Huge boost for lowland gorillas
source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7544967.stm
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- unclepete
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A census of critically endangered western lowland gorillas has shown that populations are doing much better than anyone expected.
The census found 125,000 of the apes alive and well in two adjacent areas in the northern part of the Republic of Congo covering 47,000 sq km. A census in the 1980s estimated that about 100,000 remained, but numbers were since thought to have halved. Hunting and the ebola virus was thought to have slashed population numbers. The census data were released by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) during the International Primatological Society Congress in Edinburgh, UK.
In the latest census, researchers combed rainforests and isolated swamps to count gorilla "nests", to accurately estimate the population. Gorillas build nests each night from leaves and branches for sleeping. Population densities ranged as high as eight individuals per square kilometre in one particularly rich forest patch, which ranks among the highest gorilla densities ever recorded. WCS said a combination of factors was responsible for such high numbers of gorillas.
These included successful long-term conservation management of the Republic of Congo's protected areas, remoteness and inaccessibility of some of the key locations where the gorillas were found, and a food-rich habitat. In all, the researchers estimated a total of 125,000 gorillas in just this northern Congo area.
Read more...
The census found 125,000 of the apes alive and well in two adjacent areas in the northern part of the Republic of Congo covering 47,000 sq km. A census in the 1980s estimated that about 100,000 remained, but numbers were since thought to have halved. Hunting and the ebola virus was thought to have slashed population numbers. The census data were released by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) during the International Primatological Society Congress in Edinburgh, UK.
In the latest census, researchers combed rainforests and isolated swamps to count gorilla "nests", to accurately estimate the population. Gorillas build nests each night from leaves and branches for sleeping. Population densities ranged as high as eight individuals per square kilometre in one particularly rich forest patch, which ranks among the highest gorilla densities ever recorded. WCS said a combination of factors was responsible for such high numbers of gorillas.
These included successful long-term conservation management of the Republic of Congo's protected areas, remoteness and inaccessibility of some of the key locations where the gorillas were found, and a food-rich habitat. In all, the researchers estimated a total of 125,000 gorillas in just this northern Congo area.
Read more...
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themanwithadog
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Brilliant news.
Now can we have protection for the rhino especially from China who kill for their tusks?
Now can we have protection for the elephant?
Now can we step up protection for all the creatures in the wild not forgetting the shark. China again killing solely for the fins of these majestic creatures
- 3 years ago
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themanwithadog
