Endangered Mountain Gorillas Make Facebook Debut: Friendagorilla

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by Amy Judd | September 24, 2009 at 02:10 pm
259 views | 10 Recommendations | 8 comments

The endangered Mountain Gorillas of Uganda are preparing to make their Facebook debut in just two days, when Friend a Gorilla (friendagorilla on Twitter), launches to raise awareness and some money towards these endangered animals. 

Anyone can befriend them on Facebook for just $1 and the money will go to help conserve the animals, of which there are only 700 left in Africa.

It's not clear though how much they will update their status, but you can see their progress and pictures and many might even be more exciting than your current Facebook friends.

Videos

Gorilla feeding in a tree

see larger video

sourced by Amy Judd

Gorilla feeding in a tree

The Mountain Gorillas in Uganda are found on the Virunga mountain slopes that border Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where such brutal fighting takes place many animals have been killed.

"Anybody with an account on Facebook will be able to click on this micro-site and get into our website," she said.

"When they get there they will find descriptions and faces and all types of photos of the gorillas in Bwindi National Park."

Source: news.bbc.co.uk


So you can not only have human friends, but Gorilla friends and who wouldn't want a Gorilla for a friend?

The Friend a Gorilla program launches on Saturday.

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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)

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0
Jordan Yerman
Jordan Yerman

at 14:15 on September 24th, 2009

I'll happily friend some lowland gorillas, but may only give them access to my limited profile. Social animals that they are, gorillas are prone to gossip.

1
a211423
a211423

at 14:34 on September 24th, 2009

Dr. Dian Fossey, one of the world’s leading female scientists, had a remarkable career, highlighted by many challenges and successes. Although her life was cut short when she was killed in 1985, her legacy has continued and grown in multiple ways. Most importantly, the work she devoted her life to – protecting and studying the mountain gorillas of Africa – has proved highly effective and has resulted in the stabilization and growth of this most endangered of the great apes, and in many other related conservation efforts, as well as programs for people who live in areas near the gorillas.

Areas of Concern:

Poaching: Mountain Gorillas are frequently maimed or killed by traps and snares intended for other animals. They have been killed for their heads, hands, and feet, which are sold to collectors. Infants are sold to zoos, researchers, and people who want them as pets. The abduction of infants generally involves the loss of at least one adult, as members of a group will fight to the death to protect their young. Poaching for meat is particularly threatening in regions of political unrest. Most of the African great apes survive in areas of chronic insecurity, where there is a breakdown of law and order. The killing of mountain gorillas at Bikenge in Virunga National Park in January 2007 was a well documented case.

  • Habitat loss: The forests where Mountain Gorillas live are surrounded by rapidly increasing human settlement. The humans' need for land, food, and timber encroaches on the gorillas' habitat through roads, slash and burn agriculture and logging.  The resulting deforestation confines the gorillas to isolated forest islands.  Some groups may raid crops for food, creating further animosity and retaliation.  Deforestation is fed by the demand for exotic woods by developed countries such as teak and ebony.  Confronting the demand is the best offense.
  • Disease: Humans and gorillas are genetically similar enough that gorillas are vulnerable to many of the same diseases as humans. However, gorillas have not developed the immunities to resist human diseases, and infections could severely impact the population. Habituated groups that are visited by tourists have the greatest risk.
  • War and civil unrest: civil wars and unstable governments in central Africa, and in particular in the Congo, put conservation efforts at risk from local militias and government corruption.

    • A holistic approach to saving animal and plant species in Africa, in particular here the gorilla, depends on a coordinated effort world wide specifically in the preservation of natural habitat. Let's hope conservation wisdom will prevail in the allocation of the donations with a minimum amount spent on administrative costs.   

    0
    Amy Judd
    Amy Judd

    at 15:14 on September 24th, 2009

    Thank you for the overview - I think anything they can do to raise awareness is a good thing.

    0
    jazzyzazzy
    jazzyzazzy

    at 15:08 on September 24th, 2009

    Yeah Jordan they do gossip a heard that too.

    0
    Micki Jo
    Micki Jo (not verified)

    at 16:38 on September 26th, 2009

    I read some of the book based on the movie "Gorillas In The Mist" but never finished it.

    0
    Watkins-Hire
    Watkins-Hire

    at 03:28 on October 29th, 2009

    is their profile up on facebook ? im coudlnt find their profile page on facebook

    0
    Amy Judd
    Amy Judd

    at 10:24 on November 19th, 2009

    This is their page

    0
    nowstormlind
    nowstormlind (not verified)

    at 06:05 on November 20th, 2009

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