Generated by All in One SEO v4.8.8, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Western Gorilla Save the Western Gorillas ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.westerngorilla.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Blog](https://www.westerngorilla.org/blog/) - [YoG Epilogue, thoughts on Copenhagen, and more](https://www.westerngorilla.org/uncategorized/yog-epilogue-thoughts-on-copenhagen-and-more/) - “A belated Happy New Year to all readers – in fact Happy New International Year of Biodiversity! (see http://www.cbd.int/2010/welcome/). This year the UN has broadened its scope to raise awareness of all biodiversity – the millions of species of animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms with whom we share the planet. This is partly because the - [Petit Loango Wetland, Oil or Gorillas?” nominated for ROSCAR](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/petit-loango-wetland-oil-or-gorillas-nominated-for-roscar/) - The documentary "Petit Loango Wetland, Oil or Gorillas?” has been nominated for a 2009 ROSCAR Award at the Durban Wild Talk Africa Film Festival. The film is a finalist for the Best Natural History Production with a Limited Budget. It was produced by Year of the gorilla Partner GRASP and the RAMSAR Wetlands Convention in - [Strengthening Levels of Protection and Monitoring in Key Protected Areas](https://www.westerngorilla.org/conservation-projects/strengthening-levels-of-protection-and-monitoring-in-key-protected-areas/) - Project overview Introduction: Numbering less than 300 individuals, the Cross River Gorilla is critically endangered and occurs in approximately 11 forest sites across a 12,000km2 landscape. Seven of these sites fall within the boundaries of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries or Forest Reserves in Cameroon and Nigeria. These protected areas therefore provide crucial refuges for these - [Promoting Education and Conservation Awareness in Okwangwo-Takamanda](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/promoting-education-and-conservation-awareness-in-okwangwo-takamanda/) - Introduction: The Cross River Gorilla occurs in roughly 11 distinct forest sites across a 12,000km2 landscape with fewer than 300 individuals remaining. Four of these sites are found within the boundaries of the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park in Nigeria and the contiguous Takamanda National Park (proposed) in Cameroon. These four sites constitute - [Western Lowland Gorilla - Wildlife Law Enforcement](https://www.westerngorilla.org/conservation-projects/western-lowland-gorilla-wildlife-law-enforcement/) - PALF (Project to Apply the Law on Fauna) - MEF (Ministry of Forestry Economy) COLLABORATION for WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT, The Republic of Congo GOAL To assist the government of The Republic of Congo to increase wildlife law enforcement capacity, produce effective deterrents to the killing of great apes and other threatened wildlife by hunters and - [Facts on Ebola Virus: Human and Animal Outbreaks](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/facts-on-ebola-virus-human-and-animal-outbreaks/) - Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever is a zoonotic disease transmitted to humans by direct contact with infected live or dead animals, and more specifically with their body fluid. Genetic and antigenic characterization of Ebola virus isolates during human outbreaks has led to the identification of four subtypes — Ebola Sudan, E. Zaire, E. Ivory Coast and - [Gabonese Orphan Gorillas Set Free On An Island](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/gabonese-orphan-gorillas-set-free-on-an-island/) - Six young gorillas rescued from the illegal bush meat trade, have begun new independent lives on a lagoon island just outside Loango National Park in Gabon. https://www.youtube.com/v/bhUuF15HfJ0 Staff at the Société de Conservation et Développement (SCD) are celebrating after announcing the successful transfer of the six juvenile western lowland gorillas (a species deemed critically endangered - [Successes in Wildlife Law Enforcement](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/successes-in-wildlife-law-enforcement/) - For the first time in Republic of Congo, a chimpanzee dealer was arrested and finally prosecuted. He was judged guilty and was sentenced to one year in prison and fined 1,100,000 CFA (1,679 Euro). This is the result of the Project PALF (Project to Apply the Fauna Law or Projet d’Appui à l’Application de la - [New Park to save the Most Endangered Gorilla Species](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/new-park-to-save-the-most-endangered-gorilla-species/) - It’s not all bad news for gorillas despite the crisis in the DR Congo, there is good news in Nigeria and Cameroon for the worlds most endangered gorilla species. The Cross River gorilla, the rarest of the four gorilla subspecies has a new protected area to protect