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Essay Subject: Discusses the mountain gorillas of Central Africa their history their status as an endangered ...... More...

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Paper Abstract: Discusses the mountain gorillas of Central Africa, their history, their status as an endangered species, and present and future prospects for survival. Paper Introduction: Endangered Species Mountain Gorillas of Central AfricaIntroduction Gorillas are among the most feared animals in the world thanks tofilms such as King Kong and Congo which have depicted these gentle andaffectionate primates as inherently hostile and aggressive towards man Bagheera Though it is true that gorillas in general and themountain gorilla in particular are large and powerful creatures they arealso well known for living in relatively harmonious groups in which evendominant silverback males are extremely tolerant of younger males andfemales This particular Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. It is for these reasons that the mountaingorilla is high on the international list of endangered species (Keesling,2 2). Questions about gorillas. Seasonality in the ecology and life histories of mountain gorillas. Gorilla facts and key issues. 44-51.Keesling, R. When male mountaingorillas reach maturity, the hair on their backs becomes a silver color,leading to their designation as "silverbacks." The maximum lifespan ofthis species of gorilla is difficult to estimate but it is believed thatmost healthy mountain gorillas live up to 25 or 3 years (Mountaingorillas, 2 7). Though most of the affected primates were lowland gorillas,the mountain gorilla population was also negatively affected. The MountainGorilla Conservation Fund (2 7) also maintains that if left undisturbed,the population of this species, which is so similar in composition to Homosapiens, would have the potential to increase at the same rate as humans.The combination of disease, poaching, human destruction of their habitat,and civil conflicts combine to produce a high infant mortality rate inwhich nearly 5 percent of all young mountain gorillas die before reachingmaturity. Available at www.wwf.org.uk. An additional concern that negatively impacts upon mountain gorillaswas identified by the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund (2 7). What affects them most is seasonalvariation in rainfall as well as variation in food abundance and dietarycomposition. In 1921,Carl Akeley, a curator at the American Museum of Natural History, convincedthe Belgian government which then ruled Congo to establish Africa's firstnational park to protect the mountain gorillas. Further, Keesling (2 2) calls for educating Rwandansto lower their birth rate in order to reduce population pressures on themountain gorillas. The Mountain Gorilla: Ecology and Behavior. It works directly with the governments ofRwanda and Congo among others in Central Africa to identify effectivestrategies for reducing poaching and deforestation. Because gorillas tend not to cross large bodies ofwater, they have historically been fixed in this region of the worldbecause of the proximity of the Nile River and Lake Victoria to the east oftheir natural habitat and the small size of the East African forest islandsthat remained after the last phase of the last glaciation in approximately25-18, B.P. Vanishing in the wild: Mountain gorillas. (2 7). (2 7). Another organization active in this context is the World WildlifeFederation (WWF) (2 7), which also finances conservation and researchactivities of a similar nature. Theyare also working to conduct research studies that will identify sustainableeconomic development programs that can simultaneously reduce habitatdestruction and enhance development in terms of agricultural activities forpeople living in one of the world's poorest regions. However, as the next section of this reportwill demonstrate, other manmade factors are more influential in shaping thepresent and future of this endangered species.Present Situation Where Schaller (1963) estimated that there were approximately 5, -15, mountain gorillas in the early 196 s, this estimate has beensignificantly downsized today. Fortunately for the mountain gorilla, these factors seem toplay a relatively limited role in shaping the health status and breedingpatterns of these primates. Available at www.cotf.edu/ete /modules/mgorilla/mgbiology.html.Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund. Man, 6(1), pp. David Watts (1998) has stated that mountain gorillas and other greatapes are not seasonal breeders. (2 7). (1998). Conversely, males do not reach maturity until theage of 1 , continuing to grow in height and weight. In late 2 2, an outbreak of Ebolahemorrhagic fever was reported in Congo, leading to a large scale die-offof Great Apes. According to Bagheera (2 7), a new era in gorilla conservation wasushered in the late 197 s when an international consortium of conservationorganizations established the Mountain Gorilla Project. Theworld's overall gorilla population is relatively small and is in decline,but the mountain gorillas are the rarest of all (Mountain gorillas, 2 7). Gorillas are the largest of the Great Apes andthe mountain gorilla is one of three species, including Western and Easternlowland gorillas. Available at www.saveagorilla.org/6 -Questions .htm.Schaller, G.B. Ananti-poaching, tourism, and educational effort is said to have had asignificant effect on local attitudes, but the 199 s ushered in an era ofcivil war in Rwanda that halted gorilla tourism and cut off the flow oftourist dollars. As a result of adeclining gene pool, mountain gorillas are faced with the common geneticproblems resulting from excessive