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Climate change affecting Rwanda’s gorillas
photo by weesam2010 (Flickr CC)
According to a UN report an increase in global temperatures puts up to 1/3 of all Earth’s animals at risk of extinction.
The gorillas of Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains in central Africa are already at risk from rising temperatures. Changes in rainfall and hotter weather mean the vegetation the gorillas depend on changes growth patterns, moving up the mountain into higher altitudes.
The gorillas provide Rwanda with tourist revenue and the rainfall in the Virunga Mountains feeds rivers and provides hydro electricity for the already poor and vulnerable African nation.
From Reuters:
Many ecosystems have already been stressed by increasing population, historical and recent deforestation, unsustainable management practices and even invasive species.
–Eduardo Rojas-Briales, assistant director general, FAO forestry department
For more on climate change and Rwanda’s gorillas watch this 7-minute video report from Deutsche Welle and the below report from Reuters.
Tags: Africa, Climate change, gorillas, Rwanda, Virunga
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hahahahhaahahhahhahhhhhahahhahahhh, you made me laugh, nice one..and that’s a good idea , hell why not?
Maybe mountain gorillas would make better mascots for climate change than say… polar bears?
I feel bad watching the video, knowing that the people in South Africa were like everybody else hoping to have a positive out come on the conference in Durban…for cryin out loud! commit now , Don’t wait for a flood, drought, hurricane, typhoon, red tide, soil erosion, forest fire befall before signing and commit to the treaty wholeheartedly, Remember when nature says ” it’s payback time” it spares no one……