Marco Campos Ms. Hogan Topics in Literature March 23, 2012 The Importance of Gorilla Conservation
It is no secret that the world is changing. Humanity is the main reason why our environment is being altered. Humanity is polluting, destroying our environment, and destroying flora and fauna (plants and animals). Because of humans, many animal species have become extinct or are in danger of becoming extinct. There are other people that believe in the importance of conservation of species dedicating their time and hard work to conserve animals. Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey both did extensive research for many years on chimpanzees and gorillas respectively. These two researchers believed that their work was critical to increase the population size, and to understand the animals. The decrease in ape populations is due to others drive to farm new land, for money & trade, or other reasons. The decreasing population of gorillas is mostly due to poaching, destruction of natural habitat, and pollution. Poaching is illegally hunting or catching of (game or fish) on land that is not one’s own or is under official protection. Poaching is one of the main reasons why gorilla populations are low. Dian Fossey worked for most of her life with gorillas in their natural environment. She observed how poaching had a significant effect on the gorilla populations, and documenting her research and her life with gorillas in her famous book Gorillas in the Mist. Dian Fossey was against poaching and said” Poachers account for two thirds of gorilla deaths” (Fossey, 1983). Dian Fossey lived for several years with Mountain gorillas. She lived with families of Mountain gorillas, bonding and interacting with them. Dian Fossey became fond of one gorilla specifically, a silverback she named Digit. Poachers murdered Digit by cutting his head off, which saddened Dian Fossey. She said “Digit did not live to see his only sired infant. On New Year’s Eve day in 1977 he was slain by poachers. Digit gave his life so his family group might survive for the perpetuation of his kind” (Fossey, 1983). This evidence is significant because it is alarming that poaching is the reason behind the death of two thirds of gorilla deaths (Fossey, 1983). Without Dian Fossey’s research, little would have been known about gorillas and their population size. These pieces of evidence are also important because they alarm and create awareness to act upon this issue and intervene to stop poachers. Not only are gorillas animals, but also living things that feel pain and have families of their own just like Digit did. Poaching is not the only threat to gorillas; another threat is the loss of their natural environment. The destruction of habitat also decreases the numbers of gorillas that live in the wild. If their natural habitat is being destroyed, they will have nowhere to live. “Over the past three decades, research projects have generated a wealth of information on the gorilla’s demography, behavioral ecology, and habitat” (Robbins qtd. in Kalpers, Williamson, Robbins, McNeilage, Nzamurambaho, Lola, and Mugiri). The studies done show how gorillas are being disturbed and have to move out of their natural habitat. “Small isolated populations of large, slow-reproducing species can be highly susceptible to disturbance” (Kalpers et. al.). This evidence connects because gorillas are large organisms that have a slow reproduction rate and the Mountain gorilla specifically is a very isolated species. The chances of surviving for the Mountain gorillas will are decreasing more due to the disturbance in their natural habitat that isolates them from other species. It will take years and years for those injured or dead gorillas to be replaced within that certain population to which they belonged to. It is also shocking that in over three decades tests were being done, and all showing the same alarming results of a decrease in gorillas’ demography”(Kalpers et. al.). This is a large threat to gorilla populations. There is another threat that not only affects gorillas, but entirely every organism due to its power. This is a power that is only fueled by humans and their mistreatment of natural resources leading to a larger problem. The issue of pollution and global warming is a problem that continues to threaten gorillas and many other organisms.”Many analyses have demonstrated that global warming will affect species distribution patterns as well as biodiversity in general” (Parmesan & Yohe qtd. in Lehmann, Korstjens, and Dunbar). This suggests that global warming will affect not only gorillas, but whole ecosystems filled with biodiversity as well. This applies to the issue of continent and environment were gorillas live, in the way that gorillas and other organisms in Africa are more susceptible to a decrease in population. For example, “Africa has been identified as being the most vulnerable of all continents to the effects of climate change, and numerous cases have been reported where species or populations have altered their ranges or even life-history variables in response to changes in climatic conditions” (Lovett, e.g. Pounds: Parmesan & Yohe qtd. in Lehman et. al.). This illustrates how global warming and climate change will affect gorillas and any other African organism even more because the African continent is the most vulnerable of all seven continents. This causes a change in the population numbers of certain species with cases already being reported. Global warming is affecting gorillas but it will also affect other apes as well. The decrease of primate populations will disrupt in the African ecosystem. There are other reasons as to why gorilla populations are decreasing. Some of those reasons are biological reasons, gorillas caught in the middle of human wars, and for bush meat. Gorilla populations are in danger and the most endangered is the Mountain gorillas, which are found in Central Africa, in South-West Uganda, North-West Rwanda, and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This specific is most in danger because since they live in mountainous areas they are isolated which may be a problem when trying to help the species or just to determine the population size of the gorillas. Human diseases can