During the history of life on Earth, many species have become extinct. While it is tragic anytime an endangered species dies out, we must remember that this is a natural part of life.

   The problem with many conservation efforts is that they do not address the underlying cause of the problem. For example, the Moutain Gorilla is an endangered species found in central Africa around Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While many people have donated money to try to preserve the natural habitat of the gorillas, other more serious problems contine to affect them. Wars among rebel groups and poaching are probably the biggest problems facing the gorillas. Until the region is disarmed and the rule of law can be consistently enforced, the Mountain Gorilla is likely to continue to decline in number. In short, we can't do anything to help the gorillas until we've deal with the guerillas!