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Results tagged “gorillas” from NatGeo News Watch

Vila, the third-oldest western lowland gorilla in the U.S., celebrated her 52nd birthday at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park today by unwrapping presents full of fruit, nuts and seeds, and eating a peanut-butter frosted banana ice cake topped with carrot "candles," the zoo said in a caption sent to us with this photo.

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Photo courtesy San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park

"For the party, the gorilla enclosure at the Wild Animal Park was decorated with flowers, ginger leaves, 'Happy Birthday' signs stuck to rocks with peanut butter, and streamers in hues of pink, yellow, blue and orange. The entire six-member troop celebrated the milestone, enjoying treats and presents through the morning.

"Vila has some age-related issues so she gets senior vitamins and medicine for arthritis. But, she has no trouble getting around, something she proved today when she grabbed a present and took it into a cave to open in private," the zoo said.

Born in Africa in 1957, Vila was hand-raised at the San Diego Zoo's Children's Zoo. "She has four grand-gorillas, four great-grand-gorillas and three great-great-grand-gorillas. They live at the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park and at two other zoos in the U.S.," the zoo added.

Mountain gorillas survive in two pockets of African rain forest and are shared by three countries that have experienced much turmoil: Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

That the gorillas have been able to find relative sanctuary above the fray of the human settlements around them is thanks in no small part to the vision and dedication of several people and organizations devoted to the wellbeing of the endangered primates.

One such person is Eugene Rutagarama.

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Photo of Eugene Rutagarama and mountain gorilla by J. Kemsey, IGCP

The recipient of both the Jean Paul Getty Prize and the 2001 Goldman Environmental Prize in recognition for his conservation work, Rutagarama is the first African director of the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), a coalition formed in 1991 by three partners: African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Fauna & Flora International (FFI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

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The mission of the IGCP is to empower the people of Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Uganda to jointly manage a network of transboundary protected areas "that contributes significantly to sustainable development and protects the endangered mountain gorillas and their habitat."

The partnership also incorporates the respective protected-area authorities of the three countries in which IGCP works: the Rwanda Development Board/Office Rwandais du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN), the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN).

From his office in Kigali, Rwanda, Rutagarama discussed in a telephone interview the successes and challenges in mountain gorilla conservation, and the role played by his organization, particularly in the context of Year of the Gorilla 2009..

NatGeo News Watch interview: Eugene Rutagarama >>

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Pictures from some of the world's leading nature and wildlife photographers were exhibited at London's Saatchi Gallery today.

For those of us who couldn't make it to the British capital, Conservation International shared some of the images from the exhibit, shown here. The places they represent are indeed remarkable.

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On the Look Out: The peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) is believed to have the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom. Each is capable of depth perception and trinocular vision. This allows the peacock mantis to detect semi transparent prey, different coral patterns, and the shimmering scales of hungry barracudas. They also have very powerful claws, known to break the glass of aquariums.

Photo by Sterling Zumbrunn/Caption by CI

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Beach Bum Chameleon: The panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) of Madagascar loves sunbathing and enjoys cockroaches. They change color for camouflage and to communicate. When carrying eggs, females turn dark brown or black with orange striping to tell males they aren't interested. When two males come into contact, they turn brighter colors to assert dominance. Often these battles end with the loser retreating, turning drab and dark.

Photo by Cristina Mittermeier/Caption by CI

The exhibition, entitled "Thrive!", and organized by CI and the BG Group, "aims not only to showcase examples of nature's beauty and fragility, but to underscore how human well being and the natural world are inextricably linked," CI said in a statement accompanying the photos.

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Monkeys on the Move: The Northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus) is a critically endangered resident of Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Less than one thousand remain. To help revive them and other unique species, CI helped create green corridors linking the remaining fragments of the Atlantic Forest, assuring animals have a wider home to roam.

Photo by Luciano Candisani/Caption by CI

The exhibition was opened by CI President Russell A. Mittermeier and BG Group Executive Vice President Charles Bland on Thursday.

"Mittermeier, one of the world's most famous conservationists, is a legendary field biologist who has discovered numerous new species of animals, and is a world authority on primates, amphibians and the wildlife of Madagascar, the Guianas and Brazil," CI's statement added.

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No Blast Fishing: A community patrolman on his dugout canoe near the island of Batanta, Raja Ampat. Local communities, aware of the importance of reef habitats to their fisheries, have learned to patrol their waters to protect against cyanide and blast fishing.

Photo by Sterling Zumbrunn/Caption by CI

"We are at a critical time in the history of the planet. Over the next decade decisions are going to be made that will affect the lives of millions of people and the survival of thousands of plants and animals," Mittermeier said. "Conservation International's mission is to protect the world's ecosystems for the benefit of humanity. The partnership with BG Group allows us to use photography as a tool for conserving the incredible biodiversity and cultures featured in this exhibition."

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A New Species Found Each Week: Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia, has one of the most dense concentrations of marine life on Earth, with over 1,000 species of fish and 600 of coral. In one year, CI divers discovered more than 50 previously unknown species of shrimp, coral, and reef fish - an average rate of one per week. All this in an area about 1/10th the size of England.

Photo by Sterling Zumbrunn/Caption by CI

Charles Bland said: "At BG Group we understand that our business activity can have an impact upon the environment and we are committed to making a positive contribution to protecting the environment. Our alliance with CI supports this by helping to build awareness of the importance of our natural world."

