Thursday, August 9, 2007

Photo shows illegal hunting of gorillas continues

Just yesterday, I posted what could be described as a lovely picture of thriving gorillas who are cared for by a successful conservation program.

In contrast, the picture you see above, also from Reuters, is not a pretty one. It shows four dead mountain gorillas that were illegally killed in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the week of July 26. The photo was released just yesterday, August 8, by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).


I know the photo is perhaps too graphic, but it depicts reality and I thought it was important to put context in the situation that is affecting gorillas today. Yes, there are things being done to protect the species but the reality is that gorillas continue facing an uphill battle in order to survive.

The gorilla is one of the most endangered species in the world. According to the WWF, this is due to the fact that gorillas are confronted by the devastating consequences of increased habitat loss, poaching for the bushmeat trade and the spread of dangerous diseases like Ebola. And although the capture or killing of gorillas is illegal, it continues to take place, as the picture demonstrates.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This photo makes me want to go and hunt the humans that are killing these animals.

What is wrong with these people? Don't they know what there doing os horrible?

Anonymous said...

Hunting gorillas and monkeys is good. Afterwards they should hunt black people who are their closest living relative.