Are we Killers or Saviours
of the
Mountain Gorilla?
by Waterose
The human species is fascinated with itself. This
fascination is mirrored in the natural curiosity and
amazement when studying other species; the great apes
being the most similar to human beings and the most
fascinating to study. Much can be learned from these
gentle creatures whose behaviours closely resemble those
of human beings. Natures relationship with its occupants
lies in delicate balance, and any disruption to that
balance can cause the annihilation of a species. Human
interference with the natural ecosystems of this planet
put humans at serious risk of becoming an endangered
species like the gorillas of Africa. Disruptions to the
natural habitat caused by human influences: scientific
study, economics, and war, almost decimated the mountain
gorilla population. It is only through careful
conservation and preservation that the population of the
mountain gorillas has begun to increase.
Gorilla populations are confined to
central Africa and may be divided into three subspecies
differentiated by morphological variations attributed to
habitat variations: the Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla,
gorilla, gorilla), the Eastern lowland gorilla (Gorilla,
gorilla, graueri), and the Mountain gorilla (Gorilla,
gorilla, beringei) (Dixson, 1981). Population
estimates were: 10,000 Western lowland gorilla (Fossey,
1983); 258 Eastern lowland gorilla (Biological
Conservation, 1993), and 300 Mountain gorilla (Science,
1995).
The ranges of the gorillas may be defined
in geographical terms. They range in an equatorial belt
across central Africa between five degrees north and five
degrees south of the equator (Schaller, 1963). The
Western lowland gorilla ranges in the Congo and Gaboni
lowland basin on the west side of the African continent.
The Eastern lowland gorilla ranges in the eastern
lowlands of Zaire. The Mountain gorilla ranges in the
eight volcanic mountains comprising the Virungas at the
edge of the great African rift valley. The Virunga
mountains reach elevations from 11,000 to 15,000 feet.
The Virunga mountain range of the Mountain gorilla is
bordered by three countries: Zaire, Rwanda and Uganda.
The majority of the Mountain gorillas are in Rwanda
(Fossey, 1983).
Gorilla, gorilla, beringei was
discovered on October 17, 1902 on the ridges of the
volcanic Virunga mountains by German explorer Captain
Oscar Von Beringe who shot two gorillas for scientific
study (Schaller, 1964).
[Note for 2002: According to Captain Beringe's grandson, Dr. Andreas von Beringe, the Captain's given name is actually Robert and not Oscar].
Following Von Beringe, between
1902 and 1925, at least fifty-four specimens were killed
for scientific study (Schaller, 1964). The trend to kill
for science was dramatically changed in 1925 by Carl
Akeley who convinced King Albert to establish the Albert
National Park to protect the animals of the chain of
Virunga mountains. Following Akeley, came Walter
Baumgartel, George Schaller, Dr. Leakey, and Dr. Dian
Fossey; all of whom fought to preserve the Mountain
gorilla. The plight of the Mountain gorilla captured the
world's attention with the death of Dian Fossey in 1985,
and the subsequent release of the movie "Gorillas in
the Mist" in 1988 based on Fossey's book, published
in 1983.
Dian Fossey was recruited by Dr. Louis B.
Leakey, a leading primatologist of the times, and first
met the Mountain gorillas of the Virungas in 1963. She
undertook a long term study of the Mountain Gorillas,
with the primary objective being to count the remaining
gorilla population, or undertake a census. The 1981
census findings counted a total of 242 gorillas (Fossey,
1983).
Dian had no formal training in science,
yet managed, through her long term work with the
gorillas, to obtain her doctorate from Cambridge in May
1976 (Mowatt, 1987). She founded the Karisoke Research
Centre in 1967 which continues to study the Mountain
Gorillas high in the volcanic mountains. Throughout her
tenure at Karisoke, Dian fought a constant battle with
natives and government to protect "her
gorillas" from poaching and procurement for public
zoos (Mowatt, 1987). She established anti-poaching
patrols and the international Digit fund to raise funds
to protect the gorillas. Her conflicts with native people
and government ultimately led to her unresolved murder on
December 26,1985. She was found in her cabin at Karisoke
brutally murdered by a panga, a native machete-like blade
that she had confiscated from poachers earlier. "The
last words she wrote in her journal, carefully printed in
block letters on the final page: 'When you realise
the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and
concentrate more on the preservation of the future.' The
rest is silence (ibid.) ."
