Evening star., 1932-03-01
GOR|LLAS MANAGE
THEIR OWN LAND
1000 Inhabit 700-Square-
Mile Area in Africa Under
Belgian Protectorate.

The gorilla, alone among animals,
has q country.
A 70o-square- area in the heart
of Africa constitutes Gorilla Land-es-
sentially a gorilla nation under a Bel
Kian protectorate. Within this country,
trom which outsiders are excluded rigid
ly unless they are on scientific expedi-
tions which meet tr.e approval Of the
Belgian government, the great apes who
generally are recognized as mans clos
est relatives on earth, are free TO nan
are their own affairs and are given
probably greater protection than is ac-
corded any aboriginal tribe. They are
immune from hunters and collectors.
The administration Of Gorilla Land Is
vested in an international committee OF
10 distinguished scientists, among whom
are DR.. John c. Merriam. president oil
the Carnegie Institution OF washington,
and Dr.. Henry Fairfield Osborn OF the
American Museum of Natural History.
They are known as the Commission du
Pare National Albert-as tie gorilla
country is known. Their duty is 10
administer the country under the Bel
yiarl government in the interests OF the
Toriilas. The right to kill or capture
one of the great apes would be nc
corded only under the most eXcep-
tional circumstances-probab not at
nil.
Race Growing Scarcer.
The mountainous Albert National
lark Is one Of the two places on earth
there the gorilla still is found. The
ther area Is a mountainous stretch OF
he British CAMERON region OF west
,frica, Here, although there Is no spe-
,iai administrative provision for gorll-
IS, the animals are protected by the
most stringent laws and it is doubtful
neither the British government would
How the killing or capture Of one OF
lem under any circumstances.
This is one Of the reasons why sucn
renuous efforts are being made to
reserve the life of Ngi, the little goril-
=. ut the National BIOLOGICAL Park. The
nief reason, however, is the lovable
srsonality OF the little ape himself.
Q came from a corner Of the CAMERON
,rion, Spanish Guinea, into which
1rilla families occasionally wander
ad where the protective laws have
sen applied very rigidly since his cap
Ire
There are only two or three thousand
yrillas, at the most, In the world.
orilla Land has population OF only
Sout 1000. In the past the great
,es, who bred very slowly, have been
aughtered ruthlessly. Few have been
ought into captivity. 1t would be
= rpossible to capture an adult. and the
: ,pture Of an infant usually has been
lssible only by the slaughter OF the
Aole family, Father, mother and
''1ildren stick together when danger
'''reatens.
The establishment Of the gorilla
: nctuary was due largely to the efforts
= the American explorer. Carl Akeley,
10 conducted an expedition into the
'ountains OF the Belgian Congo 10
>ars ago. He was 30 impressed by the
pending extinction of the animals
at on his return he placed the mat
y before Dr. Merriam and other Amer
1 an scientists.
Appealed to Albert.
These in turn appealed to King Al
'-.rt through Baron de Cartier, Belgian
AMBASSADOR to the United States. who
came an enthusiastic supporter Of the
|. opposed gorilla country.
King Albert In 1925 issued procla-
-ation establishing the gorilla sane
: ary over about 25o,o00 acres. Later
+ was found that the ape packs roamed
or . much larger territory and the
rpetuAl sanctuary was increased to
present size by another proclamation
4U<S. IcSGTVdtlOil SlIudtCO
northeastern part Of the Belgian
,rgo between Lakes Kivu and Uganda
Id includes three large volcanoes. 1t
divided into four great reserves.
The gorillas live at an altitude Of
tween 1000 and 10000 feet in q
snsely forested country-largely COW
ed with bamboo stalks. The tender
,mboc shoots are their chief article Of
ct. They live In continually moving
nds. Each night q band builds q
st, sometimes In low tree and some
mes on the ground, but nearly always
,andons 1t the next day. They have
permanent homes.
In the middle Of Gorilla Land is the
ave of Akeley, who died there in
)26 after successfully starting the
sovement to have the sanctuary es-
slblished.
Nearest Human Type.
The gorilla, it is explained by DR..
'Tillian M. Mann, director Of the Zoo,
no Is waging the constant fight to
eep N'Gi alive, is credited generally
fth being the closest to human" of
4 the anthropoids. He is not, of
purse, considered part Of the ancestral
1ock OF man, but as sort OF distant
ousin. He Is the nearest human in
opearance, and his habits appear to
pproach closer TO those Of man than
is liarest rival, the chimpanzee.
He also has q slightly larger brain,
nth q capacity Of about 900 cubic CEN
timeters. compared to 900 cubic cent?
leters for the most primitive human
kuns in the collections of the National
f,rseum here. Unlike other apes-ap-
reaching in this respect close to man
he gorilla Is poor climber. He is at
lone only on the solid earth, and man,
n the whole, Is much better equipped
o take care Of himself in the treetops
HELD ON PISTOL CHARGE