Gorilla in 1967: Karisoke founded
[34] [gorilla-1-34] In 1967, the field log for Gorilla is headed “Karisoke founded.” The figure kept beside that heading is 1972. It is a count or a date from the work, not a rank of the species’ worth. A zoo birthday card does not replace the log. A forest clearing in Nouabale-Ndoki where western gorillas come for minerals -- a platform study that rarely makes a biopic.
Francine Patterson project treated signs as words. Linguists remain split. The atlas files Koko as culture and a research programme, not as proof that wild western gorillas recite English. Why the lowest resilience in the 24? CR western gorillas plus Ebola, logging and hunt. Mountain gorilla rebound is real and is a different species card.
Did Gorillas in the Mist help the type? The 1988 film helped mountain gorilla tourism and the Fossey myth. Western lowland numbers kept falling on a different map. Western lowland gorillas are the usual zoo gorilla. Captive groups do not replace Gabon and Congo forests. A mountain gorilla poached in 1977. Fossey used the death to fund anti-poaching -- a mountain, not western, story that still titles books.
Gorilla is one of 24 types in this animals atlas. The pages treat it as a full system -- history, anatomy, operating principles, culture, icons, future pressure and market shape -- not a ranking of a best species. Scores compare the gorilla with the other 23 types on speed, intelligence, range, resilience, cultural impact and ecological role. They are relative editorial marks. Resilience high means more secure; low means threatened. Western gorilla Critically Endangered; mountain gorilla (a different species, G. beringei) is Endangered after a guarded rebound. Resilience here follows the atlas type: CR.
Keep 1967, “Karisoke founded,” and 1972 together or the note on Gorilla stops being that year’s record.1967
Figures to keep
- Year of the note
- 1967
- Figure to keep
- 1972
- Species
- Gorilla
- Line in the log
- Karisoke founded
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