Pygmies and Gorillas at War
New rules in Uganda set gorilla conservation against the native pygmy culture
Iconic species are not the only remnants of Ugandan heritage threatened with extinction. The forests hold one of the last populations of mountain gorillas, but are also the home of 6000 pygmies. New foreign-funded legislation is evicting the pygmies from the forest in favour of gorilla conservation, but the people of this unique culture are reluctant to lose their heritage.
In Uganda, six thousand pygmies are being paid to leave behind their homes in the rainforest. This is because the area has been designated a national park, to protect one of the last remaining populations of mountain gorillas that live within its borders. However, there are concerns that this prioritisation (driven by the tourist industry) may drive the pygmy culture to extinction instead. Barry Chapman, head of international relief at the Adventist Church, has qualms about this decision. "If we're going to make some choices about where we are going to put our money, I think the pygmies really should rate at the top of the list in front of gorillas", he says. Because the pygmies are nomadic, proficient at hunting and gathering, but less adept at agriculture and fishing, which they will need to develop to survive in their new marginal home.
Produced by ABC Australia
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