ORANGUTANS: Men of the Forest

Pics: Gorilla Doctors: saving endangered Mountain Gorillas in Africa http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/9703640/Gorilla-Doctors-saving-endangered-mountain-gorillas-in-Africa.html#

When zoologist Dian Fossey was murdered in 1985 there were just 250 Mountain Gorillas left in Africa's Virunga mountains. But thanks in part to the Gorilla Doctors she inspired, their numbers have doubled.

Cher: http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3491476  

Mountain Gorillas in Virunga Nat.l park in the Dem. Republic of Congo, near the border town of Bunagana

News: Virunga National Park: British Firm to Drill for Oil!

“Undertaking oil exploration or exploitation on the ground in a UNESCO World Heritage site constitutes a breach of the Convention on World Heritage, as well as DRC's own laws and constitution" "SOCO's plans are a real threat to the protection of Virunga's wildlife and to people who depend on Lake Edward. The region is also marked by ethnic tensions and the presence of armed militia groups is still a threat to stability. These factors could be exacerbated if oil exploration is carried out without consulting local people"

Jill: http://www.care2.com/news/member/478413351/3148209

VERY CUTE FAMILY

 Michela

Many thanks for the news and beautiful pictures, dear Michela!

The pictures are beautiful, the doctors/staff helping the Gorillas are our hero's.

David's comment is perfect.  Here they go again is correct.  What a shame.

Beautiful photographs! Thanks for sharing!

A Mountain Gorilla in the Bwindi Impenetrable Nat.l park, Uganda. Uganda ranked top in tourism industry growth in Africa over the past 12 months. This Nat.l park was created in 1942 as a Forest reserve, became listed as a world heritage site in 1994, covers 327 sq km & is home to almost 50% of the world's population of the Mountain Gorillas, estimated to be less than 800

Mother Gorilla's grief shows emotion is not only human http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/2609440/Mother-gorillas-grief-shows-emotion-is-not-only-human.html

This Gorilla's grief provoked worldwide sympathy & surprise. But animals feel deeply too!! “Gana, the 11-year-old Gorilla shown grieving the loss of her infant, was one of the most poignant images I have ever seen of an animal in distress. As a scientist who has studied animal emotions for more than 30 years, I consider myself extremely fortunate.

The photograph of Gana reminded me of Flint, a young male Chimpanzee who died soon after his mother, Flo. In a heartbreaking series of events, the primatologist Jane Goodall observed Flint withdraw from his group, stop feeding, & finally die. "Flint became increasingly lethargic, refused food &, with his immune system thus weakened, fell sick," she wrote in her book, Through a Window. "The last time I saw him alive, he was hollow-eyed, gaunt & utterly depressed, huddled in the vegetation close to where Flo had died. The last short journey he made, pausing to rest every few feet, was to the very place where Flo's body had lain. There he stayed for several hours, sometimes staring into the water. He struggled on a little further, then curled up – and never moved again."

Gorilla mother Gana carries her dead baby at the zoo in Muenster, W. Germany

News: Zoos & wildlife parks are no way to treat an animal http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9664354/Zoos-and-wildlife-parks-are-no-way-to-treat-an-animal.html

Over the past century, thousands of species have disappeared from our planet, & many more are on the critically endangered list. Yet even as we want only destroy nature’s great habitats, & hunt species to extinction, we console ourselves with the thought that we are preserving many species in zoos & wildlife parks.

As the owner & operator of 2 such parks – Howletts & Port Lympne in Kent – you would expect the Aspinall Foundation, founded by my late father John, to argue that it is sometimes right to keep animals in captivity. Although we do agree that there are times when the interests of the species can be best served by animals being kept in captivity, we believe that it is scandalous that so many zoos around the world remain packed with often miserable animals, kept in unnatural conditions where they remain incapable of breeding, despite frequently being paired biblically, two by two.

