The Houston Zoo supports wildlife and habitat conservation through our Conservation Department. Our partners at Association of Zoo and Aquariums institutions (www.aza.org) spend upwards of $15 million combined every year on projects around the world. Many include the Great Apes. Our funds support the range country researchers and educators who live day to day in Rwanda, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Zaire, and Uganda. You can pick out the countries on the map. Specifically, this year we are supporting Gorillas and Chimpanzee efforts in the Republic of Congo and Orangutans in Borneo.
On August 3rd we showed these gorilla populations:
-Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) contains between 125,000 and 200,000 individuals remaining in the wild
-Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) only 250-300 individuals remain
-Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla beringei) may be as low as 5,000 individuals, down from 17,000 in 1995.
-Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) 700-740 individuals remaining
Look at the bottom three populations. Genetic viability and reproduction is at risk with numbers this low. The Orangutan on Borneo and Sumatra are at critically low numbers as well but why should they race to become the first subspecies of great ape to go extinct in our lifetimes?
What can North Americans do? We are not in Africa; we cannot change the behavior of a country and its people. Yes, we can.
- Pay attention to news from the region and put pressure on corporations working in the Central African countries to support protection of wildlife and habitat.
- Support zoos, aquariums and other non-profits dedicating conservation resources to these areas.
- Remember the blog on Coltan, mining and cell phones. It is for real, and your use of this resource makes a bigger impression than you think. There are more than 150 million cell phone users in the United States alone. With technology changing, the average lifespan of a cell phone is 14 months. There may already be 500 million unused cell phones in the United States, with as many as 100 million added each year. Capturing the components from these phones will make a difference.
- Learn. Whether a library, a cable documentary or lecture event, the appreciation of wildlife will inspire you http://www.houstonzoo.org/lectureseries/
- Travel. Experiencing nature inspires us to protect it. Cannot travel abroad? Here at home there are many wonderful places to visit and species that could use your support. It is much easier (and less costly) to keep a common species common than bring it back from the brink of extinction.
We wrote a few months ago that Africa has a mystique. It is awe-inspiring, a living place yet dark and formidable. We can never know Africa. It is full of cultures and heritage, wildlife and wild places. But, Deepest Darkest Africa is in danger. There is a Congolese proverb which says you do not teach the paths of the forest to an old gorilla. But what if those paths are gone forever? How will the gorilla find its way? And worse, what if the old gorillas have gone away, lost to humans? Who will show the young the paths of the forest?
200 years ago, Thomas Jefferson wrote for if one link in nature’s chain might be lost, another might be lost, until the whole of things will vanish by piecemeal. If we have the opportunity to protect and hold dear this chain; wildlife, habitat and human communities, then we must take that opportunity and act while the old gorilla can still teach the young, his forest path.
I hope something can be done to keep these gorillas from becoming extinct. They are truely amazing animals. I didnt know how amazing until you did this daily blog. I have really enjoyed learning more and more about them over the past couple of weeks. I cant wait to get back to the Zoo to see some of them!! Thanks again for this amazing blog
Thank you for such an important and insighful series. I lvoe the Thomas Jefferson quote.
Gorilla’s are beautiful animals. I couldn’t imagine them being extinct. That will be a sad day for many generations to come. We can only hope that the hard work of those trying to bring awareness will be noticed. Thanks for all that is being done.
It amazes me how few gorillas remain in the world. Thanks for all the information you’ve shared this week. If only everyone were as interested in saving these creatures as zoos are!
Thank you for sharing onformation how we can in our day to day life help teh gorillas (cellphones fo example) It is something we can do. And yes we can put economic pressure on those that are contributing to the destrucion of these animals. Thomas Jefferson is correct. All iving species are interdependent. If the gorilla are no more, then what happens to that habitat? It will certainly not be balanced. How will that effect other species? Thank you for sharing teh gorilla’s plight with us.
Thank you Peter for doing this blog. I have learned so much. Even though I already enjoy going to the zoo, it gives me more joy to see that my visit helps with the conservation efforts. And I will most certainly be collecting all my old cell phones and recycling them. My only hope is that this blog gives people that extra push to be passionate about conservation.
Thanks so much for all the blogs about gorillas. It is very informative. We can only wish that these beautiful creatures do not become extinct. Everyone should put forth the effort to help them by recycling and educating people so that the gorilla does not vanish forever.
I hope something can be done to keep these gorillas from becoming extinct. They are truely amazing animals.I have learned so much. Even though I already enjoy going to the zoo, it gives me more joy to see that my visit helps with the conservation efforts.
I hope the tragic day never happens where my son (or his children) has/have to ask, “what is a gorilla”? Technology can be a blessing or a curse depending on how it is used. A curse if it is a means for status (i.e. having the latest and greatest gadget and tossing out the old one). Or a blessing: Using social network sites such as Facebook and/or Twitter to spread the word to “recycle” (may it be a cellphone or other electronic “waste”). This could be a useful way to entice friends/family to donate to the cause. Perhaps if we all could learn one thing from your blog – be the change, don’t wait for the change to happen – make it happen yourself. I will be submitting a request to my friends and family to gather their electronic waste for me to gather and recycle for them. May peace and harmony shield and protect these wonderful animals.