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Much Ado Below the Surface: 1,250 fish species and 600 hard corals; the greatest biodiversity concentration for a territory its size anywhere on earth. Wayag Lagoon in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, is one of several marine protected areas created thanks in part to CI's Rapid Assessment Program (RAP). These surveys quickly document uncharted habitats to help prioritize areas for protection.

Photo by Sterling Zumbrunn/Caption by CI

slender-legged-treefrog-picture.jpgBrand New Frog?
This handsome, slender legged treefrog, while known to be a Osteocephalus, may be a new species. Discovered by CI scientists on a recent trip to Para, researchers are still trying to verify if it's ever been identified. With species going extinct every 20 minutes, many disappear without a trace. Since new animal finds have helped humans with everything from diffusing landmines to curing forms of cancer, no one knows what is lost to us when a species vanishes.

Photo by Luciano Candisani/Caption by CI

Said Cristina Mittermeier, Director of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), and one of the photographers whose work is featured in the exhibit, "Conservation photography is a mixture of art, journalism and environmentalism. It mixes beauty and abstract images with profound social comment, and it provides motivation for those who often live in a world far removed from the people, places and wildlife that are featured in this stunning exhibition."

Grauer's-gorilla-picture.jpgGentle Giant:
Though capable of highly intimidating displays of power when threatened, the largest of the gorillas, Grauer's gorilla, is generally calm and non aggressive.. There are about 16,000 in the wild. All live in the Democratic Republic of Congo. War in the Congo has been a drain on tourism, a primary source of funding for the gorilla's protection.

Photo by John Martin/Caption by CI

Fish-in-Raja-Ampat-picture.jpgMore Fish Species Than Anywhere On Earth:
CI scientists have documented more than 1,200 species of fish in Raja Ampat, Indonesia, more than any other coral reef environment on the planet. Scientists also believe there are over 550 coral species, an astonishing 70 percent of the world's total.

Photo by Sterling Zumbrunn/Caption by CI

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Chimpanzee Orphanage:
Endangered, the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is believed to have shared the same ancestry as humans 6 million years ago, making it the closest living relative to human beings. Habitat loss, hunting for bushmeat, and human disease are among the threats it faces. Sanctuaries, like Lwiro in the Democratic Republic of Congo, provide care for orphans. Nearly half of primate species worldwide are endangered.
Photo by Russ Mittermeier/Caption by CI
 

A silverback gorilla associated closely with researcher Dian Fossey, that went on to be the star of last year's television documentary "Titus: The Gorilla King," died of old age in the Volcanoes National Park this week, the Rwanda Development Board-Tourism and Conservation announced on its Web site.

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Photo courtesy Rwanda Tourism

"Not only was he one of the most powerful silverbacks in the Volcanoes National Park, he is possibly the most remarkable gorilla ever known," the statement said.

"He was born on August 24, 1974 and has been observed closely by researchers, including Dian Fossey, throughout his entire life. Tragically, he succumbed to old age on September 14, 2009 at the age of 35 years."

Dian Fossey wrote an account of her mountain gorilla research for National Geographic Magazine. Read her article from the January, 1970 issue: Making Friends With Mountain Gorillas. 

Titus fathered more offspring than any other gorilla known, the Rwanda Development Board said.

The silverback's life and reign was recorded in the 2008 Nature documentary entitled "Titus: The Gorilla King." Watch this video excerpt, posted on YouTube:

Video courtesy Nature

"Every gorilla death recorded is not only a great loss but a major setback to conservation efforts of removing the mountain gorillas off the endangered species list," the Rwanda board said. There are only 750 mountain gorillas left in the world.

"How ironic that Titus died at a time when United Nations declared 2009 as the 'Year of the Gorilla.' He will always be regarded with great respect and be remembered for his charisma and affection for the group he led."

What's it like to be a National Geographic explorer/filmmaker/scientist, hip-deep in a swamp in equatorial Africa, edging up to a family of grumpy lowland gorillas?

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Photo courtesy Mireya Mayor

It's anything but comfortable. Sweat bees get in the eyes, tsetse flies bite, worms can burrow into the skin, and there's always the prospect of being charged by an elephant that thinks you're up to no good.

All these things have been endured by Mireya Mayor, who is working on a documentary about western lowland gorillas for the National Geographic Channel.

She is on her way to the eastern Congo to resume filming--but thanks to the wonders of digital technology we will be able to keep track of her whereabouts via the Mireya Tracker on her Web site and receive live updates from the field.

"The last time I was in close proximity to the gorillas," Mayor told me in a phone interview while she was boarding a plane en route to Africa earlier today, "a silverback ran up to me and gave me a swat. It's the ultimate experience one can have with a gorilla."

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Photo courtesy Mireya Mayor

It's a good thing that Mayor gets a thrill from such wild encounters. Not many people would relish the arduous schlep into swampland only to be charged by a 350-pound gorilla at the destination. It's like a scene out of an Indiana Jones movie.

But this is all in a day's work for Mireya Mayor, who has been described by the New York Times as a female Indiana Jones.

The former Miami Dolphins cheerleader and model has a Ph.D. in anthropology and is one of the world's foremost experts on primates. Her work has taken her to some of the most forbidding places on the planet.

Mayor is an emerging explorer for the National Geographic Society and a National Geographic Television correspondent. Most recently she starred in the History Channel series "Expedition Africa: Stanley & Livingstone," as one of four explorers to retrace the nearly 1,000-mile trip through Africa of Henry Stanley and David Livingstone.

Mayor knows her primates. She is credited with the scientific co-discovery of the world's smallest primate, the mouse lemur, in Madagascar in 2002.

