A happy and prosperous 2009 to all our readers! A special year, particularly for the gorilla, as the UNEP Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the UNEP/UNESCO Great Ape Survival Partnership (GRASP) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) have joined hands to declare 2009 the Year of the Gorilla (YoG). The YoG aims to support conservation of these close relatives of humankind and their habitats by boosting the livelihoods and incomes of local people. The initiative also aims to improve the management of national and cross border populations of primates and ones living in National Parks by strengthening cooperation between range states and providing improved support for rangers and other key personnel.

Why the Gorilla? There are four widely recognised gorilla species, and all species are being threatened by habitat loss or modification and forest encroachment, disease and disease transmission from humans, war or political unrest, and direct killing (for the bushmeat trade, traditional medicine etc.). Read more about the species and their threats here.