Scientific study of the great apes has
provided tremendous information. The primary objective is
to understand the human-like apes and to gain insight
into human evolution. Scientific studies provide census
data, behavioural information and physiological
knowledge. These studies have raised the public awareness
to the plight of the gentle apes, inspiring significant
amounts of funds to be donated for use in preservation
and conservation.
Conversely, scientific study has directly
caused many deaths of the gorillas. Specimens have been
shot and killed to be placed in museums for display.
Entire gorilla families have been slaughtered to capture
infants for zoos. There are no surviving Mountain
gorillas in zoos today. The only species capable of
breeding in captivity is the Lowland gorilla.
Inadvertently, through the habituation process,
scientists and students introduce human diseases to the
gentle apes which prove fatal to some (New Scientist,
1986). Science maintains a tenacious involvement with the
Mountain gorillas.
Scientific involvement with the mountain
gorillas has been primarily foreign influenced. The
indigenous cultures of the Virunga have their own special
impact on the Mountain gorilla population. The Mountain
gorilla population is concentrated in Rwanda with a land
area of 24,950 square kilometres and an estimated
population of 7.3 million (1990), with a projected
population of 19.7 million by 2020 (Africa, 1992). The
population density is 286 persons per square kilometre;
the highest density in Africa (ibid.). The
inhabitants rely primarily on farming and cattle raising.
Three distinct human cultures evolved in the Virungas:
the Batwa people are primarily engaged in hunting
activities (poaching); the Hutu people are primarily
engaged in farming, and the Watusi (Tutsi) people are
primarily engaged in herding cattle (Fossey, 1983). The
economic needs of the indigenous people in the homeland
of the Mountain gorillas have effected the gorilla
population. The Hutu need land to cultivate food for
their own needs and to generate cash crops (ibid.).
Habitat encroachment is the direct result of clearing
land to cultivate pyrethrum which is a small daisy like
flower manufactured into a natural insecticide and sold
in the European markets to generate foreign cash (ibid.).
The habitat encroachment and deforestation of the
tropical forests on the Virungas has had a serious
effect, described as follows:
"The main threat to Gorillas is
forest clearance, e.g. a 450 sq. km. area of mixed
forest...which contained an important concentration of
Gorillas, had by 1980 decreased to less than 250 sq. km.,
cattle ranchers and cultivation replacing the other 200
sq. km. ...Gorillas could become extinct in the area
unless positive action was taken... Disturbance within
conservation areas, resulting from the illegal use of the
resources (wood and water collectors, smugglers and
poachers) is detrimental to gorillas. Gorillas,
especially juveniles, are highly at risk from wire snares
set to capture small game. While Gorillas are not hunted
for food nor as crop pests in the Virungas, a peculiar
threat has acted on that population. As well as being
killed in order that infants can be captured for sale,
adults, especially males, have since 1976 been killed so
that their skulls can be sold as souvenirs to tourists
and expatriate residents." (IUCN Red Book,
1988).
The Tutsi use the mountain meadows to
graze their cattle, which destroys gorilla habitat. This
activity has forced the Mountain gorillas to retreat to
higher altitudes where they are more susceptible to
disease (Mowatt, 1987). There is less food for the
gorillas. Dian Fossey graphically describes the impact of
the Tutsi: "The herders ruin the
habitat...because they have far too many cattle. They
keep ten times what they need, just for prestige. There
are so many up here now - they churn the ground until it
looks as if it were plowed. They crush the plants the
gorillas eat, shut them out of the best feeding areas,
and force them higher and higher up the slopes into the
cold and wet until they get pneumonia. Those high
altitudes are deadly for them. Let Tutsi cut down their
herds to only what they need and graze them outside the
park" (ibid.).
