Mountain Gorillas Take Fight to Survive Online

10-year effort is the first to help dying species

(NEWSER) - Three African nations where the world's last 720 wild mountain gorillas live are finally working together to save the critically endangered animal, the Guardian reports. Until the 10-year plan was announced last week, mistrust and conflict had kept Rwanda, Uganda and the Congo from collaborating as another 10 apes were killed in the last 14 months. More»

Population of tame gorillas up 12.5%

(NEWSER) - The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen unspeakable violence, but one population has managed to thrive: the endangered mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park. The population of gorillas considered tame grew to 81 from 72 over the past year, Bloomberg reports. The gorilla population has boomed even as rangers entrusted with protecting them have been forced to flee the deadly conflict between rebel forces and the Congolese army. More»

iGorilla lets users track Congo animals

(NEWSER) - A new application for iPhones and iPads lets users use their gadgets to help save Congo's critically endangered population of mountain gorillas. The iGorilla app makes it possible for users to follow gorilla families around remote areas of the war-torn country with updates from the rangers at Virunga National Park, home to roughly 200 of the world's 720 remaining mountain gorillas. Most of the app's $4 cost goes toward helping rangers protect the primates from poachers, the BBC reports. More»

(AP) - The strategic Congolese city of Goma descended into chaos today, raising the likelihood of a bloody regional war. Government soldiers commandeered cars, taxis, and motorbikes in a retreat from advancing rebels, joining tens of thousands of terrified refugees struggling to stay ahead of the violence. Tutsi rebels said they had reached the outskirts of Goma—an important staging ground for UN relief efforts—and declared a cease-fire to prevent panic. More»

Efforts to decrease poaching and disease have helped

(NEWSER) - Finally, some good news for an endangered species: The mountain gorilla population in central Africa has swelled since 2003. The Virunga Massif, made up of three national parks, had only 380 gorillas seven years ago and is now up to 480. "This is a spectacular upsurge," says a primatologist. Experts say efforts to save the species aren't done, but this "shows that with enough effort it is possible to bring a population back from precariously small numbers," she says. More»