Tag archives for Poaching
Posted by Poaching and the spread of the Ebola virus may cause a quick extinction of gorillas in central Africa, according to a new study by the United Nations. An increase in the human population, logging, and mining for minerals used in cell phones also contribute to the gorilla decline.
Gorilla populations are down from about 17,000 in the mid-1990s to 5,000 eastern lowland gorillas today.
Read the full story on National Geographic News.
Find out about the rescue of a baby gorilla.
Get the facts on mountain gorillas.
Find out about, Mystery Gorillas, a new Nat Geo Wild show premiering April 5.
Photograph by Brent Stirton
The wild tiger population in Asia’s Mekong River region has dropped by 70 percent in just over a decade, from 1,200 tigers to only about 350 remaining, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Poachers are hunting the tigers for use in traditional medicine.
This year, 2010, is the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese Zodiac. Later this month,
ministers from 13 tiger range countries will meet in Thailand for a
conference on tiger conservation. It’s hoped the governments will agree
on future needs in protecting this big cat from extinction.
Read more about the tigers on National Geographic News.
Learn about the Big Cats Initiative.
Luke Dollar is trying to save big cats. Read an Interview With Luke Dollar.
