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.

Online petition asks for Florida panther protection

Members of Defenders of Wildlife, an organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities, have set up an online petition with the purpose of saving the home of some of the world's last remaining Florida panthers.

According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, there are less than 100 Florida panthers left in the wild, many of which live at the Big Cypress Natural Preserve in the city of Ochopee in Southwest Florida.

However, the National Park Service is considering opening up a part of Big Cypress to off-road vehicles (ORV's), which would take away some of the Florida panther's already-insufficient territory and put undue stress on them and other endangered wildlife that already struggle for survival there.

According to Defenders of Wildlife, the area is indeed in the most sensitive habitat of the Bear Island Unit, an area in the northwest corner of Big Cypress frequented by the critically endangered Florida panther. By signing the petition, you would be telling the National Park Service that "the Big Cypress National Preserve and the Florida panthers and other endangered wildlife that live there need to be protected from damaging off-road vehicle use."

• You can sign the petition by clicking here. (Deadline is this Friday, June 15)

• You can also learn about other ways you can help the Florida panther by visiting the Defenders of Wildlife How You Can Help page.
  
• To learn more about the Florida panther, visit the Defenders of Wildlife Florida Panther Fact Sheet.