Cher: http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3482562

Some pics made by me of

- Gorillas, in Howletts, Kent, UK and

- Orangutans & Chimpanzees, in Monkey World, Dorset, UK

are in

http://picasaweb.google.com/michela.messineo

Thank you for some beautiful pictures Michela :)

News: Endangered mountain Gorilla population grows slightly http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/endangered-mountain-gorilla-population-grows-slightly  Mountain Gorillas are confined only to areas in Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, & Rwanda. The world's Mountain Gorilla population has grown slightly to 880 animals, according to the WWF conservation group, from an estim. population of 781 animals in 2010. The critically endangered animals live in only 2 places in the world — Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Nat.l Park, & the Virunga Massif area, which spans parts of Uganda, the Dem. Republic of the Congo & Rwanda. The latest census counted 400 Mountain Gorillas living in Bwindi, while 480 animals were counted in the Virunga Massif in 2010. "Mountain Gorillas are the only Great Ape experiencing a population increase, due to intensive conservation efforts & successful community engagement." Several groups of Mountain Gorillas have become accustomed to the presence of humans & the animals have become a significant tourism draw, which has helped fund conservation efforts & local schools.

The Gorillas still face grave threats from: Habitat loss, Poaching, Disease transfer from humans, & Oil exploration around Virunga Nat.l Park. "More people in Virunga would likely lead to an increase in Deforestation, Illegal Hunting & more snares in the forest". "At least 7 Virunga Mountain Gorillas were caught in snares this year & 2 did not survive. The Gorilla population remains fragile & could easily slip into decline if conservation management was to be disregarded in the pursuit of oil money by elites" Gorillas live in social groups known as troops & the 400 Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Nat.l Park form 36 distinct troops, with an additional 16 solitary males. About 10 of these groups are habituated to the presence of people for tourism or research. The typical Gorilla troop includes one silverback, a male leader, one immature male, 3 or 4 adult females & 3 to 6 young offspring under 8 years of age. A male Mountain Gorilla can grow up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in height & weighs around 480 pounds (220 kgs).

Cal: http://www.care2.com/news/member/193692282/3485076  

Such beauties. 

I witnessed first hand a mother gorilla mourn for her lost child and it was heart breaking.  Just heart breaking.  After witnessing our animals constantly dying at our Milwaukee Zoo and being a volunteer in the primate bldg for 15 yrs enough was enough for me.  I will never ever ever ever support these places again.  They are animal prostitutes and so are those that visit.

I agree with Ellen: to me 'such beauties' seems to be the best name to give gorillas. Dian Fossey was killed at a time poachers used to kill gorillas, cut their hands which they then sold to tourists as ashtrays.
Now, oil exploration and exploitation are allowed. Greed really has no limit; they are in a Unesco World Heritage site but they just don't care at all. What will stop those predators?
Yes, gorillas really have a hard life.
The pictures are beautiful. TY, Michela.

I am a firm believer in what goes around comes back around.   Ppl will have a rude awakening soon with all the devastation man is doing to our planet.  May the abusers be the first to feel the rath of Mother Nature.

BEAUTIFUL THANKS

Thanks Michela, truly lovely pictures.

Thanks for sharing, Michela!

News: Orphan Baby Gorillas Rescued From Poachers http://animalconnectionac.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/orphan-baby-gorillas-rescued-from-poachers/ Two baby Gorillas, rescued from poachers in 2 separate incidents in late Sept., are now being cared for at an orphan sanctuary in Virunga Nat.l Park in the Dem. Rep.of Congo (DRC). They will undergo a quarantine of at least 3 months together. The 2 females—about 9 & 5 months old—are Grauer’s Gorillas, also known as Eastern Lowland Gorillas. Found only in Eastern DRC, where armed conflict has thwarted the protective efforts of wildlife authorities, the Species is Endangered, according to the Int.l Union for Conserv. of Nature. The Grauer’s population has plummeted in recent years because of Poaching, & there may be fewer than 4,000 Gorillas left.

Kelly R.: http://www.care2.com/news/member/729790807/3466481

The Eastern Lowland Gorilla—also known as Grauer’s Gorilla http://worldwildlife.org/species/eastern-lowland-gorilla

Gorilla beringei ssp. graueri http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39995/0

Isangi, a poached 9-month-old Grauer's Gorilla, Virunga Nat.l Park, Dem.Rep.of Congo

Photo Gallery: Gorilla brothers Kesho & Alf 'joy' reunion http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-19281347 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/16/kesho-and-alf-gorilla-brothers-reunite-photos-pictures_n_1791836.html?utm_hp_ref=good-news

Alf (9yrs) & Kesho (13yrs), 2 lowland Gorilla brothers, were recently reunited at a safari park in England after being separated for 3 years: they recognized each other immediately. It's a story of brotherly love. A clear display of "Gorilla joy" was seen by keepers at a safari park in Wiltshire as 2 brothers were reunited after more than 3 years apart.

