Site-Based Conservation
The Mbeli Bai Study is currently the only long-term study on western gorilla demography, and has provided important insights into the social organization and population dynamics of this elusive species.. Gorillas are extremely difficult to study in the wild, as the dense forest vegetation that makes up the majority of their habitat makes it very difficult to observe them and collect reliable data on their behaviour, and so a viewing platform is an ideal way to overcome this problemSwampy clearings, or bais, account for less than 5% of vegetation type in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, but they are extremely important for a number of large forest mammals. Western gorillas make regular use of swampy bais, and these visits provide a unique opportunity to study their social organization and behavior.
The slow reproductive rate of gorillas also makes the collection of life-history data a long-term process that demands a consequent long-term research investment. The information gained from long-term studies on the population dynamics and demography of western gorillas is critical in assessing the vulnerability of populations tothreats such as commercial hunting for bushmeat, loss of habitat, and diseases such as the Ebola virus.