Are Gorillas Doomed? Is the UN making a huge mistake?
“Unless drastic action is taken, more than 80 per cent of western lowland gorillas will have gone in just three gorilla generations.” - Fiona Maisels, surveyor for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
Gorillas are already protected by law in all 10 countries they habituate. That has not stopped poachers and bushmeat hunters. Hunting remains a big business on the black market, with the selling of gorilla heads as trophies and gorilla hands as ashtrays, and bushmeat is sold openly even in major towns. However, with local governments in disarray there is little anyone can do about enforcing the gorilla protection. Many argue that the time for diplomacy is over. It is time to take action.
“Half the funds for gorilla conservation should be immediately redirected towards massive law enforcement campaigns.” - Peter Walsh
Conclusion
As someone who has studied gorillas up close, my heart is broken by these hard times. When you look into a gorillas eyes you see a gentleness that washes over you. They are relatively peaceful species especially compared to their cousins, chimpanzees, bonobos, and especially humans. These are not the brutes or beasts that have been portrayed in the movies. We have heard the story of the little boy falling into a gorilla pen, only to be picked up and consoled by a waiting gorilla.
I think back to Dian Fosse who was sent to study gorillas after the success of Jane Goodall with chimps. Dian Fosse crusaded for gorillas, thwarting poachers whenever she could. Outspoken and an activist, Fosse brought on the wrath of poachers. When poachers decapitated and left the body of her favorite gorilla in her study group, Digit (for a price of $20), it caused her to redouble her efforts, creating The Digit Fund for anti-poaching. Dian Fosse was brutally murdered by machete, a conspiracy perpetrated by either poachers who wanted her out of the way, or those who wanted to exploit gorillas as tourist attractions. Fosse was buried next to Digit. Her friend.
When I think back to Fosse, it angers me that sacrifices she made for these intelligent creatures could all be in vain.
Is it too late? Is the UN making a huge mistake? I applaud the UN for taking action. In declaring 2009 “The Year of the Gorilla.” But, it scares me that many gorilla experts believe that it is too late for the UN’s plan of action. What can we do?
What can you do?
- Recycle your old cell phones - Reduce the demand for coltan. Eco-Cell has run a cash-for-phones scheme since 2003 and now has drop bins at more than 100 zoos in both the US and Canada. Eco-Cell also accepts all digital handhelds including Game Boys.
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Check for the FSC logo on timber products - FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council. They insure lumber is not taken from remote forests, creating roads for commercial hunters.
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Write to your Member of Congress and raise three issues - Ask them for more funding to fight Ebola, to stop imports of non-certified wood into Europe and the US, and to push for the EU and USAID to do more to address the problem of bushmeat hunting.
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Donate money, but check where it’s going - check out www.wildlifedirect.org. It is a good place to start.
The UN’s plan may or may not work, time will tell, but it is up to all of us to take action now. We can not watch idly by as one of our family members is destroyed. Gorillas are part of our primate family, and we should start treating them as such.
-Sources: Pain, Stephanie “Last Chance to Save the Gorilla” New Scientist #2718. July, 2009.
-Photo Credit: Title Picture: Twilight Earth; Insert Picture: mape_s on Flickr
I think this animals have a right to protected since they are few and should be preserved for the future generations to be observing and have a story to tell. It is unfare to treate this animals as they are being treated.World governing body should look into ways of saving this creatures.
I agree, it would be terrible if future generations grew up without wild gorillas.
They have come up with a plan. We are so on the brink of loosing gorillas, that it is just very unsure if this plan will work. It is a sad state of affairs.
This is a good article which brings up the harsh realities of gorilla conservation. There are other ways to help as well. I along with other artists and photographers have donated artwork to raise money for gorillas. All of the art work can be purchased from the year of the gorilla website and proceeds go directly to gorilla conservation.
Here is the link:
http://yog2009.org/index.php?view=article&catid=54%3Aprints&id=152%3Adavederrick&option=com_content&Itemid=69
David… Thanks for the link. I’ll check it out and try to write an article about it this week to raise awareness.
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