inbreeding, leading in many cases tobirth defects that account for high infant mortality rates. ReferencesBagheera. Newborn mountain gorillas are small, covered with black hair andweigh about five pounds, requiring constant care until they are about theage of two when they are able to reach and chew on small branches andvines. Distribution and place of origin of the gorilla. Theypossess a deep, barrel chest with a broad sternum, small ears, expandednostrils, large size, and teeth, shortened extremities, including arms,legs, and penis, and heavy jaw musculature. Schaller (1963) stated that thesestrict herbivores tend to be concentrated in secondary forest regions andare rarely found in the trees because they are slow and cautious climbers. (1971). Keesling(2 2, p. These researchactivities, coupled with permanent monitoring and oversight stations in thegorillas' home ranges, also assists in reducing if not eliminating poachingand hunting activities. Schaller (1963) also reported that mountain gorillas present 22recognizable vocal sounds in communicating. However, beginningearly in the twentieth century, collectors and hunters from the UnitedStates and Europe began to capture and kill mountain gorillas, with somedestined for short lives in zoos and others as stuffed trophies. Though few gorillas were killed during the war, habitatdestruction and population shifts with ongoing civil unrest continue topose a problem. Saving the mountain gorillas. However, Watts (1998) asserts thatthermoregulatory stress in the high altitude habitat of mountain gorillasis often considerable and varies directly with rainfall, influencing theirsusceptibility to disease. Keesling (2 2) also reported that Rwanda has established a taskforce to pursue major projects intended to benefit the citizenry as well asthe mountain gorillas in the area close to the habitat in VolcanoesNational Park. This particular species is one of the most endangered in theworld due to such variables as shrinking habitats, poaching, and ongoingcivil war and ethnic violence in various regions of Africa (Bagheera,2 7). Forests in Congo are being stripped for firewood for therefugee camps that continue to exist. There isa possibility of genetic diversity because this species of gorillareproduces slowly with females reaching sexual maturity at age 1 andreproducing only once every four to eight years. The next section of this report will discuss programs andplans for the future protection and ultimate survival of the species.Programs and Plans for Future Survival One of the key actors in facilitating the survival of the mountaingorilla is the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund (MGCF) (2 7), which isworking directly with the Rwandan government to provide support for manysolutions designed to protect these primates and their habitat. The three gorilla subspecies are very similar andexhibit only minor differences in terms of size, build, and coloring. (1963). Whilethe Great Apes constitute only a small proportion of the total specieskilled for the bushmeat trade, they are easy targets for hunters and arefavored in some regions because of the weight of saleable meat.Additionally, the World Wildlife Federation (2 7) states that exposure tohuman diseases is negatively impacting upon all of the Great Apes andparticularly upon the various gorilla species. Though it is true that gorillas in general and themountain gorilla in particular are large and powerful creatures, they arealso well known for living in relatively harmonious groups in which evendominant silverback males are extremely tolerant of younger males andfemales. SinceSchaller's (1963) study, much has changed that has impacted negatively uponthe mountain gorilla. Rwanda, for example, has some 7.3 millionpeople living in an area the size of Vermont." The mountain gorillas are constantly threatened by natural changesand disasters, hunting and poaching, and the very real distress due to thechronic political instability that characterizes Central Africa. Theregion is extremely poor and with a high population growth rate, manyAfrican groups look at the mountain gorillas' habitat with envy and want toconvert the land to farming. International Journal of Primatology, 19(6), pp. 929-937.World Wildlife Federation. Invariably, of course, one must recognize that the ultimate of man'sclosest genetic relative depends upon man's willingness to undertakesacrifices that will have short-term costs set against long-term benefits.Making difficult choices between development projects benefiting poor humanbeings and conservation efforts targeting an endangered species is achallenge for any government and is particularly challenging in areas suchas Rwanda and Congo where civil unrest and large refugee populations are anongoing concern. Available at http://bagheera.com/inthewild/van_anim _gorilla.htm.Groves, C.P. About one-half of the remaining members of this species live in theVirunga Mountains, a chain of volcanoes located in Rwanda, Uganda, and theDemocratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). Endangered Species: Mountain Gorillas of Central AfricaIntroduction Gorillas are among the most feared animals in the world, thanks tofilms such as King Kong and Congo, which have depicted these gentle andaffectionate primates as inherently hostile and aggressive towards man(Bagheera, 2 7). They develop about twice as fast as human babies and are classed asjuveniles until they are about six years old. The gorilla, said Groves (1971), differs from the chimpanzee in wayswhich montane forms often differ from their lowland relatives. Though they have a relativelyloose social organization with most animals traveling in bands under theleadership of a dominant middle aged male, Schaller (1963) observed a largenumber of peripheral animals that moved in and out of social groups atwill. At present, Keesling (2 2) says that thereare somewhere between 25 and 6 mountain gorillas in the wild, living ina habitat that is being consistently invaded and degraded. 