(NATIONAL PARKS) CONGO — Virunga National Park rangers have lost critical financial funding since the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo caused tourism to shut down. During this time of instability for the DRC, the protection rangers offer the park’s animals is dire for their survival. Continue reading and help prevent the exploitation of Virunga National Park animals by donating. — Global Animal
(GORILLA) RWANDA — Gorillas in Rwanda have found a way to outsmart the poachers that threaten their existence. The apes were spotted working together to dismantle poacher’s snares. This shows incredible cognitive ability that even surpassed the expectations of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund staff. Read on for more on these incredible primates. — Global Animal
(ANIMAL NEWS) Koga, a 400 pound gorilla locked up at the Buffalo Zoo, made a break for it when he noticed that the gate to his “habitat” was left open. In desperation, the gorilla, who has no previous history of aggression, lashed out at a zoo keeper and bit her hand and calf. Just like in the case of Tilikum, it’s not surprising that a wild animal like Koga is turning violent from the sheer frustration of being in captivity. No matter how great zoo “habitats” are, they will never compare to the wild. Read on to learn how Koga was captured, and what the zoo’s president has to say. — Global Animal
(CELEBRITY NEWS) The creator of the animated Captain Planet series, Ted Turner, donated $1 million to the Dian Fossey International Gorilla Fund last week. The donation is the largest gift received by the animal organization. The self-proclaimed animal and nature conservationist, who also grazes 52,000 North American bison on his lands, is hoping that his new efforts will help create a better future for gorillas. Read more on Ted Turner’s view on nature and conservation. — Global Animal
(PRIMATES) Scientists are considering vaccinating apes due to an increase in disease outbreaks. Over the last twenty years, diseases transmitted by humans have killed approximately one-third of the world’s gorilla and chimpanzee populations. With slow reproduction rates, these outbreaks could decimate primate populations. Read on for the benefits and risks posed by vaccinating these wild animals. — Global Animal
(ENDANGERED ANIMALS) CHICAGO — On Friday a nine-day-old endangered western lowland gorilla died at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. A necropsy, equivalent to a human autopsy, showed the death occurred from head trauma. Zoo authorities have yet to understand how the infant did but possibilities include injury from an attack of other gorillas or from the first-time mother accidentally sitting on her. Both in the wild and in captivity infant gorillas are sometimes injured or killed by environmental factors—a saddening truth about many wild animals. Read on for more on this story. — Global Anim
(ENDANGERED SPECIES) AFRICA — A new census is scheduled for the mountain gorillas of Uganda and the DRC. The species is critically endangered, having suffered from excessive poaching and habitat lost. As of now, it is estimated that only 786 mountain gorillas remain, but that number is likely to change. Read on for more information regarding the strategies for the consensus and what they plan to find. — Global Animal
(ANIMAL TRAFFICKING) AFRICA — A baby Grauer gorilla was safely rescued from illegal poachers last week in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the fourth gorilla this year, animal rights groups and park rangers are alarmed that the number of baby gorillas on the black market is greatly increasing, and that there may be many that have slipped under the radar of officials. With gorillas being sold to zoos or to individuals as pets, the already dwindling populations are under constant threat. Read on for more about the most recent baby gorilla rescue, and what park officials and conservation groups are doing to stop the illegal animal trade in the DRC. — Global Animal
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