Historically, the native governments
procured infant gorillas for sale to zoos to obtain
foreign cash (Fossey, 1983). As recently as March of
1995, the capture of an infant involved the murder and
slaughter of four Mountain gorillas. "Two of
the dead animals were juveniles, one was a sub-adult male
and the fourth was an adult female. According to Annette
Lanjouw of the International Gorilla Conservation Program
... the poachers were probably after the female's infant
because the female was lactating so that is the only
plausible explanation" (New Scientist,
1995). Native Batwa poachers killed the apes to sell the
skulls and hands to obtain money to support their
families. They also used parts of the gorillas to make
potent summu magic for themselves. Poachers continue to
threaten the survival of the great apes. Presently, the
native governments have recognised the Mountain gorillas
as a valuable economic resource.
As an economic resource, gorilla tourism
ranks third in Rwanda for obtaining foreign currency
(Africa, 1992). Coffee and tea exports are the first and
second producers of foreign currency. The development of
gorilla tourism originated with the formation of the
Albert National Park which evolved into three independent
parks in the Virungas after the withdrawal of Belgium
influence in the 1960's (Schaller, 1964). The three
parks, each under a different government are: Parc
National des Volcans in Rwanda; Parc de Virunga in Zaire;
and, a small park in Uganda (International Wildlife,
1988). Foreign influence convinced the local governments
that gorilla eco-tourism would be a valuable economic
resource through education programs in the local schools
and for the general public. The Mountain Gorilla Project,
established in 1979, habituated gorilla groups
exclusively for the purpose of eco-tourism (ibid.).
Foreign tourists paid approximately 100 dollars for a
pass which entitled them to one visit with the Mountain
gorillas. The program became so successful, that
applicants had to book years in advance. Tourism visits
escalated to 7,000 per year. Gorilla tourism peaked in
1990 with 200 tourists per week visiting the Mountain
gorillas (Newsweek, 1993). Eco-tourism of the Mountain
gorillas and the Mountain Gorilla Project had a positive
impact on the gorilla population because after ten years
it caused:
"Increased park revenues from US
$10,000 to more than US $800,000; a five-fold increase in
the number of visitors to the park; a doubling of park
guards; and, a newly built park headquarters and
visitor's information area; no gorillas were killed by
poachers since 1983 [to 1992]; a drop from 50 per cent of
the local farmers to less than 20 per cent who think the
park should be made available for agriculture; about
a 15 per cent increase in the gorilla population since
the mid-seventies, from around 270 to 370 (1986)"
(Africa, 1992).
While eco-tourism of the Mountain gorilla
proved to be a promising viable solution for both the
survival of the gorilla population and survival of the
native people, other conflicts developed in the 1990's
threatening to destroy all that had been preserved. Civil
war erupted between the Tutsi tribe and the Hutu tribe
(National Audobon, 1993). Caught in the crossfire of
bombings and machine-gun fire, a mature silverback male
was shot and killed in May of 1992. The conflict caused
the evacuation of the Karisoke Research Centre in
February 1993, which was commandeered by poachers. The
war and conflict brought gorilla eco-tourism to an abrupt
halt. A cease-fire order in March 1992 made it possible
for the Karisoke Research Centre to re-open under
strained circumstances with the future very uncertain.
Civil strife and conflict continued until July 1994
disrupting local economic activity and stability;
displacing 1.5 million people into refugee camps and
forcing UN involvement to supply foreign humanitarian
aid. Other 1994 casualties of the civil war:
"It is true that Effie, the 42
year old Queen Mother of gorillas, died during the height
of fighting last April [1994] ... [and] ... there are
rumours that Mkono, a blackback, or adolescent male,
gorilla, was killed after stepping on a land mine (MacLeans,
1995)."
Despite the heavy casualties of the
recent war, and the ongoing battle of habitat
encroachment, the Mountain gorilla population continues
to survive in the Virunga mountains. "This dire
threat, however, has inspired one of the most intense
conservation efforts in Africa's history ... the World
Bank is creating Africa's first conservation trust fund
... In January (1995), the bank approved a $4 million
international endowment that will generate about $100,000
per year. Sixty per cent of the money is earmarked for
home-grown conservation and development projects ... and
the remaining forty per cent will be used for forest
conservation research and park management" (Science,
1995).
The graph in figure 1 illustrates the
population of the Virunga Mountain Gorillas from 1950 to
1995. The data points are based on the numbers quoted in
the various sources in the reference section. 
Figure 1. Population of the Virunga
Mountain Gorillas from 1950 to 1995.
