Left: Nikki preparing for the 2009 Great Gorilla Race
Today, gorillas are threatened, not due to a demand for their meat or their infants, but due to a demand for the lush forest in which they live. For the poverty-stricken communities around the gorilla habitat, it is the gorilla forest that provides them with many of their fundamental human needs. But, sadly, the collection of basic resources such as water and firewood is destroying the gorilla habitat and, in turn, the gorillas.
Right: Nikki (No 541, in the pink tutu) working hard to save the Gorillas!
The Gorilla Organization understands that if gorillas are to have a realistic chance of survival in the context of Africa's significant challenges, conservation and poverty alleviation need to happen side-by-side. And so they work with local communities to find alternative resources to those found in the forest, lessening encroachment into the gorilla habitat and lifting local people out of poverty. Their grass-roots approach to gorilla conservation is sustainable, holistic and has a long-term effect.
Left: A Mountain Gorilla (photogaph taken by Nikki's Dad and my brother-in-law, Ian Cockerill, who is on the Board of the Leadership for Conservation in Africa)
The project types that the Gorilla Organisation are involved in include:
Education: Africa's children of today are the conservationists of tomorrow. Giving local people knowledge of environmental issues is building a future for gorillas.
Development: Empty stomachs have no ears. Protecting the gorilla habitat starts with helping African people in need.Left: Nikki out of her gorilla kit and as she really is
Why don't you go ape and help save the Mountain Gorillas from extinction?
Every single Pound / Euro / Dollar/South African Rand helps! So, click here to sponsor Nikki and help her reach her target donation.
If you can't sponsor her yourself, you can still help by re-tweeting her sponsorship page or linking to it on your Facebook.
Every single Pound / Euro / Dollar/South African Rand helps! So, click here to sponsor Nikki and help her reach her target donation.
If you can't sponsor her yourself, you can still help by re-tweeting her sponsorship page or linking to it on your Facebook.
You can also visit Sam the Gorilla's Great Gorilla Race page and browse the hilarious photos of London, City of the Apes!
(Text and information about gorillas from the webpage of The Gorilla Organisation)
(Text and information about gorillas from the webpage of The Gorilla Organisation)
16 comments:
Wow, Judy, your niece is beautiful and so is her cause.
thanks for letting us know. BTW, did you notice tehre's been a spate of gorilla movies on TV this weekend? Is it part of an awareness campaign?
BISH: Not that I'm biased or anything, but she's very bright as well! (and she has an incredible gift with words...if she ever decides to start writing she'll be snapped up by publishers!) :)
DAMARIA: *blush* I tend not to watch TV. Not worth fighting hubby for the remote, and he likes to watch BBC, Cnn, Summit etc. Must be something in the air though!
I had not realized gorillas were endangered. And you are right. Without addressing also what drives people to hunt them, there is no solution. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
Gorillas endangered? Wow. I learn stuff every time I come to your house.
Great cause and that niece is absolutely lovely. Just beautiful. Love her costume. Thanks for showing this. :)
I just tried to comment and lost it. Grrrr google.
I had no idea that gorillas were endangered. Thanks for making me aware of this, my friend.
Your niece is exquisite. :)
Okay, the comment did go through. GAH. Now you have lots of Robyn comments. Just what you needed. Sorry. I love you. Lots. Christopher does, too. Lots. :)
The gorillas have been in trouble for many years. It seems like they're barely hanging on.
Your niece is gorgeous - apparently on both the outside and the inside.
I'll tweet and facebook.
It's important to protect gorillas and other threatened species around the world, good that someone do something about it >:)
Cold As Heaven
JUDITH: Only 700 of these gentle giants survive. The swift lithe Cheetah is also endangered. Very sad. Humans as a species breed too well and Mother Nature can't keep up.
ROBYN: You are so funny & sweet! I always smile after I've read one of your posts! Love to you & Christopher too!
HELEN: You're a star! Thanks so much for retweeting and FB'ing! My niece is rather special (says an unbiased aunt!)- she's an international political analyst in London, so brains as well as all her other attributes!
COLD: I'm actually too lazy, but luckily my pro-active niece chivvies us all along!! (Next week she's dragging my sister on a 20km night hike round London to raise funds for cancer!)
This is a great cause, Judy! Thank you for sharing all of this info with us. What a lovely niece, too!!!
What a great cause! Nikki rocks!
Judy, I gave you an award today.
http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-am-sweet.html
I found you through Helen and now I'm a friend. Every adult in my household is currently unemployed. So while I have no money to share I did send this post over to my face book friends.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Nikki sounds like an amazing person! Thanks for educating me about the plight of the Mountain Gorillas!
MARILYN : The problem is, Marilyn, that there are so many worthy causes! I tend to support animal causes because the poor beasties can’t speak for them selves and humans can be so cruel.
ANITA: Nikki *does* rock! She’s got a great sense of humour (that you would love!) too.
HELEN: Thanks so much! That’s “sweet” of you Helen! :):)
NANCY: Welcome! Great to see you here. Off to visit your site now…
PAUL: The mountain gorillas really are in a bad way, Paul, so the more people who know about them, the better. Imagine a world without our gentle furry cousins!
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