Source: Ann P. & RC.W.

The New baby Gorilla, born 4 weeks ago, is a boy. The Gorilla has already proven his strength by hanging onto his mother's back & belly at an early age, Zoo in Colorado Springs

Enjoying every minute of viewing photos and videos. Thank you.

Baby Gorillas rescued from poachers are cared for at the Senkwekwe Centre in Virunga Nat.l Park, Dem. Republic of Congo

Kukena the baby Western Lowland Gorilla clings to his mum Salome while she opens wrapped gifts of food intended for Kukena on his 1st birthday, Bristol Zoo

Video: Baby Gorilla Tiny Takes His First Steps Tiny, a 3month-old Western Lowland Gorilla, has taken his first steps, delighting visitors & keepers at London Zoo. Since he was born on Oct. 26, Tiny has clung firmly to his 12-year-old mother Mjukuu but with a little encouragement from her he finally struck out on his own.  

Video: Break Dancing Gorilla at the Calgary Zoo Zola a 9year-old Gorilla certainly knows how to dance: he demonstrates his master skills in a puddle of water at the Calgary Zoo, Canada.

Gorillas Snub Personal Boundaries  

Having met for the 1st time, these female Gorillas rapidly got to grips with some complicated moves. Johari, 10year-old allowed Mbeli, 6, to climb on her back & ride facing backwards when they were introduced at Melbourne Zoo in Australia. Then the partners swapped positions, with Mbeli (a Western Lowland Gorilla from Sydney’s Taronga Zoo) giving Johari a lift. Finally they ended with a more conventional ballroom stance, standing & embracing to show their mutual approval.

At Frankfurt zoo, Germany, 29 year-old Gorilla Rebecca holds her 2 day-old baby. Rebecca & the father, Viatu, have been so protective, zookeepers have been unable to come near the baby to determine its gender

A baby Gorilla sleeps on its mother Rebecca at the zoo in Frankfurt, Germany

Cher: http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3410499

News: Mountain Gorilla found dead in poacher’s snare  http://www.fauna-flora.org/news/mountain-gorilla-found-dead-in-poachers-snare/

Young gorilla struggled for days before dying in a rope snare was set to trap a small antelope for wild meat. An anti-poaching patrol in the Virunga Massif made a gruesome discovery last week: a young Mountain Gorilla was dead, caught in a poacher’s snare.

The male Mountain Gorilla, approx. 3 yrs old, was dead for a few days. An exam by the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project & the Rwanda Dev. Board revealed that the Mountain Gorilla was dehydrated & its stomach empty, pointing to the likelihood that the gorilla struggled with the snare for several days before dying. “It is a heartbreaking thing to see a Mountain Gorilla dead after struggling due to an act by a human being” said Director of the Int.l Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP); a coalition of Fauna & Flora Int.l, the African Wildlife Foundation, & the WWF for Nature. There are only an est. 780 Mountain Gorillas in the world, & the Species is designated as Critically Endangered.

Rosemary: http://www.care2.com/news/member/213931729/3097462

About: Mountain Gorilla Latin name:Gorilla beringei beringei  http://www.fauna-flora.org/species/mountain-gorillas/

Just only 780 Mountain Gorillas remain in the world today. 2 isolated populations survive: one in the Bwindi Impenetrable Nat.l Park, SWn Uganda, & the other on the forested slopes of the Virunga volcanoes, straddling the borders of the Dem. Rep. of Congo (DRC), Rwanda & Uganda.

