Kampala — THE hunt for suspects in the foiled attempt to smuggle the highly endangered mountain gorillas at Bwindi national park has not yet netted the top racketeers.

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) categorises gorillas as endangered species facing extinction.

Their global population is estimated at 650 and they live only in Uganda (Bwindi and Mgahinga) and the Virunga of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo.

They are the biggest attractions for tourists in Uganda and have earned the country billions of shillings.

However, the animals are under a renewed threat of poaching.

Helga Rainer, the country programme officer of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, said recently that two more men had been arrested, bringing the number of suspects to five.

She said hunting mountain gorillas was a source of concern and that there were fresh reports of poaching in Rwanda in which three adult gorillas were killed.

Gorillas live in communities and put up a fight in defence of the group members.

It is believed that an infant can only be captured after killing a number of adults. Ends