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Primatologist Mireya Mayor holding a newly discovered mouse lemur.

NGS photo by Mark Thiessen

Now Mayor is going back to one of the remotest corners of Africa, deep into the Congo rain forest, where one of the world's largest primates, the lowland gorilla, has been observed behaving in fascinating ways.

Gorillas Mating Face-to-Face

"They're the same gorillas that were documented mating facing one another," Mayor reminded me. You can see pictures and read about this behavior in the National Geographic News story "Gorillas Photographed Mating Face-to-Face--A First." Though the behavior had been observed before in mountain gorillas, it had never before been seen in the lowland gorilla subspecies--and had never before been photographed in the wild.

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The female in the photographs was also the first gorilla seen using a tool in the wild.

"And among these gorillas the males display some unusual splashing behavior to woo females," Mayor said.

It's gorilla behavior like this that Mayor and the National Geographic film crew are documenting. They will be trekking into Mbeli Bai, a swampy clearing in the Congo where at least a dozen gorilla families come to feed at a giant salad bar. The seasonal gathering of the clans is also an opportunity for males to find mates, and this is when they display some very interesting gorilla rituals.

"We still have so much to learn about them," Mayor said. "Unlike mountain gorillas, these lowland gorillas are not easily habituated to the presence of people. They have been hunted for centuries, so they are very wary. They hang around in places difficult for us to get into and we aren't able to get up very close to them."

I asked Mayor if there were a lot of snakes in the swamp. "I've seen them ... but I'm more on the look-out for elephants," she said. "They can run faster they we can when they charge, so I like to know where they are and what they're doing."

Bookmark Mireya Mayor's Web site for regular updates from her from the Congo. The documentary she is working on will air on the National Geographic Channel next year.

Six orphan gorillas, rescued from the illegal bush meat trade, have begun new independent lives on a lagoon island outside Loango National Park in Gabon, the Société de Conservation et Développement (SCD) said today.

"This is the first step in a reintroduction project that is hoped will allow them to return entirely to the wild and follows a three-year-long 'rehab programme' to prepare them for release," SCD said in a statement.

SCD, an affiliate of Africa's Eden, an eco-tourism company, has conservation partnerships with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Max Planck Institute, the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project (FVGP), and Gabon government agencies. Loango National Park is located on the African coast and is famous for its surfing hippos.

"Halfway through the Year of the Gorilla, the transfer [of the orphans] marks the beginning of the gorillas' independence. They have exchanged their human-built shelters for the palm-fringed forested islet where they can now live in relative safety from threats from poachers or other predators," SCD said.

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The relocation was supervised by Nick Bachand, director of the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project, and his team of Gabonese keepers.

"We all felt a hint of sadness as the gorillas left the place where their journey started," said Bachand, a veterinarian. "But this was instantly replaced with a mountain of pride when we observed some of the gorillas starting to build their own nests to sleep outside overnight."

Building nests is an important indication of the young gorillas' progress during this second phase of their rehabilitation, SCD explained.

Photo courtesy SCD B.V.

The six gorillas, three females and three males varying in ages from two to seven, were orphaned by the illegal bush meat trade.

The oldest male, Gimenu, 7, was rescued in an emaciated state from a zoo in Gabon where he had spent three years in complete isolation, SCD said. He is accompanied by Sindila, 4, an abandoned male found by tourists on a river excursion, and Ivindo, also 4, flown in from the Ivindo National Park in 2005.

The youngest female, Wanga, 2, was left on the doorstep of a conservationist's home in the southern half of Loango National Park, while the other two females, Cessé and Eliwa, 3 and 2, were donated by another great-ape rescue center in Gabon.

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"The gorillas have spent the past two and a half years undergoing daily forest rehabilitation accompanied by their keepers on Evengue Island, located north of Loango National Park," SCD said.

A small team of local keepers will continue to monitor the progress of the gorillas from a base camp in the center of Orique island, where their new home is.

The Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project comprises a sanctuary and rehabilitation program. All its resident gorillas were rescued after the parents were killed illegally by hunters for bush meat. "The sanctuary provides a safe home for gorillas that can never return to the wild as they lack the critical survival skills usually taught by their parents in the first six to eight years of their lives," SCD said.

"The younger gorillas are part of [the project's] rehabilitation program, however, and have undergone its quarantine and socialization stages. They now have the potential to be reintroduced into the wild, although many challenges and uncertainties remain."

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has identified the use of reintroduction projects as part of a global strategy for the survival of the world's endangered great apes, SCD added. "The Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) works closely with the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project and focuses wherever possible on reintroduction programs."

Said Doug Cress, executive director of PASA, "We have to find ways to restore value to Africa's forests, and reintroduction places focus on the African wildlife in the African forests.

"It's no good for any of us to aspire to having the world's largest captive population of chimpanzees or gorillas--even if we are saving lives. That is not conservation and it is not sending messages that can be translated into environmental action."

"It's no good for any of us to aspire to having the world's largest captive population of chimpanzees or gorillas--even if we are saving lives. That is not conservation and it is not sending messages that can be translated into environmental action."

The orhpan gorillas' return to the wild in the Gabonese equatorial forest is expected within two to three years.

"In the meantime, the project is working hard to raise local and global awareness on issues facing the gorillas, to encourage research that emphasises the needs of the local people, and to integrate responsible tourism, as part of a national and international effort to save the gorilla from extinction in the wild," SCD said.

