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| Africa: West |
| Census: Rare Mountain Gorillas Less Rare |
| 2004-01-19 |
| The number of rare mountain gorillas living in central Africa has increased by 17 percent during the past 15 years, despite conflict in the region, poaching and human "Say, M’dkaogkdut, you’re looking more diverse every day." "Oh, M’fdgfgkagoifgy, you say the sweetest things!" He said the increase of the gorillas was due to effective conservation programs "Heads up, M’dkgifgyuakdj! Those crazy humans are at it again! Head for the hills!" "Given the decade-long political strife in the region, it is remarkable that the mountain gorilla population has nevertheless fared well - and even experienced some growth," said Dieter Steklis, chief scientist and vice president of Atlanta-based Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. "This is strong testimony to the effectiveness of the dedicated, near round-the-clock, on-the-ground protection" provided by park authorities and conservationists, he said in a statement. Wonder how many guerillas they had to pay off? In the past, experts estimated there were 670 mountain gorillas in the wild, including more than 300 gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Park in southwestern Uganda. The census, however, did not include Bwindi’s gorillas because it is believed they are of a different subspecies, the Dian Fossey fund said in a statement. Splitter! Splitter! The African wildlife experts conducting the census traversed the region searching for signs of gorilla trails, dung and trampled vegetation, officials said. On finding a trail, they would follow it to nests and estimate the size of the group by counting nests and measuring dung size. After which the gorillas, being sensible, killed them and ate them. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #9 Not as rare as the Plains Gorilla, I'm bettin'... |
| Posted by: mojo 2004-1-19 10:29:49 PM |
| #8 You mean Global Warming hasn't wiped them out? That's gotta be wrong... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-1-19 9:32:16 PM |
| #7 Bwindi Impenetrable Park - Huh? Why's it impenetrable? Some sort of chastity belt? |
| Posted by: DaveMac 2004-1-19 7:43:26 PM |
| #6 Can you imagine walking up to a gorrila and asking all sorts of inane and personal questions? Those Rawandan census takers have some hanging clangers. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-1-19 5:19:41 PM |
| #5 Much farting and low rumble vocalizing Was this on Super Sunday? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-19 2:58:59 PM |
| #4 I've seen these guys up close...very close, in Rwanda in '90. Amazing. Much farting and low rumble vocalizing. The vegetation is so thick it is like walking on a mattress. This is good news, especially with all of the tribal stupidity that has been going on in the region. |
| Posted by: remote man 2004-1-19 12:33:21 PM |
| #3 The African wildlife experts conducting the census traversed the region searching for signs of gorilla trails, dung and trampled vegetation, officials said. Those people have got to be pretty dedicated individuals. I perused the gorilla exhibit at Taronga and occasionally a rather strong stench would waft over the viewing area.... |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-1-19 10:52:15 AM |
| #2 After which the gorillas, being sensible, killed them and ate them. As you well know gorillas are card carrying Vegans. Altho you can always draw them close by your camp if you are having BBQ ribs. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-1-19 9:20:50 AM |
| #1 Now that we have a census, when do they get to vote? And, I have to ask, does dung size really matter? |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2004-1-19 8:59:08 AM |