The World and Its People

Chapter 20: Central and East Africa

Student Web Activity

"Rwanda's Mountain Gorillas"

Introduction
For nearly 20 years, researcher Dian Fossey lived among Rwanda's mountain gorillas. She documented their lives, habits, and habitat. When she realized that the mountain gorillas were headed toward extinction, she began a worldwide effort to save them. Raising money herself, she was able to start an anti-poaching campaign. Through her efforts, the decline in mountain gorillas was stopped, and today they are gaining in number.

Destination Title: Mountain Gorilla Page

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Directions
Start at the Mountain Gorilla home page.

  • Click on All About Gorillas.
  • Scroll down the page to read the information. Then answer the following questions.

1
What are the Virungas?
2
How many subspecies of gorilla are there? Which is the rarest?
3
How many mountain gorillas lived in the Virungas in 1960? How many live there today?
4
What threatens the long-term survival of mountain gorillas?
5
After you have read all the information on this site, visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund site at www.gorillas.org. Using information from both sites, create a flyer promoting efforts to save mountain gorillas.
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