ANIMAL NUTRITION IN THE WILD: NUTRITIONAL ECOLOGY OF MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

摘要

All species of gorillas are endangered, with approximately 110,000 (Gorilla spp.) individual gorillas remaining. Some subspecies of gorillas are critically endangered; there are only about 720 mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) and 150 cross river gorillas (Gorilla gorilla diehli) remaining. Habitat destruction from logging, human encroachment, poaching, mining, war, bush meat consumption and disease has reduced the populations of gorillas across Africa. However, with renewed support fromAfrican governments, local and international non-governmental organizations, local community efforts and educational programs, there is hope for increased protection. For some gorilla populations, these efforts have been successful in protecting their habitat. For example, based on a census in 2004, one of two mountain gorilla populations has increased 17% from 1989. The other population has remained stable for at least ten years (McNeilage et al., 2001).