Rwanda: Oldest Gorilla Dies
The
oldest gorilla called Titus, the most famous
silverback gorilla in Africa has died in Rwanda at
the age of 35 years.
Titus was one of only about seven hundred mountain
gorillas left in Africa.
He rose to become the dominant male in his group
despite losing family members and being born
underdeveloped.
The oldest gorilla was the subject of a BBC
documentary last year, and was studied by
naturalists throughout his life.
Remarkable
Rwandan officials described him
as possibly the most remarkable gorilla ever known,
referring to his long life and his rise to dominance
in his group.
The highly endangered animals are found only on the
slopes of the Virunga Mountains on the borders of
Rwanda, Uganda and the democratic republic of Congo.
Great loss
According to tourism officials, every gorilla
death recorded is not only a great loss, but a major
setback to conservation efforts of removing the
mountain gorillas off the endangered species list.
Gorilla tracking is now the mainstay of tourism in
Rwanda and Uganda.
BBC/Qasim/Austeen