Gorillas Face Extinction

New Vision (Kampala)
July 13, 2004

Kampala

The United Nations urged Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo last week to protect vital ape habitats on their borders after a huge swathe of forest was cut down on the Congolese side.

The U.N. was responding to reports that over 1,500 hectares of mountain gorilla habitat had been cleared in the Congo part of Virunga National Park, threatening one of the planet's rarest and most magnificent wild animals. There are only about 700 mountain gorillas left in the world in the lush mountains straddling Rwanda, Uganda and the anarchic Congo, and any loss of remaining habitat could push one of humanity's closest relatives to extinction.

In all of Virunga, there is only about 425 sq km of suitable gorilla habitat and so the loss of even 15 sq km is huge.

"Reports of extensive forest destruction and human encroachment in Virunga have profound implications for the future viability of this eco-system," Klaus Toepfer, head United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said in letters to the environment ministers of the three neighbouring countries.

"Evidence from satellite, aerial and ground surveys indicate that habitat destruction has occurred in some areas at a rate of up to two sq km per day," said Toepfer, the environmentalist.

Reports said settlers had illegally cleared the forest in Virunga, a World Heritage Site, between April and June. The border area has been a scene of tension in recent weeks after Congo accused Rwanda, which has twice invaded its giant neighbour in the past eight years, of backing renegade troops who briefly seized an eastern Congolese town.

Rebel groups have used the gorillas' forest home for bloody incursions into all three countries. But Toepfer said the gorillas had improbably thrived in the face of war.

"Despite the more than 10 years of armed conflict in the region, the population of the mountain gorilla has increased by 17% since 1989 and their habitat has largely been protected throughout this period," he said.

Mountain gorillas, reclusive but massive animals, which live in family groups, are one of the very few tourist attractions in the war-torn area and generate an estimate $2m annually for the region. The gorillas' plight was brought to world attention by murdered primatologist, Diane Fossey, whose work was featured in the film "Gorillas in the Mist."

Reuters