Hundreds of illegal charcoal kilns have been destroyed in dawn raids by armed rangers deep in the forests of Virunga National Park in Eastern Congo in recent days, according to a news statement released by park authorities today.

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Ranger on guard in front of a charcoal kiln.

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Virunga is Africa's oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to 200 of the world's last remaining mountain gorillas and a small population of eastern lowland gorillas.

The park has been caught up in the region's swirling conflict for many years. There have been periods when rangers were forced to flee the park, including the gorilla areas. Many rangers have been killed in conflict.

"The Congolese National Park Authorities have sent the biggest ever deployment of armed rangers to strike at charcoal-making operations run by armed groups," the park said in today's statement.

"The move, undertaken in collaboration with the UN peace-keeping forces MONUC, follows a report by the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo identifying charcoal from Virunga National Park as a major source of revenue for illegal armed groups. These include the FDLR, the Rwandan militia whose members are held responsible for the Rwandan Genocide in 1994."

Five specially-trained platoons of 30 Rangers have been conducting dawn raids in the forests on the flanks of the Virunga volcanoes, the park said.

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"In the past week 252 charcoal kilns have been destroyed, at an estimated commercial value of U.S. $378,000, and 57 arrests made, including a militia officer.

"The rangers have engaged in three armed contacts with the FDLR and three rangers have so far been evacuated with gunshot injuries.

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"On the evening of the 28th July a patrol post was partially burned down during a retaliatory attack by the FDLR."

The goal of this offensive is to inflict maximum possible damage to the trafficking of illegal charcoal, estimated at over U.S. $30 million a year, much of which is benefiting the militias," says Virunga Park Director Emmanuel de Merode.

"The trafficking of natural resources such as charcoal is an underlying cause of instability in Eastern Congo. This operation is a first step towards re-establishing the rule of law, a condition for bringing peace to the region."

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The park authorities with support from the European Union and other donors have also launched a major initiative to provide energy alternatives to charcoal for the local population.

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"These include the local production of combustible briquettes produced from grass, leaves and agricultural waste, as well as establishing plantation forest. The program is on track to create 34,000 employments in briquette production and provide a viable substitute to charcoal by 2011," according to the news statement.

Formerly known as Albert National Park, Virunga lies in eastern DR Congo and covers 3,000 square miles (7,800 square kilometers). The park is managed by the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature, the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN). See the park's Web site for more information.

The Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit in New York's Bronx Zoo is home to 19 of the great apes and an assortment of other animals. It has also raised almost U.S. $11,000,000 for the conservation of Central Africa's Congo Basin rain forest and wildlife, the Wildlife Conservation Society, which manages the zoo, said today.

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WCS photos of Bronx Zoo gorillas celebrating tenth anniversary of exhibit by Julie Larsen Maher

"With this one exhibit, you can truly see the extraordinary power of the Bronx Zoo," said Steven E. Sanderson, president and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society. "Through its ten-year history, the Congo Gorilla Forest has turned millions of our visitors into conservationists and has helped directly to fund the protection of wildlife and wild places."

Since it opened in 1999, seven million visitors have visited the exhibit, which allows zoo guests to donate their admission fees to WCS field conservation efforts in Central Africa. The donations have helped to create 18 national parks in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Gabon.

Protecting All Four Subspecies of Gorilla

"From its inception, the Congo Gorilla Forest was designed to raise funds and awareness of the plight of gorillas in Africa," the conservation charity said. "Today, WCS is working with the national park services of Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to create and manage protected areas and protect all four subspecies of gorilla.

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"WCS employs the world's leading gorilla scientists who have implemented the most effective field programs in Africa. Wildlife Conservation Society veterinarians are collaborating with the foremost infectious disease experts to end the spread of Ebola and other wildlife diseases."

The award-winning exhibit takes visitors through a misty outdoor rainforest, where the shy okapi blends in with the trees, WCS said in a caption accompanying thesew photos. "Then, visitors can catch glimpses of mandrills, red river hogs, and DeBrazza's monkeys in the Judy and Michael Steinhardt Mandrill Forest.

"Finally, the Congo experience culminates in the C.V. Starr Conservation Theater and Lila Acheson Wallace Great Gorilla Forest. Separated from the gorillas only by glass, the visitor's instinct is to touch the hand that looks so different, yet is so close." Various parts of the exhibit have been named after the most generous donors.

The two troops of gorillas in residence at the Bronx Zoo form one of the largest breeding groups of western lowland gorillas in North America, WCS said. Through the years, 14 gorillas, 23 red river hogs, 11 Wolf's guenons and four okapis have been born in the exhibit. "The WCS breeding programs for these species make significant contributions to the survival of their populations in zoos. This success is due to an immersing habitat and exceptional animal care and dedication."

Bronx-Zoo-gorilla-party-picture-2.jpgTo celebrate the tenth anniversary of their exhibit, the 19 gorillas at the Bronx Zoo were given "cupcake" treats.

WCS photo by Julie Larsen Maher

Much of WCS's work with gorillas in the wild is funded through the Biodiversity Program and Central Africa Program for the Environment of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Great Ape Conservation Funds of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Through these critical programs, sustainable management practices are brought to key landscapes like the Congo Basin protecting great ape populations while promoting sustainable development for the people of the Congo," WCS said.

WCS is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the Congo Gorilla Forest through a series of events sponsored by Bank of America, including guided tours, gorilla feeding times, African arts and crafts, traditional interactive African storytelling, and African dance and drum performances.

