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THE MOUNTAIN GORILLAS AND DIAN F.... Gorillas are one of the most feared animals in the world, while it is true that they are large, powerful creatures, they are also gentle and affectionate. Mountain gorillas are easygoing vegetarians who lead a peaceful, playful life. Large males patiently allow young gorillas to climb all over them without a murmur of protest, and they are not aggressive toward humans unless they are threatened. They are one of the most endangered animals in the world. There are about 600 individuals, living in 2 populations of about 300 each, separated by about 20 miles. Their entire world consists of 285 square miles of high-elevation rain forest in east-central Africa. They are endangered from habitat loss and war. Today, they face a new threat — the aftermath of a tragic civil war that erupted in Rwanda in the early 1990s, claiming the lives of 500,000 people, and creating refugee camps with 750,000 people living in destitution on the borders of the gorillas’ reserves. These refugees and poachers destroyed their habitats and set out snares to capture them. The gorillas were killed intentionally for their meat and parts; gorilla hands and heads were sold as souvenirs to tourists. The names of the two subspecies reflect their habitat: lowland gorillas live in the lowland forests, while mountain gorillas live at high elevations, 10,000 feet or higher on the slopes of volcanoes. Mountain gorillas are herbivores, eating plants like wild celery, thistle, and nettles. Special treats are bamboo and bracket fungus. Their food plants grow profusely in the cool, moist mountain climate of their range in Rwanda, Zaire/Congo, and Uganda. Gorillas live in family troops led by the largest male, called the Silverback because of the beautiful silver fur on his back. They are fiercely protective of their young and will defend them literally to the death. Poachers are after baby gorillas for international trade often had to kill entire families to capture their quarry. When Civil war broke out in Rwanda in the early 1990s, tens of thousands of soldiers and refugees passing through the gorilla’s habitat and forests on the Zaire side were being denuded for firewood in the refugee camps. If you kill a gorilla, you also disrupt their movement patterns and feeding sites, it can be can compared to killing a family member in a human family. With the rate of poaching and habitat loss, gorillas in the region may disappear from most of their present range in less than 10 to 15 years. Dian Fossey, born in San Francisco, California in 1932. was an American primatologist, anthropologist and zoologist, known throughout the world for her devotion, her successful work in Africa and her “active conservation” and anti-poaching initiatives efforts to protect the gorillas. Beginning in 1963, she and her staff regularly patrolled the forest and removed snares set to capture antelope and other animals. Although gorillas were not the poachers’ main targets, snares often trapped gorillas and they lost a hand or a foot to infection. Fossey’s efforts were too successful for her own personal safety, She used the time away to focus on the manuscript for her book, Gorillas in the Mist. and like the movie of the same name, remains popular to this day. Dian Fossey made the ultimate sacrifice 20 years after her work began: she was murdered in 1985, before her 54th birthday, presumably by poachers. On a December 27th 1985 fatidic day, Dian's body was discovered murdered in the bedroom of her cabin in Virunga Mountains. Her skull had been split by a machete, a tool widely used by poachers, Fossey was found beside her bed, with her handgun beside her and her own hair pulled out in the hand. She was in the act of loading her weapon, but had picked the wrong type of ammunition during the struggle, of which the signs were broken glass and tables with other furniture overturned. Fossey is buried at Karisoke, at a site that she herself had constructed for her deceased gorilla friends. She was buried in the gorilla graveyard next to Digit, and -near many gorillas killed by poachers. Fossey's will stated that all her money (including proceeds from the film Gorillas in the Mist) should go to the Digit Fund to finance anti poaching patrols and to protect and save the Mountain Gorillas and the Lowland Gorillas as well. Dian Fossey was without any doubt one of the best gorilla defender worldwide who died doing what she loved, protecting the mountain gorillas from extinction. She will always be missed by all her followers and the whole gorilla community. Dian's last entry in her diary read: " When you realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future." "There was no way that I could explain to dogs, friends, or parents my compelling need to return to Africa to launch a long-term study and the protection of the gorillas. Some may call it destiny and others may call it dismaying. I call the sudden turn of events in my life fortuitous." – Gorillas in the Mist I hope my above story has given you an insight of those gorillas and the famous Dian Fossey.. I wish you a happy reading. Lisa.              |
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I really have pity for the these Gorillas, I hope the Conservative Society would take care of them.
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Very interesting read and great pictures. Thanks! Alfie...
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Thank you so much MLD for reminding me about the movie "Gorillas in the Mist" and everything related to it. Have a wonderful week.
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Alfie hi, Thank you so much for your visit, your read and your comments on my above blog. I am so pleased for your appreciation Alfie. Hope reading from you always. My kind wishes to you and Abelle. Have a nice day. Sorry for responding late to your comments, I wasn't feeling well. Lisa.
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Adolpho hi, It's great reading from you on my blog, Adolpho. Your visit and nice comments are well appreciated. You are quite right about the film as I have mentioned it as well. Please kindly extend my greetings to Betty. Thank you again, I wish both of a you, a very happy day. Lisa.
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JKH hi, Thank you for passing by, leaving your reply to Adolpho. However, I hope he has read your post on here. Have a good day and thanks again. Lisa
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Mamannie my dear friend, hi It's always a great pleasure reading from you on my blogs. Thank you so much for your appreciation as well as for your kind visit and your nice comments. I am happy that it has pleased. Hoping to read from you again. My best wishes to you Mamannie. Enjoy your day. Lisa. 
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My dear Sabina, hi, Your kind words are my great appreciation. It's my great pleasure reading from you on each of my blog. You nice comments are a delight for me to read. Thank you again my dear friend. Have a pleasant day. Lisa,
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Dear Earthtaurus, my great friend, hi, Sorry for the delay in responding to the comments on my above blog, including yours. I felt somewhat unwell and couldn't respond earlier. Thank you for your kind visit and for the info mentioned above. Your appreciation of my blog is well noted ET. Hope reading from you again as usual. Have a wonderful day. Lisa.
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Looklook, MBH, hello, It's my pleasure reading from you again on my blog, am glad for your appreciation, for your visit as well as for your nice comments. Sorry as I've mentioned above, for the delay of my response, due to my feeling unwell these recent days. I hope you have had a joyful feast today with your family, relatives and friends. Thank you greatly MBH. I wish you all my best. Lisa.
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AAnirban hello, I am surprised for your visit and nice comments, you have kindly left on my above blog. It's the first time I ever read from you on here. You are however, welcome and thank you so much for your visit and your appreciation of my blog. I wish you a pleasant time on SFF site and hope you'll enjoy it. Thank you again AAnirban, hope reading from you again in the future. Wishing you all my best. Lisa.
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