2009: Year of the Gorilla . . . as reported by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona, Spain on January 01, 2009

FRIDAY, JANUARY 02ND, 2009
NEW YORK, NY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2009 has been declared the Year of the Gorilla (YoG) in order to avoid the extinction of the largest living primate, by the UNEP Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the UNEP/UNESCO Great Ape Survival Partnership (GRASP) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). After similar schemes for dolphins and turtles, "the Year of the Gorilla 2009 will place gorillas on a higher pedestal," says John Mshelbwala, U.N. Convention of Migratory Species expert. Gorillas, whose DNA is almost 100% identical to that of humans, are one of the most endangered species on the planet.

UNEP warns that gorillas will become extinct in the next few decades if no action is taken. In the last decade, the number of Lowland Gorillas in The Republic of Congo for example, dropped from 17,000 to 5,000, with only 700 Mountain Gorillas left, according to UNEP. Worldwide, optimists believe there are some 200,000 gorillas left, while pessimists say there are only 6,000 left. The reasons are illegal hunting for ‘bushmeat’, deforestation, slash-and-burn agriculture, diseases like the Ebola virus and armed conflict.

The UN hopes to improve the situation of these apes by celebrating 2009 as the Year of the Gorilla. Action will be taken to better their habitat and to bring on peace in the areas where gorillas live. One such a solution is to create eco-tourism programs in order to develop sustainable habitats and avoid armed conflicts and illegal hunting. Convention executive secretary Robert Hepworth says that the initiative hopes to attract at least $630,000 dollars in donations.

The world-renowned great ape conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall is the official campaign patron. In the UK, the Year of the Gorilla 2009 Campaign will be launched at the Ice Rink of the Natural History Museum in London on Thursday January 15th between 10:00AM and 12:00PM. YoG2009.org explains that a small troupe of ice skating "gorillas" will put on a display for the international media in a bid to draw attention to the dwindling number of gorillas living in the wild and the multitude of threats they are facing. The real gorillas, like those performing at the Natural History Museum, are skating on very thin ice!

For further details and information, visit Yog2009.org online now!

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