A warden at the Virunga Nat.l Park in the Dem.Rep.of Congo plays with an orphaned Mountain Gorilla. The Virunga park is home to some 210 Mountain Gorillas: approx. a quarter of the world's population

A warden at the Virunga Nat.l Park in Congo, sits with an orphaned Mountain Gorilla in the Gorilla sanctuary

An orphaned Mountain Gorilla sits in a pen at a sanctuary in the Virunga Nat.l Park. The 4 orphans that live in the sanctuary are the only Mountain Gorillas in the world not living in the wild, having been brought here after their parents were killed by poachers or as a result of traffickers trying to smuggle them out of the park

First-time mother Shanga gets to grips with her newborn baby Gorilla at Chessington World of Adventures

Shanga the mother Gorilla appears to be tickling her baby's feet

News: The last DRC Mountain Gorillas again face an uncertain fate  http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/news/watch-last-drc-mountain-gorillas-again-face-uncertain-fate?mailid=4551112

The delicate state of peace in Dem.Rep.of Congo was again shattered by renewed clashes between the Congolese army & rebel militias operating near & inside Virunga Nat.l Park: a bastion for the Endangered Mountain Gorilla. Here is where conservation icons like George Schaller & Dian Fossey conducted the first field studies on the Gorilla beringei beringei. Dian Fossey was forced to flee Congo & the Gorillas she was studying due to civil unrest in the country. (She was killed probably by Poachers). Out of an est.d 790 M. Gorillas left in the world, approx. 200 live here. In spite of a 12-year civil war in the region, the park’s Gorilla population has continued its upward trend; but for how long?

Watch Video: Mountain Gorillas at Virunga Nat.l Park http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VLgtNqTytQM

The LAST remaining Mountain Gorillas!! “Trekking up the volcano’s slopes to get a unique 1-hr glimpse of wild M.Gorillas is an experience I will never forget. I think about the dominant silver-back Kabirizi & his family group in these uncertain times & hope they remain safe. Losing just a single family group would have devastating consequences for Mountain Gorilla conservation.”

Kevin A.: http://www.care2.com/news/member/353427779/3420536

Silver-back Mountain Gorilla Kabirizi  

News: Young Gorillas Observed Destroying Poachers’ Traps  http://www.care2.com/greenliving/young-gorillas-observed-destroying-poachers-traps.html

For Rwanda’s population of Mountain Gorillas, poaching remains one of the biggest threats to their survival. But after decades of being a prime target for unlawful hunters, these critically endangered gorillas have apparently learned to outsmart them — & even the youngsters are getting in on the act. Conservationists from Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund observed, for the first time ever, a pair of juvenile gorillas doing something remarkably clever: destroying sharp, wooden snares set out by poachers to trap them. Just days earlier, a gorilla had been killed in a similar snare nearby, which may have familiarized the youngsters with the workings of those cruel devices. “We knew that gorillas do this but all of the reported cases in the past were carried out by adult gorillas, mostly silverbacks. Today, two juveniles & one blackback from Kuryama’s group worked together to deactivate two snares & how they did it demonstrated an impressive cognitive skill”.

Source:  RC W.

News: Pictures Capture Young Gorillas Figuring Out How to Destroy Poachers’ Snares http://www.theblaze.com/stories/pictures-capture-young-gorillas-figuring-out-how-to-destroy-poachers-snares/

In April: the saddening story of an Orangutan that had tried to gnaw its own arm off after it became trapped in an illegal snare. Now, juvenile Gorillas have been caught in the act of disarming similar traps set by poachers. Not only that, but they worked together destroying it with such ease that researchers think they’ve been doing it for a while.

Carol D. : http://www.care2.com/news/member/907581929/3415619

Video: Gorilla 'kisses' her newborn http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9573167/Durrell-Gorilla-kisses-her-newborn.html  Mother Hlala Kahilli has given birth to a healthy baby Westland Lowland Gorilla, Durrell Wildlife Park

Cher: http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3460795

Video: Baby Gorilla born at Chessington Zoo http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9439108/Baby-gorilla-born-at-Chessington-Zoo.html

News: Deforestation increases in the Congo Rainforest

5 primary direct drivers of Deforestation: fuel wood collection & production; agriculture; mining & oil extraction; expansion of plantations for Biofuels; & Logging, which degrades Forests & often facilitate future Deforestation.

Deforestation rate doubled from 0.13% to 0.26% between the 1990s & 2000-2005. Degradation by Logging & Fire increased from 0.07% to 0.14% /year. Despite the jump, rates in the CongoBasin remain below those in Latin America & Southeast Asia, but the region is seen as a prime target for future agro-industrial expansion.

