Scientists: Aggressive Poaching Could Wipe Out Gorilla Population in Areas of Congo

Foxnews ^ | 9/16/2009 | Staff

[Red in Blue PA]

They may look fierce, but gorillas are no match for poachers who are hunting them so relentlessly the massive animals could soon be wiped out from their home in the Republic of Congo.

As many as 100 gorillas a year are slaughtered by poachers and sold for bush meat in a single region in the Republic of Congo, an environmental group tells the BBC.

If poaching in the region continues at its current rate, gorillas could last another decade, but not longer.

SLIDESHOW: The World's Largest Primates.

Endangered Species International carried out an undercover investigation in Kouilou, a region 80 miles North from the Congo city of Pointe-Noire, the country's second-largest city and a major port. The team tracked the gorilla population and observed the poachers in the field.

"According to interviews and field surveys, we think we may have about 200 gorillas left in the area," Pierre Fidenci, the group's president, told the BBC.

[Red in Blue PA]

Absolutely sickening.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Aren’t you hungry for some gorilla steak?

[Joe 6-pack]

Sounds like the poachers are using gorilla tactics ;-)

[dalebert]

lol they get to kill off big gorillas and our government wont let us give up a fish to grow food to save humans

[rfp1234]

A perfect assignment for Her Thighness.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Aren’t you hungry for some gorilla steak?

They’re better grilled than poached.

Now, spotted owl eggs, on the other hand...

[rahbert]

No kidding. This is close to cannibalism.

Besides its a great way to introduce the next killer disease

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Watch....these scientists will be called out by the Race Baiters...for blaming blacks for eating gorilla burgers and gorilla stew....

[Jeff Chandler]

This is close to cannibalism.

Hmm?

[Bigg Red]

Bush’s fault!

[rahbert]

Only a little more body hair than some guys I know..

[Buckeye McFrog]

Gorilla, the other-other-other-other-other White Meat....

[himno hero]

All throughout bush africa. You can include baboon, momkey , chimpanzee...”bush goat”, squirrels, ... too many to list... if it moves its on tonites menu. They will eat it all. The when its gone they will probably turn to one another again.

Farming? Whats that? You grow animals? Why? Here we just go to the bush and get fresh meat.....

Sad but true

[TexasFreeper2009]

Actually that would be the one thing that could actually SAVE them.

If we ate them then they would be farmed like cattle and we would have millions of them.

The best thing we could do it grill up some ape burgers.

[calex59]

Here's the bottom line, this may be sickening but ask yourself this: Why is their a market for this meat and how many other animals of any size live in that area? One more question: How much food is available to the general population and how difficult is it to obtain it? Is the population generally starving or is this just a religious or superstitious thing.

My guess? They are short on meat and will pay someone money to get it. If there was no demand for the meat there would be no poachers.