Said Jim Breheny, Director of the Bronx Zoo and WCS Senior Vice President of Living Institutions: "We invite all to visit the Bronx Zoo to help us celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Congo Gorilla Forest. There is nothing more magical than meeting a gorilla face-to-face, eye-to-eye. This landmark exhibit has made a difference in conservation, in zoo exhibit design and in the lives of millions of Bronx Zoo visitors over the last ten years."

Bronx-Zoo-gorilla-party-picture-3.jpgWCS photo by Julie Larsen Maher

Good news about gorillas:

The world's least known gorilla--the eastern lowland gorilla or Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri)--survives in previously unexplored forests of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, scientists from the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced.

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An eastern lowland gorilla from Kahuzi-Biega National Park, to the north of Itombwe.

Wildlife Conservation Society photo by Deo Kujirakwinja

"Specifically, researchers from WCS working in the forests of DR Congo's Itombwe region found signs (nests) of eastern lowland gorillas in areas where they previously were not known to occur," the New York-based conservation charity said in a statement.

The announcement was made yesterday at the Gorilla Symposium, an event convened by the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the German Ministry for the Environment, the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Frankfurt Zoological Society at the Frankfurt Zoo in Germany.

"Today's announcement that Grauer's gorillas inhabit forests in Itombwe more than 50 kilometers (more than 30 miles) south of their previously known range gives hope for the survival of the subspecies and a renewed impetus for protecting this extraordinary biodiversity area in the Albertine Rift of Africa," said James Deutsch, director of WCS's Africa Programs.

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Map courtesy WCS

Researchers also found indications of a wider range for chimpanzees in Itombwe than previously known, WCS added.

"The forests of Itombwe are poorly documented because of the frequent presence of rebel groups, which makes them dangerous places in which to work. A period of relative calm enabled the survey team to reach these formerly inaccessible areas to determine if gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, and other wildlife had persisted through the area's conflicts.

YoG-logo.jpg"The new gorilla areas were identified between June 2008 and January 2009 by a survey team that included four mammal experts, two ornithologists, two botanists, and one herpetologist. These forests had been sporadically surveyed for wildlife in 1996 and between 2003 and 2007."

 
The eastern lowland gorilla lives exclusively in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where decades of warfare and insecurity have prevented researchers from determining their exact numbers and range, WCS said. "They are close relatives of mountain gorillas, although they tend to inhabit lower elevation habitats and eat more fruit than mountain gorillas. They are also larger in size than the other three types of gorilla, growing to more than 500 pounds in weight."

Eastern lowland gorillas are listed as "Endangered" on the IUCN's Red List and may number as few as 8,000 individuals.

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The forests of Itombwe are recognized by conservationists as an important center of biodiversity, covering some 14,000 square kilometers (more than 5,400 square miles), WCS said. Along with the findings that indicate a larger range for eastern lowland gorillas, researchers have also discovered frog and toad species that are new to science and in the process of being named.

The area also contains minerals and as a result of its remoteness, rebel groups and others have sought to exploit the natural resources there.

"The findings of our survey will be important to conservation efforts for eastern lowland gorillas and their habitat, primarily because so little is known about this subspecies." said Andrew Plumptre, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Albertine Rift Program. "In particular it will help us in the development of plans for the demarcation of boundaries for the Itombwe Reserve, which is in the process of being created."

The new findings will factor into discussions with local communities, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and all interested parties about how best to protect the region's natural resources for the benefit of both wildlife and people, WCS said.


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An eight-month-old western lowland gorilla ventures away from his troop while foraging for food in his exhibit at the San Diego Zoo yesterday, according to the caption the zoo sent with this photo.

"The baby, named Frank, joined his family in the Gorilla Tropics exhibit two months ago and is starting to show more of his natural instincts, including chest-beating," the zoo continued.

Frank is is expected to grow to more than 400 pounds. He and his family are on exhibit every other day at the Zoo. Updates about Frank can be found on his Facebook page.

San Diego Zoo is home to 13 western lowland gorillas.

San Diego Zoo photo by Ken Bohn

 

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A baby gorilla was seized from animal traffickers in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the Congolese Wildlife Authority following a three-month undercover investigation to bust an international wildlife smuggling ring, Virunga National Park said today.

"One suspected trafficker was caught and arrested at Goma International Airport on Sunday while disembarking from a flight from Walikale (in the interior of the country and close to gorilla habitat) with an eastern lowland gorilla," according to a statement released by the park.

Photo of rescued gorilla courtesy Virunga National Park

The gorilla was found concealed under clothes at the bottom of a bag and was suffering from over-heating and dehydration after spending more than six hours in transit.

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"Our work has revealed a significant upsurge in the trafficking of baby gorillas in recent months, possibly as a result of the war last year," the news statement added.

"Investigations have yet to reveal where these animals are being sent and who is buying them, but on-the-ground sources tell us that a baby gorilla can fetch up to U.S. $20,000," said Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park, which is in the eastern part of the Congo and home to populations of both mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas.

"We must remember that for each trafficked baby gorilla, several gorillas have probably been killed in the wild," De Merode continued in the news release. "If we want to preserve our gorillas--and other wildlife--significant resources must be invested to put a stop to these trafficking rings."

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The female eastern lowland gorilla, approximately two years old, is in the care of the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN) and the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP). She has a puncture on her right leg and injuries on other parts of her body. It is not known how long ago she was taken from the forests of eastern Congo.

"She remains weak, and is suffering from dehydration and malnutrition, but is responding to treatment administered by MGVP," the news release said.

