Some of the world’s mountain gorillas live in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. Mountain gorillas are mostly herbivores, but also eat small invertebrates such as ants, termites, larvae, and caterpillars. Mountain gorillas are threatened by habitat loss and poaching (illegally hunting or catching on land that is not one’s own or in violation of official protection:), caused by humans.
Eventually, these things lead to one thing: extinction. Even though extinction is part of the evolutionary process, (some die while others evolve) the rate of extinction today is happening at least 100 times faster than normal. This is important because biodiversity (the variety of life in the world or a particular habitat or ecosystem.) underpins so much of the functioning of the natural world-like food, air, and water.
Initial plans to decrease the rate of extinction ended badly. The UN negotiations in Geneva ended in a deadlock. But Dr. Gladys Kalema Zikusoka shares her secret to success. She set up the charity Conservation Through Public Health. Perhaps surprisingly, she says, carefully managed tourism has been crucial. But it only works when the income from tourists flows to the local community. Visiting gorillas is not cheap at all. You pay $600 a person. Uganda’s gorillas receive around 40,000 visits a year. That’s a lot of money and people.
Ways YOU can help prevent mass extinction:
• Reduce your carbon footprint
• Eat less meat.
• Enjoy nature.
• Don’t give up.
Please help do your part to save not just mountain gorillas, but other species as well!!!
Eventually, these things lead to one thing: extinction. Even though extinction is part of the evolutionary process, (some die while others evolve) the rate of extinction today is happening at least 100 times faster than normal. This is important because biodiversity (the variety of life in the world or a particular habitat or ecosystem.) underpins so much of the functioning of the natural world-like food, air, and water.
Initial plans to decrease the rate of extinction ended badly. The UN negotiations in Geneva ended in a deadlock. But Dr. Gladys Kalema Zikusoka shares her secret to success. She set up the charity Conservation Through Public Health. Perhaps surprisingly, she says, carefully managed tourism has been crucial. But it only works when the income from tourists flows to the local community. Visiting gorillas is not cheap at all. You pay $600 a person. Uganda’s gorillas receive around 40,000 visits a year. That’s a lot of money and people.
Ways YOU can help prevent mass extinction:
• Reduce your carbon footprint
• Eat less meat.
• Enjoy nature.
• Don’t give up.
Please help do your part to save not just mountain gorillas, but other species as well!!!
