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Good news for primate lovers! - 8/5/2008 9:31:47 AM

FirmhandKY

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More than 100,000 rare gorillas found in Congo

(CNN) -- An estimated 125,000 Western lowland gorillas are living in a swamp in equatorial Africa, researchers reported Tuesday, double the number of the endangered primates thought to survive worldwide.

...

The last census on the species, carried out during the 1980s, estimated that there were only 100,000 of the gorillas left worldwide. Since then, the researchers estimated, the numbers had been cut in half.

WCS survey teams conducted the research in 2006 and 2007, traveling to the remote Lac Tele Community Reserve in northern Republic of Congo, a vast area of swamp forest.

Acting on a tip from hunters who indicated the presence of gorillas, Rainey said that the researchers trekked on foot through mud for three days to the outskirts of Lac Tele, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the nearest road.

...

"This is the highest-known density of gorillas that's ever been found," Rainey said.

I don't know about you guys, but I'v always had a soft spot for the primates closely related to man. The David Brin "Uplift" series I think is accurate in what we owe other species nearly able to develop higher intelligence. I'm even in favor of giving them limited "human rights" in some ways.

This was good news to me. I hope that their discovery leads to more efforts to protect the species.

Firm

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RE: Good news for primate lovers! - 8/6/2008 3:22:49 PM

Vendaval

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I saw footage of them on the evening news. This is a good sign for the gorillas. We also learn much from studying them about our own species.

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RE: Good news for primate lovers! - 8/6/2008 4:28:54 PM

PanthersMom

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proof that without man's interference, a species can thrive. proof positive we should leave these endangered species alone, get out of their habitat and stay in our own already established places and stop the sprawl of the human race. i hate seeing any green area bulldozed for more damn condos and office space when suitable accommodations already exist.
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RE: Good news for primate lovers! - 8/6/2008 4:51:38 PM

hizgeorgiapeach

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~fr~

While it's nice to know that we're not Quite so close to completely exterminating one species, the fate of Gorillas in the Congo region is hardly the thing that should be making news headlines from that area.

When they start doing something about the atrocities committed against women and children - the rapes and kidnappings, the sheer level of brutality - due to constant internnicine warfare in the DRC, that's when I'll be impressed. Even if it's just headlines.

If we can get this excited about an animal species, how much more so should we be excited - or outraged - about what's happening to our Own species in that region of the planet?

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RE: Good news for primate lovers! - 8/6/2008 7:40:53 PM

petdave

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quote:

ORIGINAL: hizgeorgiapeach

When they start doing something about the atrocities committed against women and children - the rapes and kidnappings, the sheer level of brutality - due to constant internnicine warfare in the DRC, that's when I'll be impressed. Even if it's just headlines.

If we can get this excited about an animal species, how much more so should we be excited - or outraged - about what's happening to our Own species in that region of the planet?

i figure it'll start getting attention when the locals either a) get a heck of a lot closer to extinction, or b) get a heck of a lot cuter and fuzzier. Every time Western powers try to get involved in tribal shit it's at best a temporary reprieve, then everybody wants to armchair-quarterback afterwards. It's a lose-lose.

125,000 gorillas is a hell of a lot of meat to lose track of... kinda makes you wonder what else may be hanging around in there. You'd think one of those scientific groups would have done an aerial infrared scan at some point.

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RE: Good news for primate lovers! - 8/6/2008 8:01:43 PM

Owner59

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I guess this means that gorilla steaks will be all the rage again......

emmmm...taste the rarity

< Message edited by Owner59 -- 8/6/2008 8:03:09 PM >

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RE: Good news for primate lovers! - 8/7/2008 3:27:54 PM

asyouwish72

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I'm very glad to learn that there is a large, previously undocumented population of lowland gorillas... I just fear that they were better off undocumented. It was their best defense by far.

As previously noted, it does beg the question of what else is left undiscovered in that area.

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RE: Good news for primate lovers! - 8/7/2008 6:27:43 PM

windchymes

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They probably wanted in on some of that publicity that Christian the Lion got when he made a public appearance.

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