Survival of the Mountain gorillas in the
Virunga mountains has been a battle ever since the
influence of human intrusion in 1902. The foreign
influence of the scientific community caused serious harm
to the Mountain gorilla population in the collection of
specimens for study in museums and zoos; the foreign
influence of tourism caused harm by exposing the gorilla
population to infectious diseases; the foreign influence
of economic viability caused significant deforestation of
natural habitat; and ultimately human warfare
significantly disrupted the delicate balance. Human
interference with the Mountain gorillas of the Virungas
serves well as a model to illustrate what humankind is
capable of doing to its' own planetary habitat and race.
Like the African gorillas, it is only by careful
conservation and preservation of the natural ecological
systems that humankind will be able to survive.
References:
Audobon. July 1987. "With Civil War
Over, Mountain Gorilla Numbers are Increasing." 20.
Biological Conservation. 1993. "A
Census of the Eastern Lowland Gorillas Gorilla Gorilla
Graueri in Kahuzi-Biega National Park with Reference
to Mountain Gorillas G. G. Beringei in the
Virungas Region, Zaire." V64. Pp. 83-89.
The Conservation Atlas of Tropical
Forests: Africa. 1992. "Burundi and Rwanda."
Simon and Schuster. New York.
Dixson, A.F. 1981. The Natural History of
the Gorilla. Columbia University Press. Boston.
Fossey, D. 1983. Gorillas in the Mist.
Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston.
International Wildlife. 1933. "Up
Close with Gorillas." V.18: 4-11.
IUCN Red Data Book. 1988.
"Threatened Primates of Africa." IUCN
Conservation Monitoring Centre. Cambridge. U.K.
MacLeans. 1995. "High Above it all:
How War Brought Peace to Rwanda's Gorillas." and
"Aftermath of Genocide." Vol. 108. No.
6.:32-35.
Mowatt, F. 1987. Virunga: The Passion of
Dian Fossey. McLelland and Stewart. Toronto.
National Audobon Society. 1993.
"Gorillas Versus Guerrillas." Vol. 95. No.
5.:22-24.
New Scientist. 27 February 1986.
"Coughs and Faeces Spread Diseases that Kill
Mountain Gorillas." 109.1497:20.
New Scientist. 8 April 1995.
"Mountain Gorillas Fall Prey to Poachers'
Spears." 146.1972.
Newsweek. July 19, 1993. "Seeking
Gorillas Among Guerrillas." Pp 45.
Schaller, G. B. 1964. The Year of the
Gorilla. University of Chicago Press. Chicago.
Science. June 1993. "Comeback for
Karisoke. 1429.
Science. 24 Mar. 1995. "Endangered
Species - Uganda Enlists Locals in the Battle to Save the
Gorillas." 267.5205. Pp. 1761-1762.
World Press Review. September1992.
"Wildlife: Gorillas in the Midst". 48.
Postcript, December 1998
In
retrospect; after reviewing this paper I wish to make
these comments. This was my first paper, written during
my first term at Langara College, in Vancouver, BC,
Canada in the fall of 1995. This paper could be improved
with some html graphics, maps, and more detailed and
higher quality scientific citations for the paper
content; alas, please accept my humble apologies. Even
so, this topic is one that is still dear to my heart, and
reminds me of the anthropogenic influence upon the
magnificent Killer Whales that frequent the coast of
British Columbia. If this topic interests you, please
visit my Environmental
Law paper about the whales.
Mountain
Gorilla Update 2000
I recently received a
letter written by Sebastien
Honore that provides a
synopsis of the current state of affairs for the Mountain
Gorilla and he has graciously given his permission for me
to post it on this website at Mountain
Gorilla Update 2000.
If you have additional information that
you would like to post on this website about the Mountain
Gorillas, please email me.
 email
Waterose
Mountain
Gorilla Update 2002
From an Article in the Victoria Times Colonist, January 27 2002 based on an article by Natalie Angier from the New York Times
Beyond the mist, the joy of gorillas in Rwanda
This articles features claims by Bill Webber and Amy Vedder that they are responsible for the increase of the mountain gorilla population near Rwanda from about 250 to 360 over the last twenty-five years.
The good news is the increased population count; however, I wonder what Dian and Digit would have to say about the Vedder's self acclaimed praise.
email
Waterose
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