It’s a sad story of war and human domination and it’s our closest relatives, the chimps, bonobos, orangutans and gorillas that are in the way of humanities expansions and warfares. They gorilla, poor, poor gorilla’s, they are big time meals now. Bush meat. The Chinese also love them for medicinal mythos and they are hunted as practice by some peoples who share the forest with them and just for fun. Captured for sale and habitat destruction abound. But, and a late but, with populations getting to critical points. Which essentially are when an animal population is below 500. That’s right. Below 500 animals means genetic diversity and inbreeding start to be the only way to keep going. Below 500 is not a long term viable population for a species, most likely. The species could bounce back of course and we have a pact to try and help the species bounce back:
“Three countries in pact to save mountain gorillas”
The uk pub, The Guardian reports on the 3 nation pack with Rwanda, Uganda & Congo to agree to a 10 year plan. then back to old ways? Why only 10 years. Can they stop the poachers? Can the animals succeed to breed in a limited habit.
“About 340 of the mountain gorillas roam mostly in south-west Uganda, with a further 250 in Rwanda, and 130 in eastern Congo.” That’s it, there wild species in Africa is a out at critical point. I hope the 3 nations make the preservation of the native and wild cousins of ours a priority. Humanity benefits from the diversity of our fellow citizens of Earth. When they are gone, we loss a piece of wonder.
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Tags: eco, animals, primates, gorillas, apes, forrest, africa, preserve