Ologies with Alie Ward Gorillaology (GORILLAS) with Tara Stoinski
Jun 9, 2022
Tara Stoinski, Chief Scientific Officer and CEO of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, shares her nearly 30 years of gorilla research experience. She reveals fascinating gorilla behavior, from communal nesting to their emotional depth. The conversation ventures into the ethics of training gorillas in captivity and explores how gorilla conservation efforts intertwine with community welfare. Tara humorously touches on banana diets and societal dating norms, while addressing the impact of COVID-19 on gorillas. Prepare for a wild ride into the heart of gorillaology!
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Career Shift
- Tara Stoinski initially planned to be a veterinarian.
- Fieldwork in Africa studying jackals shifted her focus to animal behavior and primatology.
Gorilla Subspecies
- There are four subspecies of gorillas, each critically endangered.
- Only western lowland gorillas are found in zoos, highlighting the limited scope of captive populations.
Gorilla Threats
- Mountain gorillas face threats from habitat loss and indirect poaching.
- Other gorilla subspecies are primarily threatened by direct poaching and diseases like Ebola.
