Science: Gorilla Eden

The reputation of the ferocious gorilla, long live his name, tempted a U. S. naturalist, Carl E. Akeley, of Manhattan, to pay him a visit years some ago. When Mr. Akeley came back, he exploded the gorilla myth. The gorilla in his native haunts is not a monster of ferocity. He is rather a mild-mannered vegetarian wandering around in the highest reaches of the equatorial mountains of Africa. His terrible war cry, so horrendously described by du Chaillu and other passionate French writers was nothing but a rather pitiable semi-human wail. He cannot be made to fight unless cornered. Mr. Akeley, on one of his expeditions took two women and a child up into the gorilla country without danger. And big game hunters have been invading this country and killing the harmless creatures by the score, until now there are probably less than 2,000 in existence.

Mr. Akeley took the matter before the Belgian Ambassador at Washington, Baron de Cartier de Marchienne, and asked that a gorilla reserve be created in the Belgian Congo. The Baron placed the matter before King Albert. Last week it was announced by the Belgian consul at Baltimore that King Albert would create a gorilla reserve of 250 sq. mi. in extent, to be known as Parc National Albert, in a region which now harbors about 75 gorillas, a site selected by Mr. Akeley.

The announcement read as follows : “The Belgian colonial authorities are now laying off a large tract of territory in the Kivu district (the gorilla country), and this is to be a sanctuary for gorillas and for all other wild animals. Within these bounds not only the fauna but also the flora will be left undisturbed. Provision has been made for a sufficient number of wardens to prevent the intrusion of hunters and to prevent the destruction of plants or trees. The sanctuary will be a sort of Garden of Eden where the animals may live in peace, amid their natural surroundings, without fear of man. This reserve lies in the northeastern part of the Belgian Congo between Lake Kivu and Uganda. It embraces the three volcanoes of Mount Mikeno, Mount Karissimbi (altitude 13,500 feet) and Mount Visoke, comprising an area of about 250 square miles of high and healthful territory, with a variety of temperatures varying from the mild climate of the plains to the colder atmosphere of the mountain heights. Here our cousin, the gorilla, may live in peace; and the scientists, disarmed, may come and study the living animal on his native heath.”