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Cattledog

(5,914 posts)
Sat Jun 15, 2019, 02:39 PM Jun 2019

Gorilla Youngsters Seen Dismantling Poachers' Traps--A First.

PUBLISHED JULY 18, 2012

Just days after a poacher's snare had killed one of their own, two young mountain gorillas worked together Tuesday to find and destroy traps in their Rwandan forest home, according to conservationists on the scene.

"We are the largest database and observer of wild gorillas ... so I would be very surprised if somebody else has seen that," Vecellio added.

Bush-meat hunters set thousands of rope-and-branch snares in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, where the mountain gorillas live. The traps are intended for antelope and other species but sometimes capture the apes.

Adults are generally strong enough to free themselves. Youngsters aren't always so lucky.

Just last week an ensnared infant named Ngwino, found too late by workers from Karisoke, died of snare-related wounds. Her shoulder had been dislocated during escape attempts, and gangrene had set in after the ropes cut deep into her leg.

The hunters, Vecellio said, seem to have no interest in the gorillas. Even small apes, which would be relatively easy to carry away for sale, are left to die.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/07/120719-young-gorillas-juvenile-traps-snares-rwanda-science-fossey/?fbclid=IwAR2S1L9pcl3WHnEETlU-KRM1YC885qKCaNbO3VbaiI4bHN3eTcZNN93RgYQ

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Gorilla Youngsters Seen Dismantling Poachers' Traps--A First. (Original Post) Cattledog Jun 2019 OP
free condoms and pregnancy prevention pills for everyone nt msongs Jun 2019 #1
Just astounding Bayard Jun 2019 #2
Wouldn't that have been the thrill of a lifetime?!! Duppers Jun 2019 #5
wow, loved that! thanks. mountain grammy Jun 2019 #6
I have to agree. 😟 BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2019 #7
👍👍 Duppers Jun 2019 #11
Great footage! I'd have been both terrified and thrilled Bluepinky Jun 2019 #8
Smarter than certain other primate offspring one can think of sandensea Jun 2019 #3
Just one of the gang... Ligyron Jun 2019 #4
I did notice Bayard Jun 2019 #9
K&R. I love that this, hopefully it will happen more. JudyM Jun 2019 #10

Bayard

(22,063 posts)
2. Just astounding
Sat Jun 15, 2019, 03:19 PM
Jun 2019

Non-violent resistance. And so damn smart!

Here's another clip from the same site that is a jaw-dropper too.

Duppers

(28,120 posts)
5. Wouldn't that have been the thrill of a lifetime?!!
Sat Jun 15, 2019, 04:56 PM
Jun 2019

I had seen this clip before but enjoyed it again.

Some how seeing wildlife has always thrilled me, especially their voluntary interactions..
(Rather like with "my" little gray fox who plays with my Lab and follows us on our nightly walks. Knowing that he seems to be as intrigued with us as we are with him warms the cockles of my heart. And we've have known this little guy for over a year now.)

mountain grammy

(26,620 posts)
6. wow, loved that! thanks.
Sat Jun 15, 2019, 05:30 PM
Jun 2019

Imagine how nice planet earth would be if evolution had stopped right there.

Ligyron

(7,632 posts)
4. Just one of the gang...
Sat Jun 15, 2019, 04:14 PM
Jun 2019

That video, OMFG!

Thought you weren't suppose to show your teeth? Oh, well what do I know? I don't have any gorillas grooming me...

Bayard

(22,063 posts)
9. I did notice
Sat Jun 15, 2019, 09:02 PM
Jun 2019

This gentleman is careful not to look any of them in the eye. Taken as a threat by many species.

JudyM

(29,236 posts)
10. K&R. I love that this, hopefully it will happen more.
Sat Jun 15, 2019, 09:49 PM
Jun 2019

Now if they can only learn how to disarm poachers’ guns.

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