FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

To celebrate the Year of the Gorilla (YoG), the African Conservation Foundation and Canadian high realist artist Daniel Taylor created a special edition of the Mountain gorilla print series.

This powerful art work features the Mountain gorilla, flagship species of the famous Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa.

The UNEP Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the UNEP/UNESCO Great Ape Survival Partnership (GRASP) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) have joined hands to declare 2009 the Year of the Gorilla.

The "Year of the Gorilla" was launched at a ceremony in Rome by UN officials with the help of Prince Albert II of Monaco and representatives from more than 100 governments.

“We are excited to be working together with UNEP, GRASP and WAZA,” said Daniel Taylor. “The Mountain gorilla painting is very popular and we are thrilled to be making it available as a special edition to the public.”

Experts have warned that without urgent action gorillas will become extinct in the wild within a few decades.  Three out of the four gorilla species are listed as critically endangered.

Why Gorillas are Endangered

Gorillas are under increasing threat of extinction as a result of unsustainable human activities. Human poverty in the gorilla range states is one of the most important factors. Gorillas are threatened by armed conflicts, diseases, deforestation and bushmeat hunting.


“People living in and around the last forested areas are struggling to survive," said YoG Patron Jane Goodall. “If we can’t help these people find ways of living that do not involve continual destruction of the forest, we shall fail in our efforts to protect these wonderful great apes—our closest living relatives."

Only 700 mountain gorillas and less than 350 Cross River gorillas are left in the wild.

Year of the Gorilla Edition

The Year of the Gorilla Edition comes in two sizes: a fine art giclée of 16 ½ x 24" (edition: 120) and an exclusive canvas edition (10 prints only!) of 27 ¾ x 40".
Goal of the special release is to support the YoG initiatives and raise funds and awareness for gorilla conservation by the Great Ape Survival Partnership (GRASP).  You can choose how your donation is spent by selecting a project.  80% of the revenues will go directly to the project that you donated to.

For more information about the campaign and prints, please visit:
www.africanconservation.org
http://www.art-for-africa.net
http://yog2009.org

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