The latest issue of National Geographic (June 2013) features a personal account by E.O. Wilson of his observations and experiences in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. Available now on newsstands and online, the magazine article, “The Rebirth of Gorongosa,” also includes an original portfolio of photographs by Joel Sartore, who documents the diverse wildlife and landscapes found within the park, as well as the stories of people who work in and conduct research in Gorongosa.
In his piece, Wilson traces the history of the park, focusing on the restoration efforts since the end of the civil war in Mozambique in the early 1990s. He relays local folklore about Mount Gorongosa that he learned from Tonga Torcida, his assistant who was born in the area and now works in the park. And, throughout the piece, he weaves in examples of the incredible biodiversity found within the park:
“For a naturalist there is no more powerful magnet than an unexplored island. When I visited Mount Gorongosa, on my first trip to Africa, I felt highly charged with the prospect of surprise and discovery.”
Wilson’s involvement with Gorongosa includes creation of material for the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation’s digital textbook, E.O. Wilson’s Life on Earth, and supporting the establishment of the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory at Gorongosa National Park.
Links:
“The Rebirth of Gorongosa,” on the National Geographic website
Q&A with Tonga Torcida, on the Gorongosa National Park website
Gorongosa National Park website
