aby

Hi - Good news! Gorilla numbers are up!!!

(WWF) <b>Census finds increase in critically endangered mountain gorilla population</b>
http://wwf.panda.org/?197658/Mountain-Gorilla-Census

(AWF) MOUNTAIN GORILLA CENSUS REVEALS INCREASE IN POPULATION
http://awf.org/content/headline/detail/4472

But
i think the percentage of habituated Gorillas is far too high.... i defined it as "Overgrazing" by Ecotourism (though we are all on that side)
In the Virungas
<i> <green>Of the 480 mountain gorillas censused, 352 (73%) were habituated (349 in groups and three solitary males) and 128 were unhabituated (117 in groups and 11 solitary males).

Aby

Nikao

great news!
n00b question: what is the definition of being 'habituated' ?

aby

'Habituated' means they are used to human close presence.

of course I'm in favor of Gorilla visiting by ecotourists paying large sums of money that backs conservation, make ex-poachers become trackers (within the tourism industry) etc' i just think the percentage is exaggerated

atravelynn

786 when Bwindi in Uganda is included. The habituated #s are higher than I would have guessed also.

Truly amazing how those #s have increased despite wars, unrest, some small fires, and a volcanic eruption.

Thanks for the info, Aby!

Leely2

Yeah, I have somewhat mixed feelings about this too, but in spite of the high number of habituated gorillas relative to unhabituated, I am very pleased to see the increase. Thrive, gorillas!

Thanks for the link, aby.

christabir

Are there so many, by percentage, habituated gorillas because they are the ones being protected? I know there are horrific incidents that poachers kill the favorites to make a point(sick), but in general. The ones that aren't as well protected don't procreate as much due to stress?

I really have to experience these amazing creatures! This is very good news. Good news on the lowland gorillas too. The last census found unknown colonies. A little hope.

loru100

We did two treks at Virunga in 2008...still the most amazing experience of my life and I hope to be able to do it again.

It's a double edged sword...in a perfect world the gorillas would be free to roam their habitat without human interference. But we all know without the money the gorilla permits bring to the government and the money that is generated for local economies, the gorillas would be left to poachers, civil unrest and the bush meat trade.