it. The species is found only in Nigeria - [Security and Sanctuary in South Kivu](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/security-and-sanctuary-in-south-kivu/) - Today didn’t quite work out as planned. Early in the morning I bumped into the vice-governor of South Kivu province, Jean Claude Kibala, who I’d met at the Frankfurt Gorilla Conference and who was busy making arrangements for President Kabila, who was visiting Bukavu. I asked him whether he thought the President would give a - [World population of mountain gorillas now estimated at 880](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/world-population-of-mountain-gorillas-now-estimated-at-880/) - A census of mountain gorillas, Gorilla beringei beringei, conducted in 2011 in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, confirms a minimum population of 400 gorillas, raising the world population of mountain gorillas to 880. The official result was released today by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. The increase in the Bwindi population since the last census, from 302 - [Ian Redmond – On the Road to Lopé](https://www.westerngorilla.org/blog/on-the-road-to-lope/) - Gabon was resuming normal activities after the disputed elections and there was a football match in the afternoon. The only train to Lopé and Franceville had left the night before and the local travel agent said there were no flights to anywhere I needed to go. I had a morning meeting with the dynamic Michael Adande, - [Ian Redmond – Snipping Through the Trees with the Greatest of Ease](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/snipping-through-the-trees-with-the-greatest-of-ease/) - Up early to climb Mt Brazza, with stunning views of the River Ogoue and the mosaic of savannah and forest that makes Lopé such a distinctive environment. On the way, we came across a pretty little viper soaking up the morning sun with ribs flattened to the path. Michael adeptly caught his dog, Ben, by - [Ian Redmond – The Journalists are Revolting](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/the-journalists-are-revolting/) - I was still holding out some hope for an Equatorial Guinea visa. Omar said he had good contacts with the Ambassador, but all day we were unable to reach Omar to arrange a time to go to the embassy; perhaps he was partied out? Calling a press conference at short notice can often lead to - [Gabon’s Vice-Prime Minister speaks up for Gorillas](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/gabons-vice-prime-minister-speaks-up-for-gorillas/) - Still hoping for an Equatorial Guinea visa, I was going to take up the offer of an introduction to the Ambassador, but sadly neither of the people who had made this offer could be reached this morning. On the other hand, Gabon’s Minister for the Environment, Mme Georgette Koko, who also serves as Gabon’s Vice - [Scientists Fear Ebola May Be Responsible for Sudden Gorilla Disappearance](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/scientists-fear-ebola-may-be-responsible-for-sudden-gorilla-disappearance/) - August 27, 2004 (Torino, Italy) – Scientists fear that emerging evidence may suggest a new outbreak of the ebola virus, which, in addition to threatening human lives, would threaten tens of thousands of great apes – in this case gorillas and chimpanzees – in the Republic of Congo. The findings were released at the International - [Why isn't Western Gorilla Conservation Working?](https://www.westerngorilla.org/news/why-isnt-western-gorilla-conservation-working/) - The primary reason that we are losing the fight to save Western gorillas is simply that not enough money is being spent. Conservation budgets in Central Africa are miniscule compared to what we are accustomed to paying for wildlife conservation in the developed world. The budget for a single large park in the US is ## Pages - [Home](https://www.westerngorilla.org/) - WesternGorilla.org is an informal alliance of gorilla researchers and conservationists. We are eyewitnesses to a tragedy that most of the world knows little about: the rapid decline of Western gorillas, which only a decade ago were thought to be relatively safe. We have watched with increasing dismay as conservation efforts have failed to address the - [Western Lowland Gorilla](https://www.westerngorilla.org/species/western-lowland-gorilla/) - The Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is the most widespread of all gorilla subspecies, yet remains the most at risk. It inhabits the remote lowland rainforests and swamps of Central Africa, specifically in the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, and parts of Angola. Despite its wider distribution, this - [Cross River Gorilla](https://www.westerngorilla.org/species/cross-river-gorilla/) - The Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) is a recently recognized subspecies of Western Gorilla living in the northern Cameroon-Nigerian border area (Sarmiento & Oates, 2000). Origin of