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Campfire Capers: There's a Bear in Your Truck
The site we called Stough's Point was part of a larger "camping"
area which was actually a state park. During the times we camped
there, the park had not yet been developed into the fairly
typical layout of rows of pull-ins with hook ups and...
Camping and Trekking in the National Parks-Your Heritage
National parks and reserves, although blessed with all the
beauty and exciting locations for great memorable adventures,
can be very rugged places as well ,with no consideration for man
kind.Conditions may change from good to bad in a short time...
Cormorant Bird Overabundance in Wisconsin
Article intro: In the 1970’s, the Cormorant was nearly wiped out from existence when its habitat was loaded with toxic chemicals. With very little control with the use of toxic chemicals in that decade. The wildlife environment was being...
Fishing Adventures in Canada
If you would like to experience real adventure in fishing, then
Canada is the perfect location for you. Canada has a wide area
of rivers, ponds, freshwater lakes, saltwater and streams.
Freshwater and saltwater fishing are the favorite...
Saving the Endangered New Zealand Brown Teal - What's happening out in the field
Mimiwhangata, Northland from Emma Neill
* As at 07-Nov-05, 31 birds (14 ad F; 7 ad M; 6 juv F; 2 juv M;
2 unk sex juv) are fitted with transmitters. * Juveniles: 10
juveniles of the 2005 season have been radio-tagged so far, with
more...
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Gorilla Conservation
Gorilla Conservation
Like all the other great apes, gorillas are endangered. Some
subspecies are in fact listed as critically endangered, and
unless a concerted worldwide effort is made, this magnificent
species will unfortunately go the way of the dodo. The reason
why this has to be a worldwide effort may not be immediately
obvious, so let's first identify the current and most pervasive
threats to the gorilla. BUSHMEAT TRADE -- Although wild animal
meat has long been part of the staple diet of indigenous forest
dwellers, the rate at which these animals are being slaughtered
has reached alarming new levels. This increase is most likely a
direct consequence of deforestation. As things stand today the
bushmeat trade is the single greatest threat to the survival of
the gorilla. VANISHING HABITAT -- As mankind's seemingly
insatiable appetite for land (slotted for commercial use)
continues unabated, in its wake lie the ruins of large tracts of
forest and other habitats once home to many an endangered
species. As mentioned earlier, the upward spiral in the bushmeat
trade is a direct result of deforestation which in some measure
is responsible for:
* increased access to previously inaccessible forest areas
* employees involved with deforestation killing the local
wildlife to cater for their needs * opportunistic commercial
hunters profit by killing previously inaccessible wildlife and
sell the meat to the logging/timber company employees * those
same hunters can more easily export bushmeat to urban areas
(which effectively translates into a bigger market) because of
the new roads and other infrastructures associated with
deforestation activity * an upsurge in hostile encounters
between people
and gorillas (crop raiding/damage to farm crops)
COLLATERAL DAMAGE -- The bushmeat trade is not restricted to
apes alone. As far as the hunter is concerned any animal caught
in his snare is fair game. Frequently gorillas run into snares
intended for other animals, and even if they escape, may end up
losing the ensnared limb and ultimately dying.
ANIMALS ILLEGALLY IN CAPTIVITY --Up until the 1980's gorilla
infants were often illegally captured and sold to recepient
zoos. Usually the capture of the infant meant the deaths of
several adult gorillas, because there was no way a troop of
gorillas was going to allow the forced removal of one of its own
without a fight. Happily though this situation rarely, if ever,
happens today. Most gorillas currently residing in zoos were
born there. In fact the majority of young animals captured
illegally could be considered as collateral damage to the
bushmeat trade...survivors to the slaughter of their parents.
SUMMARY
To summarize, the most immediate threats to the survivial of the
gorilla and other great apes are:
* The Bushmeat Trade * Deforestation and habitat loss
Saving the gorillas can only be successfully achieved through
the combination of grassroot and international efforts.
International commerce is the driving force behind
deforestation, which directly impacts the gorillas by destroying
their habitat and by facilitating the bushmeat trade.
Furthermore, the loss of forest land also affects the indigenous
people, and may drive persons who were otherwise not so
inclined, into hunting and the bushmeat trade to make ends meet.
About the author:
Ba Kiwanuka http://www.gorillahub.com
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