Skeletal Preservation and the Life History of Virunga Mountain Gorillas

自1967年Dian Fossey建立卡里索克研究中心以来，对卢旺达已知的维龙加山地大猩猩(Gorilla Beringei Beringei)的定期监测一直在继续，并为了解大猩猩的行为、生态学和人口学做出了重大贡献。然而，迫切需要保存和管理这一种群中已死亡的山地大猩猩的骨骼遗骸。对这些遗骸的研究将有助于深入了解这些极度濒危的类人猿的生物学。与每具骨骼相关的行为和兽医记录的可获得性极大地增强了这一科学发现资源的独特性。该项目的主要目标是从大约100具已知身份的山地大猩猩身上找回骨骼，其中许多以前被埋葬过，并提供培训，帮助建设地方能力，以便对它们进行管理、长期保存和管理，将其作为卢旺达研究和教育的资源。一个由科学家和卢旺达野生动物当局组成的国际小组将开展这项多学科的工作，其中包括：确定最近的山地大猩猩遗骸的位置和进行挖掘(必要时)；清理和保存这些遗骸；在基加利的自然历史博物馆进行骨骼收藏；建立收集和相关数据的在线数据库。如有必要，将使用DNA分析确认个人骨骼身份。项目人员将与卢旺达工作人员密切合作，培养当地在骨骼准备、管理、养护和管理方面的专门知识，并执行尸检后保存未来遗骸的议定书。该项目将对科学界和整个社会产生重大而广泛的影响。这一独特的骨骼收藏将为当地和来访的学生和科学家提供资源，他们对大猩猩生物学的各个方面都感兴趣。值得注意的是，这一资源将是卢旺达和美国科学家合作研究的重点，以检查疾病、环境因素(如人类干扰)和压力对山地大猩猩骨骼组织生长、发育、终身健康和福祉的影响。教育潜力也非常重要；这一资源将在传播知识、增进公众对卢旺达野生动物和其他自然资源的了解以及建立社区对保护倡议的支持方面发挥关键作用。

Regular monitoring of known Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) from Rwanda has continued since the Karisoke Research Center was established by Dian Fossey in 1967, and has contributed substantially to knowledge of gorilla behavior, ecology and demography. However, there exists a critical need for the preservation and management of skeletal remains of deceased mountain gorillas from this population. Research on these remains will contribute significant insight into the biology of these critically endangered great apes. The availability of behavioral and veterinary records associated with each of the skeletons greatly enhances the uniqueness of this resource for scientific discovery. The major objectives of this project are to recover skeletons from approximately 100 mountain gorillas of known identity, many of which were previously buried, and to provide training and help build local capacity for their curation, long-term preservation and management as a resource for research and education in Rwanda. An international team of scientists and Rwandan wildlife authorities will carry out this multidisciplinary effort, which includes: location and excavation (where necessary) of recent mountain gorilla skeletal remains; cleaning and preservation of these remains, skeletal curation at the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle in Kigali; and online data-basing of the collection and associated data. Individual skeletal identities will be confirmed using DNA analysis, where necessary. Project personnel will work closely with Rwandan staff, to build local expertise in skeletal preparation, curation, conservation and management practices, and implement post-necropsy protocols for preservation of future remains. This project will yield significant broader impacts for the scientific community and society at large. This unique skeletal collection will serve as a resource for local and visiting students and scientists alike, interested in all aspects of gorilla biology. Of note, this resource will be the focus of collaborative research between Rwandan and US-based scientists, to examine the effects of disease, environmental factors such as human disturbance, and stress on skeletal tissue growth, development, lifetime health and well-being of mountain gorillas. The educational potential is also profoundly important; this resource will play a key role in disseminating knowledge and enhancing public understanding of Rwanda's wildlife and other natural resources, and building community support for conservation initiatives.