11) states that "these habitats are two small island of pristinerain forest surrounded by some of the most densely populated and heavilyfarmed lands in the world. Females mature about the age of six and ceaseto grow taller, ultimately reaching a weight ranging from 25 to 3 poundsby the age of 1 or 11. 3) has statedthat "the future of mountain gorillas depends on whether a stablegovernment can be restored and maintained in Rwanda and whether the countrycan house and feed its refugees without destroying the park." In addition,when one considers the fact that poor countries desperately in need ofimproving the human service infrastructure find it difficult to financenational parks and habitat protection, it is clear that outside assistancewill be needed if this endangered species is to survive. The association of gorillas of the montane forest is seenby Groves (1971) as literally "fixing" them in a relatively small habitat. (2 7). During this period, malesand females increase in size and weight at similar rates, reachingapproximately four feet in height and about 15 pounds by the age of six(Mountain gorillas, 2 7). By temperament, Schaller (1963) said that mountain gorillas andother species are relatively staid, placid, and self-contained. This essay will present a background and history of the mountaingorilla. 13 -137.Mountain gorillas. Ongoing losses of habitat to deforestation andagricultural activities further decimated mountain gorillas and efforts byscientists in the 196 s and 197 s to improve conditions for these primateswere initiated. Groves (1971, p. (2 2). Increased tourism, enhanced funding for park guides andguards, promotion of investment in ecotourism, assistance to the peoplesurrounding the national park, and establishing the volcanoes of Rwanda asa World Heritage site are key elements in this process. It will then describe the present situation of this species.Finally, the report will delineate ongoing programs and policies that aredesigned to prevent this valuable group of man's closest relatives frombecoming extinct.Background/History of the Mountain Gorilla The mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringel) is one of man'sclosest relatives among the primates, sharing about 99 percent of the humangenome (Keesling, 2 2). Colin Groves (1971) states that the gorilla is of montane origin andhas historically been concentrated in Central Africa in the Congo Basin andnearby mountains. With gorilla tourism one ofthe strategies used to educate the world about the species and to assist inpreventing their extinction, the contact between the mountain gorilla andother species and humans has increased. Schaller (1963), enjoyed a fairly extensive range in the regionof the Virunga Volcanoes and in the middle of the twentieth centurynumbered between 5, and 15, . Diane Fossey,perhaps the best known advocate on behalf of the mountain gorilla, made itclear in the 198 s that poaching, deforestation, climate change broughtabout agricultural production, and civil war were among the key factorsnegatively affecting the survival of Central Africa's mountain gorillas(Keesling, 2 2). Bagheera (2 7, p. It is very difficult to estimate the number ofgorillas that are poached and hunted because they are often butchered andeaten on the spot or their meat is smoked and later sold in towns. The World Wildlife Federation (2 7) has noted that the commercialtrade in bushmeat, which takes place throughout both West and CentralAfrica may be ultimately more of a threat to African primates than habitatloss and degradation. Bagheera (2 7), an organization involved in conservation effortsfocused on the Great Apes, reported that until the early twentieth century,the mountain gorillas were relatively safe from man. Theorganization makes it possible for individual donors to contribute to an"adopt a gorilla" or "save a gorilla" fund which is available online. 5 ) hascommented that "gorillas seem thus to have evolved in response to a montaneforest environment: one with abundant fodder at ground level, selecting fora large body size (of which sexual dimorphism may be a consequence) andheavy masticatory apparatus." Mountain gorillas as described by a major researcher in the field,George B. Keesling (2 2) has commented that ecotourism is one of the besthopes for saving mountain gorillas but the two greatest obstacles toachieving stability for them is ongoing population increases and poaching.The solution in this researcher's view involves education and alternativeemployment in jobs that do not destroy the mountain gorilla habitat, suchas low wage manufacturing jobs that could be relocated from other parts ofthe world to Africa. The remainder live about 25miles north in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve. As population density increases and forests aredestroyed, the bands of mountain gorillas are observed climbing to higherareas where the air is thinner and the rain is cooler, resulting inincreased risk of respiratory problems that may further decimate thealready reduced population of the species. World & I, 17(1 ), pp. This projectemphasized gorilla tourism and education of Rwandans about the inherentvalue of the gorillas in terms other than their use as a food source. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Watts, D.P. The gorillas remainedrelatively protected until 196 , when civil war broke out and parkprotection disappeared. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.