| In spite of incursions by farmers and rebels into the | | | | Ebola have reduced their numbers. |
| parks, and a few recent poaching events, Virungas | | | | The mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda are |
| mountain gorillas are persisting as well, thanks to | | | | relatively safe, but those in the Congo are threatened |
| sustained conservation efforts by the guards and staff | | | | by an ongoing civil war and human encroachment. |
| members within that landscape. The current total of | | | | Primates such as gorillas, colobuses and chimpanzees |
| mountain gorillas at both locations brings the worldwide | | | | are prone to over-hunting because they are large and |
| tally to approximately 720 individual animals. | | | | slow-moving, and they are openly sold in African |
| Having gone through decades of civil war in East | | | | markets. The mandrill, a baboon, is particularly prized |
| Africa and Central, Mountain gorillas are confronted by | | | | and its meat is far more expensive than that of |
| the distressing consequences of increased habitat loss, | | | | antelopes or rats. |
| poaching and the spread of dangerous diseases. | | | | WCS has supported Cross River gorilla conservation |
| Although gorillas are frequently depicted as hostile, | | | | related research throughout the gorillas' range since |
| dangerous, they are really shy and calm. Park | | | | 1996. The CRGP trains researchers to track gorilla |
| managers who have the unenviable task of turning | | | | groups on a daily basis and collect data on their |
| away tourists who they suspect may have colds the | | | | ranging and feeding behavior. If the illegal killing does not |
| gorillas may me susceptible to - no matter how much | | | | cease then bonobos, mountain gorillas and |
| they have paid to make their once in a lifetime visit. | | | | chimpanzees may become totally extinct in the wild |
| Three groups of mountain gorillas are closely | | | | within the next two decades. If the authorities wish to |
| monitored in National des Volcans: - Beetsme's, | | | | save the beautiful mountain gorilla, they must not be |
| Pabro's, and Shinda's groups. Since then, however, | | | | afraid to punish severely those that defy the law and |
| lowland gorillas in the wild have been dying at an | | | | kill an endangered species, especially if those killed are |
| accelerating rate. Poaching, logging, a dramatic | | | | slaughtered to serve the extortion purpose of charcoal |
| expansion in the trade of bushmeat, and outbreaks of | | | | traders. |