also be contagious for gorillas since they are very much alike biologically. “Humans and gorillas share approximately 98 percent of their DNA. This close genetic relatedness has led to concerns that gorillas may be susceptible to many of the infectious diseases that affect people” (Palacios, 2011). This evidence is critical because humanity’s deadly diseases are affecting Mountain gorillas as well which is lowering their already low population numbers. This adds on to the geographic location of the gorillas and their isolation as well. Gorillas are also getting caught in the middle between wars fought in between humans. This issue is unfair because these are wars not being fought by innocent populations of gorillas or any animal in general. “The fragile Mountain gorilla population can’t afford any more human-caused deaths” (Gulick 1996). This quote demonstrates how low populations of Mountain gorillas are decreasing even more due to conflicts between humanity. Gorilla populations have also decreased due to bush meat. The ter bushmeat is used for meat of terrestrial wild animals. “There is a night market which comes alive as dark begins to fall and bush meat is sold. There is also the morning market, which around 9:30 h is bustling with bushmeat being chopped up, sold, and replaced as soon as it is finished by boys carting in wheelbarrows of carcasses” (unknown, 2009). This evidence is critical because it shows how some places have two markets, one by day and the other by night, in which gorilla and other wildlife bushmeat is sold. Some of the cultures in Africa might believe that gorilla meat might also provide healing powers as well. All of this evidence demonstrates that there are many other reasons that gorilla populations are decreasing, but the main reasons to gorilla numbers decreasing are for poaching, destruction of natural habitat, and pollution. The issue of gorilla conservancy is a very important issue. This issue matters to the rest of the world because humanity is the main cause for the extinction or endangerment of several species. This issue is significant because several animals have gone extinct due to humans who hunted them out and wiped them off of the face of the planet. Some examples of animals that have gone extinct due to human hands are: Thylacine, Quagga, Passenger pigeon, Javan tiger, and many more. These animals would have still been alive today if it wasn’t for humans who poached them down to their extinction. The humans that do care about this issue have to stop or do something that is going to help gorilla population’s increase and help them get out of the terrible, brink of extinction list. Any animal that went extinct was important to their ecosystem, and when they died off they might have disrupted the ecosystem in which they lived in one way or another. The gorilla, any species of gorilla, is a giant gentle animal that is not dangerous towards humans. The gorilla might feel the need to attack a human in the case that they feel threatened or their families feel threatened. It is incredible to know that humans are hunting down gorillas if they do not even pose a threat to humans since they are isolated in their geographic locations. Any animal does not deserve to be in danger of becoming extinct or had deserved to have gone extinct. In conclusion, humans have to worry about the decrease in gorilla populations because these animals are in danger of becoming extinct. This paper is to show how humanity cooperates with the largest effect on the decrease in basically any animal in danger of becoming extinct, whether it is on purpose, accident, or ignorance. This issue matters because some animals have already gone extinct due to human needs and sinister drive for money. I myself am very passionate about this issue because not only are gorillas my favorite animal, but they are animals that cannot defend themselves against the injustices being done to them, but we can. I plan to do my part and take action on this issue by becoming a zoologist and a primatologist in the future and continue the work of Dian Fossey, who is my role model. I plan to carry on her mission, to learn more about, protect, and interact with gorillas in the wild, because that is where they should be, in their natural habitat. Some are always trying to fight for “social justice” for other human beings, but why don’t humans fight for the “social justice” of animals. The media and and people make a big deal when a person gets murdered, but where is the attention when these animals are being murdered as well. This issue is also very important because it is time to take action and fight for the “social justice” of any animal that is being murdered, in danger of becoming extinct, before it is too late and they do go extinct just like the Javan tiger or any other animal that has already gone extinct. Pollution, the reduction of natural habitat, and poaching are reasons for the struggle and ongoing fight of gorillas to survive.
Reference page Amy Gulick.(1996)Caught in the Crossfire: the Legendary Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda are in Danger of Being Lost in the Mists, The Environmental Magazine
Dian Fossey.(1983) Gorillas in the Mist, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts
Gustavo Palacios, Linda J. Lowenstein, Michael R. Cranfield, Kirsten V.K.Gilardi, Lucy Spelman, Magda Lukasik-Braum, Jean Felix Kinani, Antoine Mudakikwa, Elisabeth Nyirakaragire, Ana Valeria Bussetti, Nazir Savji, Stephen Hutchinson, Michael Egholm, and W. Ian Lipkin (2011) Human Metapneuvirus Infection in Wild Mountain Gorillas, Rwanda, Vol. 17, Number 4
Jose Kalpers, Elizabeth A. Williamson, Martha M. Robbins, Alastair McNeilage, Augustin Nzamurambaho, Ndakasi Lola, and Ghad Muhiri.(2003) Gorillas in the Crossfire: Population Dynamics of the Virunga Mountain Gorillas Over the Past Three Decades. Cambridge Journals,37, 326-327.
Julia Lehman, Amanda H. Korstjens, and Robin I.M. Dunbar(2010) Apes in a Changing World-the Effects of Global Warming on the Behavior and Distribution of African Apes: Journal of Biogeography, 37, 2218.
This is a picture of Diane Fossey, she is an inspiration for me because like her, I want to become a primatoligist and live with the Mountain gorilla.