Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 1988)
Tale of 'mist gorillas' to be told By Cami Swanson Emerald Reporter As “Gorillas in the Mist" plays at local theaters, one of Dian Fossey’s former col leagues will lecture tonight on the “Mountain Gorillas of Afri ca." Stuart Perimeter, who gradu ated from the University in 1978 with an anthropology de gree, worked as one of Fossey’s graduate student assistants for nine months in 1980. He will speak about his experiences at Karisoke, Fossey's research camp in the Virungas moun tains in Kowanda, Africa. Put most of the emphasis of his lec ture will be on the gorillas themselves. “I will present the gorillas as they are in the wild,” Perimeter said. "1 want people to leave with an understanding of how endangered they are." Perimeter estimates there are only about 450 mountain goril las left in the wild. His lecture, sponsored by the Eugene Natural History Socie ty, will begin at 8 p in. in Sci ence I Room 123. Slides of mountain gorillas, including some of the animals shown in the film "Gorillas in the Mist," will accompany the lecture. Fossey was mysteriously murdered in 1985. The murder, combined with publicity from her book "Gorillas in the Mist," spawned increased tour ism to the area. Some people are adamantly opposed to the tourists. Perimeter has a differ ent view, “It is my personal belief that if the gorillas (in the Virungas) are to survive, then tourism must be an integral part of any conservation effort,” Perimeter said in the Eugene Natural His tory Society’s newsletter. The tourism helps Rowanda's econ omy, and “without their sup port and encouragement, no amount of money or anti poaching patrols will save this species,” Perimeter continued. Perimeter attributes the rare chance of studying the moun tain gorillas at Karisoke in 1980 to Dr. Russell Fernald, a Uni versity biology professor. After Perimeter completed his undergraduate degree, he took graduate classes in animal behavior from Fernald. Fernald submitted Perl meter’s name when he discovered the oppor tunity for graduate students to work with Fossey. "She sent a wire and said be there in one month — and 1 went,” Perimeter said. While Perimeter was in Kari soke, Fossey left the camp for about three months to teach a class at Cornell University. During her absence. Perimeter was left in charge of the poach er patrols, which Fossey had established to defend the goril las. “She liked him very much,” said Tom Ellis, a member of the Eugene Natural History Socie ty’s board of directors. Ellis said that in addition to main taining poacher patrols. Perl meter was instructed by Fossey to keep another researcher, Dr. Sandy Harcourt, from taking over her facility. “According to Stuart, the pressure was really intense,” Ellis said. "He found himself caught in the middle.” One of Perimeter’s biggest accomplishments at Karisoke was reintroducing “Charlie,” a female orphan gorilla baby res cued by Fossey from poachers, into one of the gorilla groups at Karisoke. Perimeter would not elaborate on his experiences in the Virungas mountains, but Ellis stressed the importance of such an accomplishment. “It requires a really strong intuitive understanding (of the gorilla group),” Ellis said. Turning the tables, he asked, “Would you accept a human baby from a subhuman?” Returning to Eugene after his experiences in Africa, Peri meter began teaching handi capped children for the Lane Educational Service District. He is currently teaching sci ence at Springfield Middle School. Ellis said he expects a large turnout for Perimeter's lecture, partly as a result of the success of the movie “Gorillas in the Mist.” -Activities Calendar. Friday, Oct. 21 •The University and Asso ciated Artists presents “Woman’s Work," a free gallery showing at Ware house Gallery, Fourth Ave nue and Lawrence Street. An open reception for the showing will be held at 7 p.m. Gallery hours are 1-5 p.m. daily. Saturday, Oct. 22 •Learn the art of origami at the F.MU Craft Center’s Ori gami Mask Workshop. Class will run from 1-4 p.m. and is limited so pre-registration is advised. The cost is $7. Sunday, Oct. 23 •The Survival Center will host a Riverfront Communi tyPicnic on the South bank of the Willamette River near the Autzen Stadium foot bridge from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. • Discussion of social rela tionships between male and females in various cultures 7:30 p.m. in the EMU’s In ternational Lounge. The dis cussion is part of the United Nations Day celebration. THI FAR SIDI By GARY LARSON I f 0 /J Mobile hobbyists CAMPUS AUTOMOTIVE • Complete Same Day Service • Low Labor Rates • All Parts at Cost • Open Weekends Close to Campus • House Calls 485-1399 “BECAUSE WE STILL CARE ABOUT THE CUSTOMER'.’ DISCOUNT NK>KT» So-Mo O/T»-W»-f>> N.gr*y 7 00. 000/Sun IM 4:00 BEN KINCSI^Y HELEN MIRREN CHARLES DANCE "A provocatrv* fttm... un«buh*d famintol mWOdflW." -JMaamMMSiJwna "A FINE FILM, SOLID AND ENGAGING, full of Miperb actings direction and cinematography. The film at once evokes the exotic time in which it's set and the timeless human occupations of friendship and peed, loneliness and love." SHAME HELD OVER DUE TO BASEBALL TEVERI RNAL W1EKH Fr»-S*t »30 arVy / Sun-Thur 5 on* ? DURHAM Cqn»Kl: «WOHUJ»P»HT,M« NORTHS FRIDAY * SATURDAY ONLY' Fn-Sat Mdmght U S*t Main— 4:30 S3 RWCrHWWffl f"S*t mad>n*« tor want to axpanance Rocky Horror ae a mcM* wrthout «h« trar»» Lot* mlaoarty L*av» *qu*( aunt, no*. ETC m ham* L*w*J. I«cy urxt+cwmmi •ncourg*d«o«ua^^ Sun YWZ3-TTM* 1QT>7 ONLY HOT A VAILABLE OH VIDEOII sun-1 hur 11:30 i; OUTRAGEOUS ANIMATION. ■Eugene Opera_^^^v October 28, 1988, 8:00 p.m. October 30, 1988, 2:30 p.m. Hult Center For The Performing Arts Box Office 687-5000 F^aris at Christmas—one of the happiest times for young lovers. A chance encounter...a missing key... hands touch... and hearts soar. Don’t miss this beautiful love story of Mimi and Rodolfo, Marcello and Mustta. Romance fdls the stage and you will leave the theater humming the beautiful music featured in the film, Moonstruck. You’ll understand every word with the fabulous new system, SUPER TITLES. It 's the world s favorite opera and it will make you fall in love again! Single Ticket Prices start at *5.50! Martin Thompson's appearance made possible b> a grant from the Register (.uard EL!
