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Exploitation of gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla savage & Wyman 1847 in Rio Muni, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, West Africa

1981; Elsevier BV; Volume: 19; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0006-3207(81)90048-3

1873-2917

Jordi Sabater i Pi,

Animal Behavior and Reproduction

Los gorilas de Rio Muni han sido explotados muy intensamente para el logro de ejemplares destinados a los Parques Zoológicos y a los Centros de Investigación. Comprobamos que durante 30 meses (septiembre 1966 a febrero 1969) fueron capturados en Río Muni 34 gorilas jovenes; cifra que debe aumentarse con 29 gorilas que sucumbieron dentro del contexto de la captura; ello representa una cifra total verificada de 63 gorilas eliminados de la naturaleza durante este espacio de tiempo. Considerando le enorme presión predatoria que sufren estos animales en Riío Muni y en Africa occidental en general en la doble vertiente de animales capturados vivos o animales muertos como alimento, estimatos que la única solución para su salvaguarda estriba en la creación de Parques Naturales y Reservas bajo un control estricto y supervisión internacional. Caso de no llevarse a cabo estas acciones a la mayor brevedad posible el futuro de estos extraordinarios animales estará seriamente amenazado. The gorillas of Rio Muni have been very heavily exploited in order to obtain specimens for zoological parks and research centres. During 30 months (September 1966 to February 1969) 34 young gorillas were shown to have been captured in Rio Muni: This figure was increased by 29 which were killed in the process of capturing the young; thus 63 were verified as having been eliminated from the wild during that time. Considering the heavy predation that these animals face in Rio Muni and in West Africa in general, in terms of live captures and animals killed for food, the only solution for their protection is the creation of National Parks and Reserves under strict control and international supervision. If this action is not carried out as soon as possible, the future of these extraordinary animals will be severely threatened.