| By the end of the 1980's the world population | | | | infrastructures associated with deforestation |
| of mountain gorillas was on the verge of | | | | activity |
| extinction. In 2004 a census report (the | | | | |
| first since 1989) revealed that in the | | | | * an upsurge in hostile encounters between |
| virunga-mountain region the gorilla | | | | people and gorillas (crop raiding/damage to |
| population had increased by 17%. | | | | farm crops) |
| | | | |
| Though this has to count as one of the great | | | | COLLATERAL DAMAGE -- The bushmeat trade is |
| conservation success stories like almost all | | | | not restricted to apes alone. As far as the |
| the other great apes, gorillas are still | | | | hunter is concerned any animal caught in his |
| endangered. Some subspecies are in fact | | | | snare is fair game. Frequently gorillas run |
| listed as critically endangered, and unless a | | | | into snares intended for other animals, and |
| concerted worldwide effort is made, this | | | | even if they escape, may end up losing the |
| magnificent species will unfortunately go the | | | | ensnared limb and ultimately dying. |
| way of the Dodo. | | | | |
| | | | ANIMALS ILLEGALLY IN CAPTIVITY--Up until the |
| The reason why this has to be a worldwide | | | | 1980's gorilla infants were often illegally |
| effort may not be immediately obvious, so | | | | captured and sold to recepient zoos. Usually |
| let's first identify the current and most | | | | the capture of the infant meant the deaths of |
| pervasive threats to the gorilla. | | | | several adult gorillas, because there was no |
| | | | way a troop of gorillas was going to allow |
| BUSHMEAT TRADE -- Although wild animal meat | | | | the forced removal of one of its own without |
| has long been part of the staple diet of | | | | a fight. |
| indigenous forest dwellers, the rate at which | | | | |
| these animals are being slaughtered has | | | | Happily though this situation rarely, if |
| reached alarming new levels. This increase is | | | | ever, happens today. Most gorillas currently |
| most likely a direct consequence of | | | | residing in zoos were born there. In fact the |
| deforestation. As things stand today the | | | | majority of young animals captured illegally |
| bushmeat trade is the single greatest threat | | | | could be considered as collateral damage to |
| to the survival of the gorilla. | | | | the bushmeat trade...survivors to the |
| | | | slaughter of their parents. |
| VANISHING HABITAT -- As mankind's seemingly | | | | |
| insatiable appetite for land (slotted for | | | | SUMMARY |
| commercial use) continues unabated, in its | | | | |
| wake lie the ruins of large tracts of forest | | | | To summarize, the most immediate threats to |
| and other habitats once home to many an | | | | the survivial of the gorilla and other great |
| endangered species. As mentioned earlier, the | | | | apes are: |
| upward spiral in the bushmeat trade is a | | | | |
| direct result of deforestation which in some | | | | * The Bushmeat Trade |
| measure is responsible for: | | | | |
| | | | * Deforestation and habitat loss |
| * increased access to previously inaccessible | | | | |
| forest areas | | | | Saving the gorillas can only be successfully |
| | | | achieved through the combination of grassroot |
| * employees involved with deforestation | | | | and international efforts. International |
| killing the local wildlife to cater for their | | | | commerce is the driving force behind |
| needs | | | | deforestation, which directly impacts the |
| | | | gorillas by destroying their habitat and by |
| * opportunistic commercial hunters profit by | | | | facilitating the bushmeat trade. |
| killing previously inaccessible wildlife and | | | | |
| sell the meat to the logging/timber company | | | | Furthermore, the loss of forest land also |
| employees * those same hunters can more | | | | affects the indigenous people, and may drive |
| easily export bushmeat to urban areas (which | | | | persons who were otherwise not so inclined, |
| effectively translates into a bigger market) | | | | into hunting and the bushmeat trade to make |
| because of the new roads and other | | | | ends meet. |