Scientists Found “Gorilla Paradise” in the Republic of the Congo

Posted by Alex in Animal on August 6, 2008 at 1:25 pm


Where have all the lowland gorillas gone? The Republic of the Congo, apparently. A recent census by researchers found 125,000 western lowland gorillas in the dense forests and swamps in the northern part of the Republic of the Congo:

The findings, if confirmed, would more than double the world’s estimated population of gorillas.

Western lowland gorillas are a subspecies classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Their numbers have been devastated in recent years by illegal hunting for bush meat and the spread of the Ebola virus. Just last year scientists projected the animals’ population could fall as low as 50,000 by 2011.

Now those predictions may have to be dramatically reworked to incorporate findings released today by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Link - Thanks Stephanie!

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COMMENT

8 comments to "Scientists Found “Gorilla Paradise” in the Republic of the Congo"

  1. Rhea
    August 6th, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    This is fabulous. The only thing is, now that they are known to humans, how long will they be left to live in peace? They were discovered by a HUNTER.

  2. TeenyTina
    August 6th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

    Man, this is how (I’m afraid) it’s going to play out:

    1. Hunter finds TONS more gorillas
    2. They are no longer endangered (because, well, there are more of them).
    3. They are hunted into extinction.

    Damn. Bye, gorillas.

  3. Mel Phistopheles
    August 6th, 2008 at 2:22 pm

    Great News! Now I can go back to eating gorilla without feeling guilty! :)

  4. Dale
    August 6th, 2008 at 4:09 pm

    Wait I’ve seen this movie.

  5. Neatoramawontsendmeapassword
    August 6th, 2008 at 6:24 pm

    Oh, yeah. Tell the poachers where they are.

  6. JC
    August 7th, 2008 at 12:47 am

    Hahah the “You´ve found us!” killed me.

  7. Polx
    August 7th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

    Congo folks eat all the Gorillas.

  8. Ali S.
    August 7th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

    Great news but I can’t help but think this actually hurts the whole campaign to protect these apes from the poachers.


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