Saalwaechter