Photo of rescued gorilla courtesy Virunga National Park

Some 1,100 Park Rangers protect the national parks of eastern Congo, a region affected by a 12-year civil war and current political instability, the news release said. "These parks are home to mountain gorillas, lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants and rhinos, among other wildlife. The Rangers have remained active in protecting these parks, four of which have been classified as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Poaching, wildlife trafficking and habitat destruction remain the key threats to the survival of the wildlife in these parks."

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Gorillas are the largest of the living primates. The Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is one of the two subspecies of Eastern Gorilla and is found in the Virunga volcanoes region of Central Africa and in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. The Lowland Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri), also known as the Grauer's Gorilla, is a subspecies of Eastern Gorilla and is only found in the forests of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Virunga National Park, Africa's oldest national park (established in 1925) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, is home to 200 of the world's mountain gorillas and a small population of eastern lowland gorillas.

Updates and additional images can be found on the Virunga National Park's Web site.

Virunga National Park needs your help. Find out whay you can do.

Related stories from National Geographic News

"Spectacular" Gorilla Growth in Congo, Despite War

Baby Gorilla Found Alive After Mass "Execution" in Congo

Belgian Named New Warden of Troubled Gorilla Park

Inside the Gorilla Wars: Rangers on Risking It All

Who Murdered the Virunga Gorillas? (National Geographic Magazine)

Virunga Gorillas: Photo Gallery (National Geographic Magazine) 

Sumatran Tiger Cubs on Exhibit at San Diego Zoo

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San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park photo by Ken Bohn

Three Sumatran tiger cubs roll, romp and rumble in the tiger exhibit at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park this week.

The trio, born November last year, was only recently allowed outdoors for public viewing, the zoo said in the caption accompanying this picture. "They will be tussling (or sleeping) in the exhibit from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays."
 
The four-month-old balls of tumbling fur showed their distinct personalities within their first weeks of life, the statement added.

"Damai, a female whose name means peace in Indonesian, was the first to open her eyes and has an upside-down V above her nose and three separate markings above her right eye. Harimau Kayu, a male whose Indonesian name translates to tiger woods, is the noisiest and has a marking like a check mark ( v ) above his right eye. Kucing, a male whose name means cat in Indonesian, was the first to explore outside the den box. Now in their fourth month, Kucing is rivaling Harimau in noise production!"

The cubs were born to Delta, a 10-year-old female. Utan, an 18-year-old male, is their father. This is the second time the pair has bred successfully. In 2006 they produced three cubs that now live at the Topeka Zoo.

The Sumatran tiger is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Only between 300 and 400 Sumatran tigers are left in the wild on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, mostly in national parks, San Diego Zoo said. There are only 350 in managed care.

The primary threats to the Sumatran tiger are poaching, habitat destruction and elimination of prey.

 

Bronx Zoo Gorilla Gets Brain Scan

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Dr. Stephanie B. James holds Fubo's breathing tube steady as he is transported to the Bobby Murcer Mobile MRI Unit.

Wildlife Conservation Society photo by Julie Larsen Maher

Dozens of wildlife veterinarians, zookeepers, and medical personnel from several institutions were on hand to administer a scan of the brain of Fubo, a 42-year-old silverback gorilla living in New York's Bronx Zoo.

Fubo recently suffered a seizure, prompting WCS health and curatorial staff to seek out a neurological diagnosis, the Wildlife Consewrvation Society (WCS) said in a statement. WCS manages the zoo.

Fubo is one of two adult males, or silverbacks, living in the Bronx Zoo's Congo Gorilla Forest exhibit, which houses one of the largest breeding groups of western lowland gorillas in North America (more than 20 individuals).

The Brain Tumor Foundation responded to WCS's request for assistance with Fubo by sending its mobile MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) facility and staff to the Bronx Zoo's campus, free of charge, WCS said.

"The gorilla was sedated for the two-hour procedure, placed into the MRI's magnetic tube for the scans (a snug fit for a patient with gorilla-sized shoulders), and returned to the Congo Gorilla Forest as planned."

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Daniel Jusza (foreground), Operations Manager for the Bobby Murcer Mobile MRI Unit, examines Fubo's MRI scan with Technologist Daniel Genovese (middle) and WCS Veterinarian Dr. Jason Berg.

Wildlife Conservation Society photo by Julie Larsen Maher

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The scans were interpreted by staff of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and reviewed with WCS's Global Health Program staff. The findings indicated that Fubo's condition was caused by a lesion in the left temporal lobe of his brain. The specific cause of the problem has not yet been determined.

"Veterinary staff has concluded that Fubo's condition is not treatable with surgery, so they will continue to treat the gorilla with medication in an effort to control his seizures and other clinical signs," WCS said.

"Thanks to the generosity of The Brain Tumor Foundation, we were able to perform an MRI of Fubo's brain and this gave us insights into the possible cause of his illness. The ability to use their mobile MRI unit allowed us to perform this procedure right here at the Bronx Zoo," said Dr. Paul P. Calle, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Zoological Health Program and a participant in the MRI procedure.

"These images have given us a better understanding of the possible causes of Fubo's problem and have helped to guide his care. It was a great opportunity to enlist the most progressive technology for the diagnosis of people with similar problems to our close relative the endangered gorilla. The procedure contributes to the knowledge of veterinary healthcare of gorillas and other primates which will help WCS's health care programs and those of all facilities that house and care for gorillas."

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WCS veterinary staff and technicians from the Brain Tumor Foundation and other groups perform an MRI of a gorilla.

