Earlier this year, WCS conservationists discovered 125,000 western lowland gorillas in the Republic of Congo and helped create a new national park to protect Cross River gorillas in Cameron.

The Year of the Gorilla campaign will support action to protect gorilla habitat. It will fund and train rangers, support scientific research, raise awareness about the plight of gorillas, and help develop ecotourism and other alternative sources of income for people living near gorilla habitat.

The Wildlife Conservation Society is working to protect all four gorilla subspecies. They are enthusuastic about the world's interest in gorillas and know that it will take an effort by many partners to ultimately save this iconic species from extinction.

The main threats to gorillas are hunting for food, traditional medicine, destruction of habitat, mining, production of charcoal, the effects of armed conflicts and diseases.

For more information visit The Wildlife Conservation Society at www.wcs.org.

These magnificent primates are available on a strictly limited basis in their natural habitat by eco-tourists from around the world. Gorilla viewing permits are extremely limited, and must be obtained many months in advance. We would be happy to be of assistance in obtaining those permits, customizing a gorilla expedition as well as an African Safari.

Debbie Lloyd, The Travel Broker