Conserving the
Creatures of the Forests
JESÚS ELÁ hunted gorillas and other animals of the African rain forest for about 15 years. But he doesn't hunt anymore. He has become a park guide in a nature reserve set aside to protect 750 lowland gorillas in Equatorial Guinea.
"I enjoy the rain forest more when I am not hunting," Jesús explains. "For me the forest is like my village because I feel at home here and it provides me with everything I need. We must do everything we can to conserve these forests for our children."
Jesús, who eagerly shares his love of the forest with others, is fortunate. He now earns more money protecting gorillas than he did hunting them. Since tourists are happy to pay for the privilege of seeing such animals in the wild, parks can provide income for local people and give visitors a memorable glimpse of a wealth of creatures. But conservation of this fascinating "web of life," explains the book Tropical Rainforest, requires "extensive preserves, which include, ideally, entire watersheds."*
Why do parks need to be so big to provide adequate protection? John Terborgh, in his book Diversity and the Tropical Rain Forest, calculates that a viable population of jaguars (about 300 breeding adults) needs about 3,000 square miles [7,500 sq km]. "By this criterion there are only a few parks on earth that contain enough space for jaguars," he concludes. Tigers may need even more space. A breeding pool of tigers (400 animals) may require an area as large as 15,000 square miles [40,000 sq km].
By setting aside large reserves for predators such as these, whole tracts of rain forest can likewise be protected. As an added bonus, these animals play a vital role in maintaining the overall health of the animal community.
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