10 August 2019 | New Scientist | 29Into Africa
Photographer Eric Baccega
Agency naturepl.comSAVING gorillas takes serious jet-
setting these days, as two female
western lowland gorillas have
just discovered. In June, Kuimba
(main image) and Mayombe were
flown from Beauval zoo in France,
where they were born, to Gabon’s
Batéké Plateau National Park (top
right) and released on an island
(middle right).
The big move was organised
by Beauval and the Aspinall
Foundation, a UK-based
conservation charity that has
reintroduced over 70 gorillas to
the wild. Kuimba and Mayombe
have already started exploring the
island, but it will take them up to
12 months to adjust to their new
climate and diet. Reintroduced
gorillas are fed until they are self-
sufficient (bottom right) and are
tracked using camera traps.
Western lowland gorillas are
considered critically endangered
by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature. Their
numbers have fallen by 60 per
cent over the past 25 years, says
the foundation, as a result of
deforestation, Ebola and the
bushmeat trade.
Reintroducing gorillas to the
wild isn’t simple, especially if they
have been mistreated and have
fractures, bullet wounds or
ligature marks from being tied
up, says Amos Courage, director of
the foundation’s overseas projects.
Then there is emotional trauma:
“Gorillas are very sensitive. If they
are neglected, the lights go out.”
Mixing Kuimba and Mayombe
with other gorillas is vital, he says.
A 12-year-old male from Howletts
Wildlife Park in the UK will soon
join the females on the island.
Once the gorillas are independent,
they will be released into the rest
of the national park. ❚Bethan AckerleyCan’t get enough of gorillas?
Learn to speak gorilla with Michael Leach
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