Gorilla poaching in the Republic of Congo continues unabated according to the latest research. The most recent known death was a female gorilla killed near Ndinga Village in November, while gorilla meat is still for sale in food markets of Pointe Noire, the republic's second largest city.
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| Gorillas killed in 2007 - probably by charcoal poachers. |
During December 2010 and February 2011, Endangered Species International (ESI) undertook several field expeditions in the deep rainforest between Loaka and Boungolo in the Kouliou region of the Republic of Congo to locate remaining western lowland gorillas. Bushmeat remains the biggest threat to these gorillas' survival. The ESI team also held conservation awareness programmes throughout the villages.
During the field surveys, ESI discovered and followed a previously unidentified group of gorillas. Approaching them was extremely difficult because the gorillas strongly feared humans -confirming that hunting pressure is high.
The group was found in Marantaceae swampy forest making difficult to follow them closely. ESI observed the gorillas from a distance of about 20 meters throughout the thick vegetation. Seven recent and fresh nests were found. Gorillas construct nests each night from leaves and branches.
Ebola and forest destruction are also worries
Although there is delight on the discovery of gorillas between Loaka and Boungolo, this is tempered by fears that many more gorillas may be taken each year outside the region pushing their populations closer to extinction. Other threats include forest destruction and diseases such as Ebola.
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| SEARCH: ESI lead biologist Franck Makoundi looking for gorillas in the Kouliou region of the Republic of Congo. [Credit: Endangered Species International] |
In August 2009, ESI revealed that western lowland gorillas were sold as bushmeat in Kouliou of the Republic of Congo. Gorilla meat is sold pre-cut and smoked for about $6 per ‘hand-sized' piece. A subsequent expedition to find the source of the meat found that two gorillas had been killed in just over a week. To this day, gorilla meat is still for sale and strong local conservation and livelihood activities are urgently needed to save remaining gorillas.
Source: Wildlife Extra [March 10, 2011]