Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in the Likouala swamp forests of north central Congo: Preliminary data on populations and ecology (original) (raw)

Abstract

Until recently it was generally believed that gorillas avoid water. In two recent, independent faunal surveys in the Likouala swamp of north central Congo, we have found that gorillas occur at high densities, extending the known range of Gorilla gorilla gorilla_very close to the Oubangui River. The gorillas in this area fed on the abundant ground vegetation of herbaceous monocotyledons in the swamp forest. In adjacent islands of_ terra firma_there was little evidence of gorilla nesting or feeding, indicating that they spend at least part of the year almost exclusively in the swamp forests. Recent reports from several sites in West Africa indicate that swamp forests may generally provide abundant food resources that are used regularly by gorillas_.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Anthropology, Washington University and Missouri Botanical Garden, Box 299, 63166, St. Louis, Missouri
   J. Michael Fay
2. Ministére de l’Economie Forestiére, Brazzaville, People’s Republic of Congo
   Marcellin Agnagna & Ruffin Oko
3. Department of Anthropology, University of California, San Diego, 92093, La Jolla, California
   Jim Moore

Authors

1. J. Michael Fay
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2. Marcellin Agnagna
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3. Jim Moore
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4. Ruffin Oko
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Fay, J.M., Agnagna, M., Moore, J. et al. Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in the Likouala swamp forests of north central Congo: Preliminary data on populations and ecology.Int J Primatol 10, 477–486 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02736372

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• Received: 04 October 1989
• Accepted: 17 January 1990
• Issue Date: October 1989
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02736372

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