Comments on: Year of the Gorilla Part 9: A War for Wildlife http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/2009/08/year-of-the-gorilla-part-9-a-war-for-wildlife/ Learning to conserve at the Houston Zoo Mon, 07 May 2012 14:17:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sonja http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/2009/08/year-of-the-gorilla-part-9-a-war-for-wildlife/comment-page-1/#comment-281 Sonja Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:44:06 +0000 http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/?p=457#comment-281 How sad that humans had to give their lives while protecting such a creature. It is such a struggle to think about what is happening to these creatures...people intentionally killing them, and what is happening just by people trying to survive. How sad that humans had to give their lives while protecting such a creature. It is such a struggle to think about what is happening to these creatures…people intentionally killing them, and what is happening just by people trying to survive.

]]> By: Chris http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/2009/08/year-of-the-gorilla-part-9-a-war-for-wildlife/comment-page-1/#comment-274 Chris Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:34:31 +0000 http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/?p=457#comment-274 Thought provoking. Thought provoking.

]]> By: Julian Martinez http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/2009/08/year-of-the-gorilla-part-9-a-war-for-wildlife/comment-page-1/#comment-273 Julian Martinez Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:31:32 +0000 http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/?p=457#comment-273 It seems as though the gorillas are under attack on two fronts. One of them is deliberate and intentional: that is, poachers or hunters pursuing the gorillas and trying to kill them for profit. This is how the brave men and women of the Protected Area Authority, the Karisoke Research Center, and conservation organizations in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo lost their lives, by fighting on behalf of the gorillas in this war. However, the gorillas are also under pressure on another front: an unintentional one, created by refugees and settlers trying to set up homesteads (or simply survive) in areas where gorillas already live. Even if these refugees are not trying to harm the gorillas, the habitat loss and instability they create causes another type of strain. For me, this is a powerful argument for peace: guaranteeing stability in these regions means that people can continue to live in the areas where they have always lived, sustainably, or at least less destructively than they must do if they have to flee their land and blanket areas occupied by wildlife. In this sense, diplomacy can be an important part of conservation, simply by allowing wilderness to remain wild and free. It seems as though the gorillas are under attack on two fronts. One of them is deliberate and intentional: that is, poachers or hunters pursuing the gorillas and trying to kill them for profit. This is how the brave men and women of the Protected Area Authority, the Karisoke Research Center, and conservation organizations in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo lost their lives, by fighting on behalf of the gorillas in this war.

However, the gorillas are also under pressure on another front: an unintentional one, created by refugees and settlers trying to set up homesteads (or simply survive) in areas where gorillas already live. Even if these refugees are not trying to harm the gorillas, the habitat loss and instability they create causes another type of strain. For me, this is a powerful argument for peace: guaranteeing stability in these regions means that people can continue to live in the areas where they have always lived, sustainably, or at least less destructively than they must do if they have to flee their land and blanket areas occupied by wildlife. In this sense, diplomacy can be an important part of conservation, simply by allowing wilderness to remain wild and free.

]]> By: Aaron Brisendine http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/2009/08/year-of-the-gorilla-part-9-a-war-for-wildlife/comment-page-1/#comment-270 Aaron Brisendine Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:06:49 +0000 http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/?p=457#comment-270 While it is a tragedy that people have had to die, it is such an amazing testament to people’s dedication that they are willing to fight for, and stand up for a cause greater than oneself. I am glad that the tide seems to be turning and that people are finally starting to realize how important not just Gorillas are, but all wildlife, throughout the globe. While it is a tragedy that people have had to die, it is such an amazing testament to people’s dedication that they are willing to fight for, and stand up for a cause greater than oneself. I am glad that the tide seems to be turning and that people are finally starting to realize how important not just Gorillas are, but all wildlife, throughout the globe.

]]> By: Anika http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/2009/08/year-of-the-gorilla-part-9-a-war-for-wildlife/comment-page-1/#comment-268 Anika Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:56:00 +0000 http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/?p=457#comment-268 It's heartbreaking to visualize the actual plight of gorillas especially during a time of war and unrest. Human beings can seem so "selfish" in that they forget how they affect other living beings and the environment. Then there are the "selfless" individuals who bear the brunt of those who cannot properly fend for themselves. I have a hard time calling those who dedicate and risk their lives as "brave" because I feel that word is too simple and small for what they do/did/and have done. It’s heartbreaking to visualize the actual plight of gorillas especially during a time of war and unrest. Human beings can seem so “selfish” in that they forget how they affect other living beings and the environment. Then there are the “selfless” individuals who bear the brunt of those who cannot properly fend for themselves. I have a hard time calling those who dedicate and risk their lives as “brave” because I feel that word is too simple and small for what they do/did/and have done.

]]> By: Alicia http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/2009/08/year-of-the-gorilla-part-9-a-war-for-wildlife/comment-page-1/#comment-267 Alicia Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:45:54 +0000 http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/?p=457#comment-267 My prayers go out to the families of the victims. During war time, its easy to forget that wildlife is also affected. This blog has opened up my eyes to these majestic animals and I am glad to see someone writing about this and teach everyone about what we can do. My prayers go out to the families of the victims. During war time, its easy to forget that wildlife is also affected. This blog has opened up my eyes to these majestic animals and I am glad to see someone writing about this and teach everyone about what we can do.

]]> By: Lisa Pruitt http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/2009/08/year-of-the-gorilla-part-9-a-war-for-wildlife/comment-page-1/#comment-265 Lisa Pruitt Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:12:37 +0000 http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/?p=457#comment-265 It is a brutal situation. The people and the gorillas are in the same boat in that they are both struggling for survival. Unfortunately, people adapt faster to new environments and do not always think how their actions effect the habitat around them. It seems to me that the primary way for Gorillas to make it is for the local governments to get that they are worth money alive to lure tourists. This also means these governments have to provide a safe and inviting place for tourists. I am sorry for those who have lost their lives fighting for wildlife but i am admire them and am grateful for their dedication and ultmate sacrifice It is a brutal situation. The people and the gorillas are in the same boat in that they are both struggling for survival. Unfortunately, people adapt faster to new environments and do not always think how their actions effect the habitat around them. It seems to me that the primary way for Gorillas to make it is for the local governments to get that they are worth money alive to lure tourists. This also means these governments have to provide a safe and inviting place for tourists. I am sorry for those who have lost their lives fighting for wildlife but i am admire them and am grateful for their dedication and ultmate sacrifice

]]> By: Debbie Evans http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/2009/08/year-of-the-gorilla-part-9-a-war-for-wildlife/comment-page-1/#comment-263 Debbie Evans Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:39:22 +0000 http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/?p=457#comment-263 Very moving posts - it's very sad to think how wide-spread the consequences of war are. Very moving posts – it’s very sad to think how wide-spread the consequences of war are.

]]> By: Jennifer http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/2009/08/year-of-the-gorilla-part-9-a-war-for-wildlife/comment-page-1/#comment-262 Jennifer Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:07:55 +0000 http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/?p=457#comment-262 This is very touching. Thank you for posting it. This is very touching. Thank you for posting it.

]]> By: Kellie http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/2009/08/year-of-the-gorilla-part-9-a-war-for-wildlife/comment-page-1/#comment-260 Kellie Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:57:23 +0000 http://houstonzooblogs.org/wildconservation/?p=457#comment-260 WOW!!! This was a very moving blog. Thank you so much for bring this information to those of us who may have been blind to the rest of the worlds struggles. WOW!!! This was a very moving blog. Thank you so much for bring this information to those of us who may have been blind to the rest of the worlds struggles.

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