Release date: 01/02/20

In Rwanda, Shebbie completes her journey to visit every continent and has an incredible encounter with one of the most endangered species on Earth.

Inside the Episode: Rwanda

About:

The past doesn’t have to define the future. No where is this maxim more true than in the small, central-African nation of Rwanda. Most readers will recognize Rwanda as the location of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, in which the interim Hutu government systematically murdered as many as 1,000,000 ethnic Tutsis. This dark period in the nation’s history marred it’s international reputation and continues to be the Western World’s chief association with the landlocked nation. But the very events that scarred Rwanda are also the ones that have propelled it’s desire for change. The horrors of the genocide - and the rock bottom that it represented - compelled the nation to seek out a new way forward.

Today, Rwanda is on the path to becoming one of the most advanced economies in central-Africa. With few natural resources at it’s disposable, the county recognizes the importance of knowledge-based industries, such as finance and tourism, and views them as it’s future. Aspiring to become a regional technology hub, Rwanda has layed over 2,000 kilometers of fibre-optic cable in the last decade, helping to bring the country’s telecommunications network into the 21st century and increasing internet penetration amongst the country’s population by 600%. Tourism has become the other bedrock of the Rwandan economy, with revenue from tourism more than quadrupling from a $62 million dollars in 2000 to $303 million dollars in 2014. This rise in tourist visits was due, not only to the increasing economic and political stability in Rwanda, but also to the successful management of one of it’s most precious resources: it’s Mountain Gorilla population.

Mountain Gorillas:

Found in only Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC, the Mountain Gorilla is both the largest living primate on the planet and on of the most endangered. A highly social animal, Mountain Gorillas live in long-term bonded family units with complex interpersonal dynamics. Despite their intimidating appearance, Mountain Gorillas are typically gentle and shy, with aggression being a rarity within stable groups. In fact, in an almost comical turn, researchers have discovered that most mountain gorillas appear to be afraid of small reptiles and insects and will go out of their way to avoid these “creepy crawlies”.

With a population of just over 1,000 individuals, the Mountain Gorillas continued survival is a priority for conservationists. While there has been success in growth rates in recent years, with the population up significantly from its 1981 low of 254, stabilization of the population remains elusive. Ecotourism, like that find in Rwanda, has proven to be one of the most effect means of preserving this rare species, with the revenue from tourists coming to see the gorillas being funneled back effectively into wildlife reserves and conservation efforts.