the species name The American physician and missionary Thomas Staughton Savage first described the Western Gorilla (he called it Troglodytes gorilla) in 1847. The name was derived - [Crisis](https://www.westerngorilla.org/conservation/crisis/) - Habitat Destruction is not the Major Cause of Western Gorilla Decline Most people's perceptions about gorillas are strongly influenced by the famous Mountain gorillas of East Africa. Habitat loss resulting from the rapid expansion of human populations has long been a major threat to Mountain gorillas, which are now been restricted to a few small - [Bai Hokou](https://www.westerngorilla.org/protected-areas/bai-hokou/) - Full Name of Site Bai Hokou, Dzanga-Ndoki National Park Country Central African Republic Location of base camp 2°50'N, 16°28'E Status National Park Area- study area 40km²; Dzanda-Ndoki National Park=1222km², surrounded by the Dzanga-Sangha Dense Forest Reserve=3150km² Study Period 1986-89; 1992-94; 1994-96 previous studies.Current study: 1998-ongoing Focus of Project Ecotourism Altitude 400-480m altitude Rainfall mean 1813 - [Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary](https://www.westerngorilla.org/protected-areas/afi-mountain/) - Full Name of Site Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) Country Nigeria, Cross River State, Africa Location of base camp 6° 15.5’-6° 24.5’ to 8° 54’-9° 00’ East Status Wildlife Sanctuary (Protected) Area- study area Study Site 35 km²; AWMS 85 km² Study Period 1996, 1997 (Nov) - - [Genetics](https://www.westerngorilla.org/gorilla-facts/genetics/) - The genus Gorilla occurs in two geographically distinct regions, Western Central Africa and Eastern Central Africa. Separated by 1000 km, gorillas in these two areas were historically viewed as two subspecies, the western lowland (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), and the eastern or mountain gorilla (G. g. beringei) gorilla. This view persisted until 1970 when an examination - [Moukalaba-Doudau](https://www.westerngorilla.org/protected-areas/moukalaba-doudau/) - Full Name of Site La Réserve du Faune de la Moukalaba-Dougoua Country Nyanga province, Gabon, Africa Location of base camp 2° 30'S, 10° 30'E Status Faunal Reserve (will be National Park around November 2001) Area- study area Study area: 40 square km, Reserve: 80.000 ha Study Period - [Lopé-Okanda](https://www.westerngorilla.org/protected-areas/lope-okanda/) - Full Name of Site Station d’Etudes Gabonaises pour la Conservation, Parc National de la Lopé-Okanda Country Gabon, Africa Location of base camp SEGC Research Station : 0° 10’ S, 11° 35’ E, Mokeko district, Ogooué-Ivindo province, GABON Status most area lies within the "Noyau Central" or fully protected core - [Lossi Sanctuary](https://www.westerngorilla.org/protected-areas/lossi-sanctuary/) - Full Name of Site Lossi Reserve Faunal Country Republic of Congo, Cuvette Ouest Location of base camp 00º14'09''N in latitude and 14º30'12''E in longitude Status Faunal Reserve Area- study area Study area (50 km²); faunal reserve (350 km²) Study Period 1994-1996, 1998, 2000-2001 Focus of Project - [Takamanda](https://www.westerngorilla.org/protected-areas/takamanda/) - Country: Cameroon, Africa Location of base camp: N/A Status: Takamanda Forest Reserve, Mone Forest Reserve, Mbulu – no current formal status Area – study area: Takamanda Forest Reserve: 05°° 59-06 21’N; 09° 11-09° 30’E (676km²) Mone Forest Reserve: 05° 45-06° 02’N; 09° 24-09° 37’E (538km²) Mbulu – contiguous forest area, east of Takamanda & north - [Petit Loango](https://www.westerngorilla.org/protected-areas/petit-loango/) - Full Name of Site La Réserve de Faune du Petit Loango Country Gabon, Oogoué Maritime, Africa Location of base camp 2° 15' S 9°30' E Status Faunal Reserve Area- study area Study area approximately 20 km²; Reserve approximately 500 km² Study Period August 1997 – December 1998; - [Mikongo](https://www.westerngorilla.org/protected-areas/mikongo/) - Full Name of Site Mikongo site Country Gabon, Africa, Ogoué-Ivindo province Location of base camp 0°17’-0°20’S;11°38’-11°43’E (Bermejo, 2000) Status Faunal reserve Area- study area Size of study area: 45km² Size of entire reserve: 5360km² Study Period 1999-2001 Focus of Project Improvement of the forest fauna vision for the development of ecotourism in Gabon. Habituation of - [Species](https://www.westerngorilla.org/species/) - WESTERN GORILLAS: Recommendations for their Conservation Western Lowland Gorillas Cross River Gorillas Quick Facts About the Western Gorilla Behavior and Social Structure Western Lowland Gorillas live in cohesive groups averaging 4 to 8 individuals, although larger assemblies occur. Each group is led by a dominant silverback who directs movement, selects nesting sites, resolves conflict, and - [Nouabalé-Ndoki](https://www.westerngorilla.org/protected-areas/nouabale-ndoki/) - Full Name of Site Nouabalé-Ndoki Country Republic of Congo, Sangha region & Likouala region Location of base camp