Mountain gorilla which is a strong ape group inhabiting parts of Africa has few natural predators. The group is however under the threat of human activities like poaching habitat destruction for settlement or charcoal burning, and civil war like for instance the case of Rwanda making the group a highly endangered species. Because of her love for nature, Dian Fossey decided to study the mountain gorillas of Africa. In her research and conversancy attempts, she learns that gorillas exist in groups. Each group consists of around 20 members who are headed by one male commonly referred to as silverback because of the silver strip on their backs. The group consists of several females and infants. Group members are never aggressive to each other, and they treat each other with a lot of kindness. The females or the mothers will fight for their young ones to death.
Poaching has been the greatest threat to wildlife over the years. In Virunga, poachers target baby gorillas for trafficking, and they were then sold to zoos in Europe. In order to control increasing poaching and to endanger the species of the gorillas, Fossey adopted a take no prisoner approach to manage illegal poaching. She decided to take the illegal poachers as prisoners and inflicted them with pain from the stinging nettle and beating from the people additionally, she allocated funds through Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International that was meant to provide funds that were used to avoid further illegal poaching after the death of her favorite gorilla (Royte, 2017). The funds were used to support Conservancy activities in Rwanda.
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Despite Dian’s earlier background and life in other careers, she had a lot of interest in the environmental conservancy. After trying other careers, she chose to pursue her interest in biology. It is through her study and interest that she chose to study mountain gorillas of Africa who were endangered species from human activities. Her study in most parts of Africa and more so Rwanda led her to make remarkable observations concerning gorillas. The main focus of Fossey’s research was to understand gorillas and find the best ways of protecting them from the poachers. In her findings, she found out that gorillas are highly friendly and less aggressive (Royte, 2017). The finding was important because it revealed that unless gorillas are provoked, they never attack. In this respect, plus the fact that the animals do not have any known natural predators, the finding concluded that it was the poachers that were responsible for the reducing number of gorillas. Again, the finding was as well important as it helped in the understanding of gorillas, not as human beings’ enemies but friends who share a lot in common with them.
In the study of gorillas and their natural behavior, the book Gorillas of the Mist was best written because it had a scientific backup and understanding. The book is based on Dian Fossey's observations and knowledge of biology as a biologist. Further, the book is written on firsthand account of what Dian Fossey observed making it factual and valid for any research reference. The other strength of the book is based on its real-life content. The book addresses issues of environmental conservancy which is a challenge to the whole world. The topic, therefore, is relevant and concern for most all the people.
Reference
Royte, E. (2017). The gorillas Dian Fossey saved: to some in Rwanda. She was a menacing intruder, but her work kept mountain gorillas from being wiped out. Today the great apes face new challenges. National Geographic , (3), 110
