Mountain Gorillas - Three Decades of Research at Karisoke

For the past three decades the mountain gorillas of Karisoke Research Center have been the subject of many studies focusing on their behaviour and ecology. Long-term observations on known individuals, from birth to death, as well as data on social behavior within and between groups have led to an understanding of many aspects of the social system of gorillas. The findings have made significant contributions to models of comparative primate behavioral ecology. Mountain gorillas have also been the focus of intense conservation efforts, which have become a model for conservation programs elsewhere. While most of what we know about the genus Gorilla is based on mountain gorillas, data on the other two recognized subspecies have increased over the past 20 years. This book highlights and summarizes some of the behavioral, ecological, and conservation work on mountain gorillas, and makes comparisons with findings from other study sites. Aimed at graduate students and researchers in primatology and behavioural ecology, it will also appeal to all those interested in gorilla conservation, and represents the Most up-todate and diverse collection of information available on this endangered ape.