Success CriteriaInformation report

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Body – series of paragraphs sorted into themes to describe different features of the topic.

Conclusion- A statement that rounds off the report, it can include a personal statement.

Headings and subheadings.

Enhance your report by including visual items to support your descriptions such as labelled diagrams, charts and tables.

Language

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Technical/topic specific

Mountain GorillasA Critically Endangered Species

Extinction is not just ancient history, as in the case of the dinosaurs. Rather, many animal species have become extinct in the past 50 years.

The Mountain Gorilla; like many other species are rated as critically endangered. It was thought at one point that they would reach extinction by the end of the 20th century.

Mountain Gorillas (a subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla) are the largest of the gorilla species and are split into two groups, both of which live in forests located up high in mountainous areas of African continent; approximately 11,300 kilometres North West of Australia. Just over half of the gorillas live in the Virunga Mountains, that border the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda. The remainder and smaller group can be found in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.

The habitat of the Mountain Gorilla is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda. Approximately 11 00 kilometres North West of Australia. The region, renowned for the diversity of its natural habitats and for the incredible wealth of wildlife, includes the World Heritage sites of Virunga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park in DRC as well as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda.

ThreatsSince the discovery of the mountain gorilla subspecies in 1902, its ongoing survival has been threatened by years of war, hunting and poaching, habitat destruction and disease.

War

The war in Rwanda in the early 1990s and years of civil unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo have seen waves of refugees moving into the region around the Virunga Mountains. This has led to poaching and destruction of gorilla habitat. Parts of the park inhabited by gorillas have been taken over by rebels, making surveying and conservation work difficult and dangerous. Since 1996, 140 Virunga rangers have been killed in the line of duty.

Deforestation and Habitat Loss

As humans have moved into areas near the mountain gorillas, they have cleared land for agriculture and livestock. Even land within protected areas is not safe from deforestation —in 2004; for example, illegal settlers cleared 3,700 acres of gorilla forest in the Virunga National Park.

Gorillas are losing habitat through deforestation.++++

Disease

People moving closer to Gorilla populations has meant that the species has become vulnerable to human diseases. Gorillas that come into contact with people can contract human conditions but in a much more severe form. Mountain gorillas can even die from the common cold. However, studies have found that mountain gorillas who have habituated with researchers and tourists have survived better than those who have not. This is believed to be because they benefit from the greater protection available in those areas and from regular monitoring. Increased survival is also largely due to better veterinary care of sick and injured gorillas.

Charcoal Making

Within the gorilla habitat in Virunga National Park, people harvest charcoal for use as a fuel source in cooking and heating. This charcoal production—an illegal, multi-million dollar industry—has destroyed gorilla habitat.

Gorillas live in dense forests and access a plentiful food source for their vegetarian diet of roots, shoots, fruit, wild celery and tree bark and pulp. As their habitat is reduced so too is the abundance of food.

Poaching and Trafficking

Whilst gorillas are not generally targeted directly for bushmeat, they can often inadvertently get hurt or killed by getting caught in snares or traps meant for other animals. These animals are hunted for bushmeat. Commercial harvesting and the trade of wildlife is considered a threat to biodiversity, and is illegal in restricted areas such as National Parks and of endangered species.

Reproductive Rate and Infant Mortality

The low reproductive rate of the Mountain Gorillas means that the species population is slow to build. Female Mountain Gorillas will only produce approximately 4 [surviving] offspring in their lifetime. Unlike many other species, female gorillas do not begin to reproduce until they are over 10 years of age, whilst the males mature later; at around 15 years of age. Gestation takes approximately 8.5 months and only a single infant is produced.

Occasionally infanticide will occur when a dominant silverback dies and a new male replaces him, killing all his offspring.

Mother and baby mountain gorilla in Bwindi Uganda.

ProtectionWhilst all species of gorilla are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as endangered, the Mountain Gorilla and the Cross River Gorillas are listed as critically endangered. Several measures have been taken by governments and non- governmental organisations to combat the major threats of habitat loss, disease and poaching.

Virunga National Park, established in 1925, is Africa’s first national park and home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. When refugees and displaced people encroached upon park land to flee a war zone, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the United Nations (UN) purchased emergency fuel wood supplies so that the people were less likely to look to the park as a fuel source. And as the park recovers from civil unrest, WWF has worked to reforest areas and fund anti-poaching patrols. National Parks are regularly patrolled to deter and monitor poachers

Park guards patrolling the boundary of Virunga National Park.

Organisations are raising awareness of wildlife laws and the penalties for violating them and are recruiting, training and re-employing illegal wildlife hunters as patrol guards, field assistants, teacher helpers, and tour guides.

Education is an important tool for making people aware of the importance of conserving gorillas. Many organizations such as Endangered Species International (ESI); conduct educational activities at schools and train teachers on great apes, biodiversity, and conservation. They run outreach programmes to educate people on the value of gorillas, how to protect them and how to improve hygiene to stop the spread of disease.

