Rwanda's Rare Mountain Gorillas and the Celebration of Dian Fossey and Her Work for Them.

I have to admit: I love gorillas. A very smart, cool animal. It's sickens me to see that there are many who still poach this cousin of ours.

On a positive note though, there are many who are following in the teachings of
Dian Fossey and yearly commemorate her work yearly on the anniversary of her murder. As it is said in the writing below, "[s]he was dedicated to the conservation of gorillas and their habitats in Rwanda and Africa at large through anti-poaching, regular monitoring, research and education."

Read on.....you will also find many other articles at the link below that touches on the plight of gorillas and other primates in Africa. Unfortunately, it's not all good news.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4564374.stm

Rwanda honours gorilla campaigner

Rwandans have been commemorating the 20th anniversary of the murder of gorilla conservationist Dian Fossey.

The US researcher spent two decades working among Rwanda's rare mountain gorillas and was the subject of the Hollywood film Gorillas in the Mist.

Local people held traditional dances while government officials made speeches and laid wreaths where Ms Fossey was buried.

It has never been established who killed her in her jungle cabin in 1985.

Fossey brought the plight of mountains gorillas to the attention of the world
Rosette Rugumba
Rwanda's Parks and Tourism director general

The ceremonies were held in the Volcanoes National Park, where she had had her research base.

Rosette Rugumba, the director-general of Rwanda's Parks and Tourism Board, praised Ms Fossey's work.

"Fossey brought the plight of mountain gorillas to the attention of the world," she told Reuters news agency.

"She was dedicated to the conservation of gorillas and their habitats in Rwanda and Africa at large through anti-poaching, regular monitoring, research and education."

During a decade of conflict in the region, gorillas have become easy prey for armed poachers.

Only about 700 gorillas survive in the remote range of volcanoes spanning the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ms Rugumba said many thousands of tourists come to Rwanda each year to see the gorillas, where about a third of them live.

Ms Fossey's life inspired the 1988 film Gorillas in the Mist, starring actress Sigourney Weaver.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/4564374.stm

Published: 2005/12/28 14:21:54 GMT

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