Status National Park Area- study area Size of study area = about 20 km² & size of entire reserve or park = 3865.92 km² Study Period 1989 – 1992, 1994 - 1999 Focus of - [Mondika](https://www.westerngorilla.org/protected-areas/mondika/) - Full Name of Site Mondika Research Center Country Central African Republic and Republic of Congo Location of base camp 02o 21’ 859" N, 016o 16’ 465" E Status 75% of area is national park; 25% is unprotected Area- study area 50km² Area- Dzanga-Ndoki National Park Ndoki sector of park (= 795km²) within 3500km² reserve Study - [Ecology](https://www.westerngorilla.org/gorilla-facts/ecology/) - If we look at the physical differences between western and mountain gorillas, we should not be surprised that they have very different lifestyles. The way they live in their natural habitat, their ecology, is determined by their environment. Mountain gorillas adapted to volcanic peaks as their lowland forests disappeared. Here the vegetation is poor quality - [Conservation](https://www.westerngorilla.org/conservation/) - WESTERN GORILLAS: A Strategy for their Conservation Will our children live in a world without gorillas? The vast majority of the world’s gorillas live in the forests of central west Africa, not in the mountains of east Africa. At a May 2002 Meeting in Leipzig, Germany (funded by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology - [Research and Assistance](https://www.westerngorilla.org/conservation/research-and-assistance/) - Research & Technical Assistance WesternGorilla.org is a volunteer organization made up entirely of gorilla field researchers. To this point, everything we are doing (including this website) has been done by our members. However, we are just not capable of handling everything that needs to be done. We are trying to raise the money to hire - [Work in Africa](https://www.westerngorilla.org/work-in-africa/) - Absolutely the most effective wildlife conservation strategy in Central Africa is putting people on the ground in field projects. One motivated, well educated person working at a field site can make a huge difference. And right now there is a critical shortage of such people in the region. If you really want to help save - [Protected Areas](https://www.westerngorilla.org/protected-areas/) - What is so great about Protected Areas? Unlike some other parts of Africa, much of the range of Western gorillas is still relatively heavily forested and lightly inhabited by humans. Thus, the immediate threat to Western gorillas is not habitat loss, but commercial hunting. Addressing this threat will require a concerted campaign of law enforcement. - [Sustainable Funding](https://www.westerngorilla.org/conservation/sustainable-funding/) - The critical element in building management capacity is sustainable funding. Right now, most funding for protected area management in Central Africa is awarded on a 1-3 year basis. All too often, funding from one source dries up before another can be found. The results of this cycle are devastating. Managers spend much of their time - [Gorilla Facts](https://www.westerngorilla.org/gorilla-facts/) - Some facts about Western gorillas. Wild gorillas live in Central Africa, in the band of lush forest that straddles the Equator. Gorilla range spans about 1500m (2,400km), from Uganda on the east to Nigeria on the west: roughly the distance between the East Coast of the United States and the Rocky Mountains (or for those - [How to Save](https://www.westerngorilla.org/conservation/how-to-save/) - There was a very strong consensus that two things have to happen if viable populations of western gorillas are to survive into the next decade: 1) that conservation donors and the public at large need to be forcefully educated about the seriousness of the problem, and 2) that the proportion of the conservation budget spent - [Threats](https://www.westerngorilla.org/conservation/threats/) - Commercial Hunting and the Decline of Western Gorillas Habitat Destruction is not the Major Cause of Western Gorilla Decline Most people's perceptions about gorillas are strongly influenced by the famous Mountain gorillas of East Africa. Habitat loss resulting from the rapid expansion of human populations has long been a major threat to Mountain gorillas, which - [Appearance](https://www.westerngorilla.org/gorilla-facts/appearance/) - What do Western Gorillas Look Like? Both Eastern gorillas have longer hair than Western gorillas. In Eastern gorillas both sexes and all age classes have hair that is generally black. Longer, darker hair may occur in response to the colder conditions experienced by gorillas living at higher altitudes. Western gorilla females and immatures are covered ## Categories - [Uncategorized](https://www.westerngorilla.org/category/uncategorized/) - [News](https://www.westerngorilla.org/category/news/) - [Blog](https://www.westerngorilla.org/category/blog/) - [Conservation Projects](https://www.westerngorilla.org/category/conservation-projects/)