Long-term research and conservation of the Virunga mountain gorillas

Citation

Williamson EA & Fawcett K (2008) Long-term research and conservation of the Virunga mountain gorillas. In: Wrangham R & Ross E (eds.) Science and Conservation in African Forests: The Benefits of Longterm Research. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 213-229. http://ebooks.cambridge.org/chapter.jsf?bid=CBO9780511754920&cid=CBO9780511754920A027

Abstract
First paragraph: BACKGROUND: The Virunga Volcanoes encompass three National Parks in three countries of eastern Central Africa: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda (Fig. 18.1). This region harbors one of only two remaining populations of mountain gorillas, 380 "Virunga" gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei). The Virungas cover an area of about 425 km2 and contain a variety of afromontane habitats, stratified by altitude ranging from 1850 m to 4507 m above sea level. Much of this high altitude vegetation is not suitable for the gorillas (Weber and Vedder,1983), thus the gorilla population is concentrated below 3400 m in the mid-altitude Hagenia-Hypericum zone and the lower altitude bamboo zone.

Keywords
Karisoke; beringei;Rwanda; Gorilla Behavior; Gorilla Ecology

People

Professor Liz Williamson

Honorary Professor, Psychology