Wildlife Conservation Society photo by Julie Larsen Maher

The Brain Tumor Foundation's Mobile Unit recently embarked on the "Road to Early Detection," a national campaign that promotes the early detection of brain tumors. The Unit travels New York City and its five boroughs offering free brain scans to everyone, especially those who do not have medical services available to them. The Unit is named after Bobby Murcer, the professional baseball player and broadcaster who was an advocate for The Brain Tumor Foundation's "Road to Early Detection" campaign. Murcer succumbed to a brain tumor in July of 2008.

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"We were pleased to help the Wildlife Conservation Society in the diagnosis of Fubo's condition. Our message of early detection extends to all New Yorkers. We need to build awareness about the importance of early detection in the battle against brain tumors," said Patrick Kelly, founder and president of The Brain Tumor Foundation. "If found early, most brain tumors can be removed before symptoms become apparent. The only way to do this is with an MRI brain scan. Our goal is to make MRI brain scans as routine as examinations for breast, colon, and prostate cancer."

An MRI is a frequently used technique for imaging structures within the human body. The method is more effective at imaging organs and soft tissue than the CT scan (computed tomography) and is often used in neurological scans.

The Brain Tumor Foundation raises awareness among medical professionals and the public about the need for the early detection of brain tumors while continuing to offer support groups, medical referrals, peer matching programs such as Phone-a-Friend, and events including our annual conference, Brain Tumor Awareness Day.

Watch this National Geographic video of two lowland gorillas in the wild facing off in a test of strength:

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Mandara, a 26-year-old female western lowland gorilla and her two-month old daughter, enjoyed the St. Patrick Day festivities. Mandara is eating a lime and honeydew melon kabob that she found in her goodie bag. The public can vote to name the baby gorilla on the Zoo's Web site.

Smithsonian's National Zoo photo by Mehgan Murphy

The Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., arranged a Saint Patrick's Day celebration today for the zoo's gorillas and orangutans with an "all-green" party at the Great Ape House.

In keeping with a "green" theme, all the food served at the party to the gorillas and orangutans was green, the Zoo said. Foods included green fruitsicles, lime and honeydew melon kabobs, green jello, broccoli forage, and shamrock wall paintings made of rice cereal.

"Additionally, the keepers painted St. Patrick's Day decorations on brown paper bags that were filled with hay and goodies," the Zoo said in a statement.

The animals obviously would not have any concept of St Patrick's Day--something they have in common with perhaps most of the human primates walking around in green and drinking green beer on this day. But a lot can be said for the imagination of the National Zoo's animal keepers for making their jobs and the lives of the animals they look after as enriched and fun as possible.

Seven western lowland gorillas live in one group at the National Zoo's Great Ape House, including their newest resident, a female baby gorilla born on January 10, 2009. Four Sumatran-Bornean hybrid orangutans and two Bornean orangutans live in a separate exhibit at the Great Ape House.

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Baraka, a 16-year-old silverback western lowland gorilla, eats rice cereal used to paint a shamrock on the wall.

Smithsonian's National Zoo photo by Mehgan Murphy 

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Iris, a 21-year-old Sumatran-Bornean hybrid orangutan, relaxes next to the green waterfall and pool on St. Patrick's Day at the Smithsonian's National Zoo.

Smithsonian's National Zoo photo by Mehgan Murphy

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A six-month-old western lowland gorilla at the San Diego Zoo holds onto the back of 14-year-old Ndjia in the Gorilla Tropics exhibit, today.

This marked his first time on exhibit with his family, the Zoo said in a statement. "The young gorilla, named Frank, is the fifth member of the Zoo's gorilla troop lead by a silverback named Paul Donn. The other members of the troop are Frank's mother, 12-year-old Azizi and a 13-year-old female, Imani. Gorillas are peaceful, family-oriented animals and all of the members of the troop take responsibility for caring and raising Frank."

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The new gorilla weighs more than 13 pounds, but zookeepers expect that he'll grow to be more than 400 pounds. His father, Paul Donn, weighs 450 pounds.

Gorillas usually grow to full size by the time they are 15 years old. They are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

This year has been declared the Year of the Gorilla by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, United Nations Environmental Programme and other organizations working toward conserving the gorilla population.

The San Diego Zoo is home to 13 western lowland gorillas.

Photo taken March 6, 2009, by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo.

Related blog post:

Year of the Gorilla 2009

Sexy Beasts: Valentine's Day Gone Wild

Posted on February 13, 2009 | 0 Comments

The birds and the bees don't celebrate Valentine's Day, of course, but some certainly have bizarre mating rituals.

Some of the stories National Geographic News published about this over the years included pandas watching porn, damselfly mating games that turn males gay, spiders that glow with fluorescence in the presence of potential mates, gorillas mating in the missionary position, and a video of wild sharks mating. Read on ...

 

1. Panda "Porn" to Boost Mating Efforts at Thai Zoo

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A Thai zoo hoped that "panda pornography" would spark romance between its two giant pandas, which were married by proxy in an elaborate Chinese-style ceremony, we reported in November 2006.

NGS stock photo by Michael Nichols

Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui had called Thailand's Chiang Mai Zoo home for the past four years. Zoo officials hoped that the warm Thai climate would spark the pandas' hormones and trigger their desire to mate, our contributor Brian Handwerk wrote.

"But the animals, on loan from China for ten years, have yet to start a family. A first mating attempt earlier this year failed to produce offspring, and the pandas have remained platonic pals since then -- prompting officials to launch their unique plan," Handwerk reported.

