GorillaSound

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 12 2009 | By: gorillasound

Thank you for your patience! We are still getting ready for starting our project. At the end of February we will arrive to Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. Before this happens I think it would be useful if I introduce you us and the gorillas.

My name is Roberta Salmi, I’m conducting my PhD in Stony Brook University and I’m interested in the vocal communication of western gorillas! Yes, Western gorillas! They have been very difficult to habituate to human presence in their natural habitat and very little information of their ecology and sociality is currently known. From recent studies we are learning that they differ significantly from their close cousins: the mountain gorillas. If you are interested I will be glad to update you about their behavior.

Western gorillas are severely threaded by ebola, habitat loss, and bush meat trade. Presence of researchers at Mondika, research/ecotourism site located in the north-west forested area of Republic of Congo, will help to sustain financially the site, train local assistant as tourist guides and supervise independent projects of Congolese students for their theses.

My assistant will tell you about herself late this month!

We will collect data following the adult individuals of the first habituated group at Mondika: The Kingo group! I spent a year following the same group when I was working as field assistant at the site in 2003. I will present them to you very soon!

5 responses so far