Cal: http://www.care2.com/news/member/193692282/3149083

Forest Loss in Dem. Republic of Congo (ha), 2000 – 2010

News: A Gorilla accidentally hanged himself at Prague zoo  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/czechrepublic/9433146/Prague-zoo-gorilla-hangs-himself.html

Tatu, a young male Gorilla, aged 5, died while playing on a rope structure in the Gorilla wing. The birth of Tatu in 2007 was one of the rarest births in captivity & was broadcasted on live on the Internet he was the emblematic animal of Prague Zoo.

"This is the most tragic event that has happened at the zoo since a flood damaged a large section in August 2002". “It's mainly the female Kamba, the oldest member of the herd, who stubbornly refused to quit Tatu".

Cher: http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/3420917

9-week-old baby Gorilla Tatu lays in the arms of her mother Kijivu, Aug.2007

When I was on Facebook, in my Group there were several Rangers of the Virunga National Park!!!!

Often they told me that some of their closest friends had been KILLED by POACHERS!!! IT WAS A REAL TRAGEDY NOT ONLY FOR THEM, but ALSO for their entire families!!!!!!

OIL DRILLING = MORE ROADS entering that protected area

= ENABLING POACHERS TO EASILY ACCESS THE AREA
= MORE WORK FOR THE RANGERS
= MORE ANIMALS (of ANY KIND) KILLED
= EXTINCTION FOR THE LAST SURVIVING MOUNTAIN GORILLAS!!!! ALREADY THREATENED BY BUSHMEAT!!!!!

MONEY
MONEY
GREED
= the REAL ENEMIES OF WILDLIFE!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing these beautiful pics Mic

Thanks for Sharing on other Social Networks, above all on FaceBook!! It’s my personal revenge as FaceBook Disabled my Account in May2010!!! On FB I recruited more than 3,500 to my Animal/Environmental Causes (Orangutan Outreach, OrangutanLandTrust, Don'tPalmUsOff, JaneGoodallInst., TheCove, Rapes in Congo, etc) I had 3,000 Friends & made Donations for $635. I LOST EVERYTHING when FB Disabled my Account (Entered the Care2 Community thereafter: in June2010). FB Disabled my ACCOUNT because I was posting my Link to “my” Petition for Orangutans, Tigers, Elephants, Wildlife, Biodiversity, Rainforests, “Label PalmOil" for which I worked hard, even 10 hrs/day, since when my FB UK friend Ryno Nel wrote it & I signed it for 3rd. FB considered it as a SPAM declaring I violated their rules!! Isn’t it more probable that the PalmOil/Oil/Logging/FastFood Lobby(Corporations) defend their Money/Greed Interests?? Same days: FB blocked also the Petition Against BP(the Gulf Disaster)!! Even if they DISABLED me: my Orangutan Petition reached Total 6,455 Signatures, also thanks to my Care2 friends!! Afterwards it was awaiting decisions by the EUParliament...

Thank you for the beautiful and moving pictures. I cannot understand how anyone could harm such beautiful beings.

Your case is yet another reson I dislike FaceBook. They exist only for the corporate world.

Baby gorilla Tiny is cute. I can't imagine his mum's grief if it were separated from her.
Break dancing gorilla at Calgary zoo apparently knows how to dance! He even seems to have a sense of rhythm!
The pictures of the last two are a little odd. I suppose it shows they are happy together!
Thank you, Michela, for the pictures of those intelligent animals.

Thank you for those beautiful pictures. As it happens, gorillas are as good parents as humans (or better!)

And we want to be gorillas' friends, don't we?

What a beautiful gorilla! Now we know where the remaining gorillas are, everything could be done to protect them efficiently ???

Although I can't see how, I'd back you up if it turned out to be necessary.

Several rangers of the Virunga Nat'l park were killed ... There are people who will never stop to satisfy their greed. I quite agree with what you say in your message, Michela. But, as in Indonesia, what can we do, apart from raising people's awareness?

It's a disaster. The people responsible for that are obviously only interested in their immediate profit. Global warming is certainly not something they even want to consider.

I had already seen that photograph. It shows how clever gorillas are. We mustn't underestimate them. I saw a programme on TV where the performances of gorillas were compared to man's.
They had 2 or 3 seconds to memorize a number of dots on a blackboard. The gorilla could remember all of them. The man only remebered a few. Astounding!

Thank you for sharing some wonderful pictures Michela.