At present scientists are developing a vaccination against Ebola however this would be very expensive to implement.

The International Gorilla Conservation Program is helping to protect the gorillas by controlling the number of tourists who see them and money raised from tourism is being used to help preserve their habitat.

About the Mountain GorillaMountain gorillas, are often referred to as the “gentle giants” for their calm nature. They are considered to be highly intelligent with many human like qualities. Gorillas are quadrupedal meaning they move around by walking on their knuckles, their huge arms provide balance and support for their large frames. Their size and weight varies between gender, with males reaching heights of 1.7 metres when standing at full height and weights of between 170 to 240 kg. Females usually weigh between 70 to 100 kg and are shorter, reaching heights of 1.5 metres.

Distinctive Features of a Gorilla

Mountain gorillas have longer hair and shorter arms than species that inhabit lowland areas. Whilst the gorillas can climb trees, they tend to keep to the ground, living in family groups known as troops. These structured troops are led by a mature adult male, commonly known as a Silverback due to the wide band of silver hair across an otherwise dark back. The troop also consists of other younger males, females and their offspring.

A

mature male mountain gorilla is known as a silverback. Mountain Gorillas live in family groups known as troops.

Like humans gorillas will use a series of facial expressions and body movements to convey messages and emotions. They also produce over 20 recognized sounds, each with unique meaning. Unlike humans, however, they have large Laryngeal sacs within their vocal chamber which can be filled with up to seven litres of air, and used to increase the volume of their calls.

Gorillas use a range of facial expressions and vocal sounds to convey meaningMountain Gorilla Population 1958 - 2004

Year

The Mountain Gorillas are still classed as a Critically Endangered Species as civil unrest, disease and deforestation continue to threaten their survival. However the efforts of organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund, the International Gorilla Program, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and the United Nations has seen an increase in the population of the Mountain Gorillas in the Congo. Furthermore, The World Wildlife Fund reports [in 2016] that there are now 880 mountain gorillas in the world, a rise of approximately 630 gorillas in 35 years. Let’s hope this trend continues to ensure the existence of these magnificent creatures for generations to come.

Vocal Noises

Growling Aggression Panting Used by males during mating Roaring Used when feeling threatened Barking Alarmed Screeching/Whining

Crying Infants in distress Grunting Used to discipline and settle arguments Belching Sign of contentment Hooting Alarm, danger Chuckling Used by infants when playing

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Glossary

biodiversity the existence of many different kinds of plants and animals in an environment

bushmeat the meat of African wild animals as food

charcoal a certain kind of half-burnt wood.

civil unrest is a broad term that is typically used by law enforcement to describe unrest caused by a group of people. Civil disturbances include riots, property damage, threatening individuals, or assemblies that have become significantly disruptive.

commercial harvesting produce/goods collected or harvested for sale or barter.

conservation the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources

critically endangered the ranking given to a species that faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future.

deforestation the clearing of Earth's forests on a massive scale, often resulting in damage to the quality of the land.

displaced to be forced (or to force someone) to leave their home, typically because of war, persecution, or natural disaster.

extinct refers to a species with no living members.

gender male of female

gestation the period of time that a mammal carries her offspring [or babies], inside her body before giving birth.

habitat the natural home of an animal.

habituated to become accustomed or used to something.

inadvertently without intention; accidentally

infanticide the killing of an infant or baby.

laryngeal related to situated in the larynx. The larynx is an air passage to the lungs that holds the vocal cords in humans and other mammals.

monitoring the process of observing, tracking, and recording activities or data.

offspring a person or animals’ young (child or children).

rebel a person who fights against, or is not loyal to the government of his or her country.

species a group of animals, plants or other living things that are classified as alike and are able to reproduce together.

Subspecies any natural subdivision of a species that exhibits small, but persistent, variations from other subdivisions of the same species living in different geographical regions or times. For example, the Bengal Tiger, Siberian Tiger and the South China Tiger are all subspecies of the Tiger.

vulnerable capable of [or susceptible to] being physically or emotionally wounded or hurt.

vegetarian eats foods that come from plants, like grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

BibliographyEndangered Species International, webpage. Gorillas. http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/gorillas.html. Accessed: March 19, 2016.

Harris, G. Targeting English: Book 1 Upper Primary.Pascall Press:Blake Publishing, Glebe NSW 2009.

Unesco; Space for Heritage, webpage. Gorilla Conservation. http://www.unesco.org/science/remotesensing/?id_page=79 . Accessed: March 19, 2016.

United Nations, UNnewspage,web page. UN works to protect great apes habitat amid ongoing instability in DR Congo. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=46446#.Vu0vsI3VzIU. Accessed: March 19, 2016.

Virunga National Park, webpage. Visit Virunga. http://visitvirunga.org/ Accessed: March 19, 2016.

World Wildlife Fund, webpage. Mountain Gorilla, https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/mountain-gorilla. Accessed: March 19, 2016.