"They don't know how to mate, so we need to show the male how through videos," project chief Prasertsak Buntrakoonpoontawee told the Reuters news service.

Chuang Chuang, the six-year-old male, was to view films of other mating pandas when scientists judged him to be relaxed and receptive -- perhaps just after a tasty dinner.

"If all goes well, the racy video will be both instructional and inspirational, showing Chuang Chuang the reproductive ropes and causing him to see five-year-old Lin Hui in an entirely different light," our report said.

Did it work?

After panda porn failed to spark amour, Thai zoo authorities turned to artificial insemination in the hope of impregnating their lone female giant panda, the Associated Press reported a few months later.

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From the Smithsonian's National Zoo this afternoon:

IT'S A GIRL! - The Smithsonian's National Zoo is pleased to announce that its three-week-old baby gorilla is a female.

The baby was born on January 10 to 26-year-old mom Mandara and 16-year-old dad Baraka.

Mandara is again proving herself to be an exemplary mother, and is caring for her baby with great confidence and tenderness.

Thus far, Mandara and her baby girl are adapting to their new lives as Zoo celebrities and seem to be unfazed by the attention they're receiving from the crowds of visitors flocking to the Great Ape House.

Soon, Mandara will be transporting the baby on her back.

The baby's name will be determined in the coming weeks.

Photo Credit: Mehgan Murphy, Smithsonian's National Zoo

Related blog entry:

Endangered Gorilla Born at Smithsonian's National Zoo

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A western lowland gorilla was born at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., yesterday.

"The gorilla birth is significant for the National Zoo," the zoo said in a statement.

"Western lowland gorillas, which are native to tropical forests of West and Central Africa, are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Red List of Threatened Species, primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation and poaching."

The baby was born to 26-year-old female Mandara and 16-year-old Baraka. The newborn is the seventh successful gorilla birth for the zoo since 1991.

"This is the sixth offspring for Mandara," the zoo added. "The newborn joins siblings Kigali, Kwame and Kojo, as well as group member Haloko at the Great Ape House. All of the Zoo's gorillas will remain on exhibit."

The baby's sex has not yet been determined.

Photo Credit: Pepper Watkins/courtesy Smithsonian's National Zoo

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"Mandara is a very experienced and competent mother, and we're confident that she will properly care for and bond with her baby," said Don Moore, associate director for animal care.

The zoo's gorilla breeding program participates in the Species Survival Plan, in which North American zoos collaborate to encourage the development of a self-sustaining zoo gorilla population, helping to ensure the survival of this endangered species. Each SSP manages the breeding of a species in order to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining population that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable.

Mandara, the mother of the new gorilla, was born at the Lincoln Park Zoo in April 1982. She came to the National Zoo in October 1985. Baraka was born at the National Zoo in 1992 to Haloko and Gus.

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Smithsonian's National Zoo gorilla, Mandara, nurses her newborn baby on January 12, 2009. National Zoo staff report that both mom and baby are doing well. "The baby's sex is still unknown since Mandara has not held the baby up to the window long enough for staff to make a determination," the zoo said in a statement.

 Photo credit: Mehgan Murphy, Smithsonian's National Zoo   

 

Year of the Gorilla 2009

Posted on January 1, 2009 | 0 Comments

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Photo by Michael Nichols/NGS

The United Nations and an international coalition of zoos have declared 2009 the Year of the Gorilla.

Announced last month, Year of the Gorilla (YoG) aims to unite the needs of both the largest living primate and the people who live in gorilla range states.

YoG "aims to boost conservation of humankind's closest relatives and their habitats by boosting the livelihoods and incomes of local people," according to a news release issued by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

gorilla-year-2.jpgPhoto by Michael Nichols/NGS

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Click here or the button above to go through to the official Web site of Gorilla.CD

The plea went out to the world via email and Facebook yesterday:

Heavy fighting in DR Congo's Gorilla Park started at 0400 today local time between the rebels of Laurent Nkunda and the army. It has now totally engulfed our Headquarters of Virunga National Park and the Gorilla Sector and our Rangers have been forced to flee into the forests. The rebels now are the only occupants of the Park Headquarters at Rumangabo. We have lost the entire gorilla sector.

This is a serious time. We need to get our 53 Rangers back to safety in Goma, 45km south of Rumangabo. The main road is blocked because of the fighting so they are walking through the forests of the park south, to Kibumba, about 20km away, where we aim to pick them up in trucks. We are trying to maintain phone contact but they don't have much battery life in their phones.

There is something you can do right now that would help us enormously:

If you have about 3 minutes spare today, please send this cause to all of your friends, and ask them as vigorously as you can to join the cause.

The rebels are aware that we have public support all over the world. We need to build it up into an army of supporters and increase the pressure on the warring parties to allow us to continue our work in protecting the mountain and the rest of Virunga National Park. The knowledge that you are part of this cause is also a boost for the morale of the rangers.

We'd be extremely grateful.

Emmanuel de Merode
Director, Virunga National Park

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One of the hottest fronts in the fight for conservation has got to be Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, home to one of the last remaining populations of mountain gorillas.

"Intense negotiations" led by the new director of the park, Emmanuel de Merode, has apparently resulted in the withdrawal of more than a thousand Congo Army troops from the park, it was announced today.

"Demilitarizing Virunga National Park remains our greatest and most difficult challenge. The Congolese National Army has taken the first step, which represents a major breakthrough at a time when the threats to the park have never been greater," de Merode said in a press statement.

Photo Paul Zahl/NGS

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