18-month-old Gorilla Hasani squaring up to his father Oscar, San Francisco Zoo

We are pretty sure Pops is gonna win.  Haaaa

Video: Baby Gorilla takes first steps http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8323913/Baby-gorilla-takes-first-steps.html The moment a 3-month-old Gorilla took his first steps, London Zoo

News:   Increased Presence of Snares Demands Attention from Fossey Fund Anti-Poaching Teams  http://gorillafund.org/blog

Source: RC W.

Video: Mountain Gorillas Roam Outside Rwanda Park   http://vimeo.com/31926608#

Snares!!!!!!!!! 

VERY GOOD PICTURES. THANKS

Thank you for those magnificent pictures. I find gorillas beautiful and ... fascinating.

thanks very much for sharing the pics michela

Thanks so much for these beautiful pictures, Michela.

Kijivu, a female Western Lowland Gorilla, holds her newborn baby at Prague Zoo, Czech Republic. The baby Gorilla was born on Dec. 22, just months after Kijivu’s 2nd child, Tatu, died after accidentally hanging himself with a climbing rope. Zoo director Miroslav Bobek called the death the most tragic event at the zoo since flooding in 2002 killed more than 100 animals

A 2-week old Gorilla is bottle-fed milk by his surrogate parent, a zoo-keeper at a German Zoo. "Habitat loss, Climate Change, infectious disease & illegal hunting for both meat & the live pet trade" have combined to push Gorillas to the brink of extinction

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The first Gorilla born in a zoo is turning 56 & celebrating her birthday with some special treats at her central Ohio home. The female Western Lowland Gorilla named Colo is the oldest Gorilla in any zoo. She was born at the Columbus Zoo in 1956. The zoo marked Colo's birthday with a cake specially prepared for her & other gifts, incl. her favorite food, tomatoes. Zoo guests sang "Happy Birthday to You." Colo is a mother of 3. Her family tree includes more than 2 dozen descendants living at zoos across the country.

Seen last three pictures and signed 'the oldest zoo gorilloa turns 56 ...'
It's a pity to see gorillas are only safe in captivity. It's difficuolt to say how they feel about that. Do they feel lonely? depressed? What about their children? Are they separated for ever? etc.

Thank you for your pictures. The last gorilla looks miserable! But why?

 from June M.

from John Byrne:

Michela dear friend how can one express in words the outrage we feel to the constant abuse & murder of our animal population world wide, the penalty is not fitting the crime. When oil & gas companies can subvert the natural laws of survival for profit its time we upped our game. I on a personal note will always stay away from any product that would endorse or help to put money in the coffers of any corporation who have or are involved in the destruction of the homeland of our indigenous people & our animals as both are at the mercy of faceless people. We the people with voices have in our hands through our dollar power the means & the power to call a halt to this by the great work thats done on a daily basis through your efforts & those of all Care 2 members who will never be silent.take a bow all you who continue to fight injustice you are too many to thank on a one to one so I would like to convey these wishes to all of you here. Thank you for the fantastic postings. We will overcome.

from Antonio M.:

That is so true!! Thanks for the photos and videos!

Giant western lowland Gorilla Malui roams through Central African Republic's dense Dzanga-Sangha forest. Malui, who is estimated to be around 25 years old, sniffs at a swarm of butterflies

The Gov.t of the Republic of Congo has declared the area a Nat.l Park, ensuring that the green abyss remains just that. Gorillas, it turns out, do not mind the forests’ tangle. In 2008, the Wildlife Conservation Society discovered that an estimated 15,000 Western Lowland Gorillas were living there, which helped spur the Gov.t to make a decision to protect the forest. “The density of Gorillas in this area turned out to be surprisingly high,” “As big as Gorillas are, it’s surprising how nimble they are in these dense understories — it’s their preferred habitat.” With this new population taken into account, the Northern Republic of Congo now supports an estimated 125,000 Gorillas.

Gorilla Mother & Baby

from Roshani S.:

Source June M.

from Magda V.

Primate Centre Team Leader at the zoo in Cincinnati lies with a baby Gorilla named Gladys the way a mother Western Lowland Gorilla would with her young. The baby Gorilla was born on Jan. 29 at a Texas zoo to a first-time mother who wouldn't care for her. Zoo workers & volunteers are acting as surrogate mothers to prepare the baby to be introduced to 2 female Gorillas at the Cincinnati Zoo who might accept her.

