The UNEP Convention on the Conservation of Migratory species of Wild animals (CMS), the UNEP/UNESCO Great Ape Survival Partnership (GRASP) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) have joined forces to declare 2009 the Year of the Gorilla (YoG). The Year of the Gorilla is part of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.
Great apes, and especially the largest of all, gorillas, have always been a source of inspiration and fascination for humans. Their close kinship to humans makes them stand out in the animal kingdom. Gorillas have been shown to possess self-awareness, remarkable intelligence and an ability to communicate with signs and symbols as well as use some basic tools. They express emotions such as joy and distress and in a way similar to humans.
Today, there remain only 10 countries with naturally occurring populations of gorillas. They are endangered and continue to face severe threats.
For more information visit:
www.cms.int – Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS – DOWNLOAD GREAT APES!
Our understanding of gorillas has significantly increased over the last four decades. Scientists have entered their world and discovered both their social complexity and their keystone role in the ecology of their habitats.
There are 4 widely recognized gorilla subspecies, belonging to 2 species. Primatologists continue to explore the relationships between various gorilla populations. The species and subspecies listed here are the ones upon which most experts agree.
Genus Gorilla
Western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)
- Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
- Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli)
Eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei)
- Mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)
- Eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri)
Gorilla Coloring Pages
Congo Coloring Book
The Columbus Zoo Supports Gorilla Conservation
Over the past 15 years, the Zoo has provided support to more than 20 field conservation projects for great apes throughout Africa and Asia. Read about the Mbeli Bai Study of Western Lowland Gorillas – the only long-term demographic study on a large population of western gorillas using direct observations. The project is providing major and unique insights into the social organization and population dynamics of this elusive species.
Limbe Wildlife Center – Cameroon
The Limbe Wildlife Centre is situated in the small fishing town of Limbe at the foot of Mount Cameroon. The Mount Cameroon ecosystem boasts the second highest levels of biodiversity in Africa and is home to many locally endemic and critically endangered primates such as the vellerosus chimpanzee, the Preuss's guenon and the drill. However currently this ecosystem has no legal protected status and suffers from illegal logging and high levels of poaching for the bush meat trade. Linked with the bush meat trade is the illegal pet trade, whereby the infant chimpanzees, gorillas and other primate species that are too small to have a value as a meat source are sold as pets.
The LWC's very existence has evolved from these illegal trades. The LWC takes care of infant primates that are lucky enough to be seized. LWC is open for visitors, providing one of the few opportunities for local people to see and learn about these special animals and the critical conservation issues that are affecting them. It therefore plays a very important role in educating people about how they can help save their precious wildlife. In addition, the project executes a variety of education programs onsite and out of the centre. Read more about Limbe at: www.limbewildlife.org/