Gorilla Tourism in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda: An Actor-Network Perspective
his article performs actor-network theory (ANT) to examine the development of gorilla tourism at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. We depict a number of translations in which gorillas were designated and enrolled as coexisting with local livelihood practices, as ‘‘trophies’’ in the hunti...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Society & Natural Resources An International Journal
2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/1013 |
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| Summary: | his article performs actor-network theory (ANT) to examine the development of
gorilla tourism at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. We depict a number
of translations in which gorillas were designated and enrolled as coexisting with local
livelihood practices, as ‘‘trophies’’ in the hunting network, ‘‘man’s closest neighbor’’
in the scientific network, ‘‘endangered species’’ in the conservation network, and
finally, through habituation processes, became part of the tourism network. These
five versions of the ‘‘gorilla’’ network show how gorillas are shaped in and by the
relations in which they reside. By examining Bwindi in terms of ANT’s notions of
ordering, materiality, and multiplicity, we not only show how gorilla tourism has
gained permanence and popularity, but also draw attention to new ways of thinking
about actors and agency in tourism, conservation, and development |
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