A 4-week-old, female, baby Gorilla born at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Texas has been transported to Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio

from Sara P.:

from June M.

from Magda V.    

Kijivu, a Western Lowland Gorilla, feeds her 3 months old baby as they rest at the Zoo in Prague

Western Lowland Gorilla Kigali sits on his the back of his mother, Rwanda, at the Gulf Breeze Zoo, Fla.

Gorilla mother Jamani, & her baby Bomassa roam the Forest Glade exhibit at The N. Carolina Zoo, in Asheboro, N.C. Later this year, the zoo is expecting its 3rd successful Gorilla birth in less than a year

(Left down) Gorilla Bagira holds her 1-week-old baby, at Hellabrunn zoo in Munich, Germany. The sex of the young Gorilla, born on Feb. 8, 2013, is yet unknown

(Right) JoJo, a 32-year-old Western Lowland Gorilla at the Brookfield Zoo, enjoys a heart-shaped Valentine's treat. The nutritious cookies are made of ground primate biscuit, oatmeal, bananas, raisins, & peanut butter

Female Gorilla Changa-Maida holds her newborn baby at the zoo of Muenster, W. Germany. The cub was born on Jan. 13 & the keepers could not find out yet if it is male or female

A Gorilla holds her baby in Moscow Zoo, Russia

Mrithi, a 20-year-old male Western Lowland Gorilla & the lead Silverback of the zoo's Gorilla troupe, wanders at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Mrithi, mated with Moka, a 15-year-old female Gorilla. A pregnancy test suggests that Moka is pregnant, though they must confirm the pregnancy. Moka's & Mrithi's 1st pregnancy resulted in a birth last year, but that baby male Gorilla died after 4 months

Fron Anneke A.     

from Sara P.  

from Magda V.  

Source: June M.

Rejected by her own mother, humans have swooped in to raise a baby Gorilla, & they're even dressing up for the role. After the Gorilla was rejected by her mother in a Texas zoo, she was transported to Ohio's Cincinnati Zoo, where zookeepers are acting as surrogates to prepare her for life among Gorillas. Zookeepers are donning gorilla-like outfits & mimicking animal noises to help the 4-week-old. “Gorillas have about 13 different vocalizations, so you need to know how to speak to the baby given whatever the circumstance is"

"Gladys", a 2 month-old Western Lowland Gorilla

at the Cincinnati Zoo, March 27, 2013

from Heidi H.

from Magda V.:

from Danuta W.:

Video footage of their unexpected bullying ways was released by the Witchita zoo today & has already spread online like wildfire. Unfortunately Barney's reputation as a tough guy has gone with it. Senior zookeeper Danielle previously explained how Barney was the main man of the Gorilla enclosure.

Source: June M.

Humiliated: Barney has reason to look mad - the geese are bullying him around the enclosure & now have him embarrassed online

"Gorillas have these big, close-knit families, & they're always interacting" "It's one of the things that makes them so exciting to photograph." The 3 young Mountain Gorillas above are playmates from different mothers who will likely grow up together. Their small swath of home in the Virunga Mountains in East Africa is a fragile oasis. "You're talking about 700 Mountain Gorillas in the whole world, in this tiny habitat that's surrounded by human conflict, poverty, & overpopulation."

“Does this Gorilla mother look relaxed? Mothers normally carry infants in the crook of their arm—a spot that protects the baby but makes it difficult to get a clear photograph of that tiny little face. This mother has become so comfortable while eating that she's dropped her arm enough to allow an intimate family portrait. That baby's less than a week old, it's very difficult to photograph a newborn Gorilla with their eyes open, because they're sleeping a lot. So that was a great moment where the baby was awake, & Mom is feeding & relaxed, & all the elements came together.”

from Debbie W.:

from Sara P.         

News: Pride: a secret weapon in protecting Primates http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2013/may/03/gorilla-cameroon-congo-conservation-whitley
Two conservation heroes from the DR Congo & Cameroon have used pride & passion to curb Bushmeat hunting for Gorillas & Chimpanzees…
Eastern Lowland Gorillas, whose protection in the conflict-ravaged Democratic Republic of Congo has been recognised with awards to 2 conservation heroes, Ekwoge Enang Abwe & John Kahekwa Munihuzi, who used pride & passion to curb Bushmeat hunting

from Debbie W.: