Endangered Species-Gorilla

Endangered Species- Mountain Gorilla

2006

The mountain gorilla was first discovered by German Captain Robert von Beringe and his African soldiers in 1902 roaming the Virunga Volcanoes in Rwanda . The gorilla was identified as a new class and named after its founder : Gorilla beringei (von Beringe , 200 . From 1960 and about two decades after , American zoologists studied Gorilla beringei . Dian Fossey , in particular , devoted her life to extensively studying and protecting mountain gorillas . Fossey even decided to live in Rwanda where she founded the Karisoke Research Center in 1967and which she

br directed for thirteen years , being closeto the animals and studying them extensively (Robbins et al , 2001 . In 1983 , she wrote a book , Gorillas in the Mist , to promote public awareness of the troubles mountain gorillas face . Her memoir was later made into a movie . Her relationship with mountain gorillas and concern for their safety was unmatched . She created an organization to save gorillas in 1978 called the Digit Fund named after a mountain gorilla Fossey was close to (Robbins et al 2001 . After her mysterious death in 1985 , the organization switched its name to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International . Fossey contributed to much understanding of mountain gorillas

Dian Fossey was so driven to protect mountain gorillas because they are an endangered species . Several threats have kept their population from thriving . One threat is disease , especially those which humans are equally as vulnerable to (Ferber , 2000 . Tourists enjoy visiting the mountains of Rwanda to admire the gorillas and encourage their safety however , humans help put mountain gorillas at risk . In 1999 , a team of researchers with the Journal of Parasitology noted roundworm parasites in the feces of mountain gorillas (Ferber , 2000 . These parasites normally have affected only humans through contaminated water . Early , in 1988 , blood and tissue samples of several mountain gorillas indicated measles infection (Ferber , 2000 . As soon as this was discovered , other healthy gorillas were given a vaccination to prevent further outbreak of the infection (Ferber , 2000 . Until gorillas have built up immunities against diseases they contract from humans , disease is a large threat that could wipe out an entire population

Another important threat to mountain gorillas is habitat loss Currently , there are two patches of protected afromontane forest cleared between the bs of Rwanda , Uganda , and the Democratic Republic of Congo with a freely (Rutagarama , 2001 . The land in the confined area , though , will be pressured to provide agriculture for the plant-eating apes (Rutagarama , 2001 . Limited natural resources leave the people living around the areas in competition with the gorilla population . Another problem with the confined area is that it has been fighting grounds for Rwandan forces in war , leaving undiscovered landmines , human faces hazardous material , and weaponry to pose as threats (Rutagarama , 2001 The protected forest area , however , has been insecure for the safety of mountain gorillas during civil unrest in Africa

After mountain gorillas were first discovered , over fifty were killed in the first two decades (Robbins et al , 2001 . A mountain gorilla can...