The Thinker

‘The Thinker’ Cold Cast Bronze 64Hx46Wx51D cm
 
‘The Thinker’, portrays a Mountain Gorilla, contemplating as he eats bamboo. The Gorilla shares 98% of its DNA with humans, making them the third closest relative after Chimpanzees and Bonobos. They are under threat from habitat loss, poaching and disease caused by humans. The Gorilla has a daily diet of leaves, fruits, and shoots. Although they consume over 200 species of plant and in doing so are intrinsic to maintaining the landscape of the forest floor, Bamboo is an important part of their diet and often leads to changes in gorilla ranging patterns, bringing them closer to man and danger in bamboo season. Bamboo is a symbol of strength, flexibility, and growth. If the Gorilla are to survive extinction, ways to enhance flexibility as human populations encroach on gorilla habitat have been established and in doing so have strengthen the growth in Gorilla population. What seemed to be a bleak outlook for the Gorilla a couple of decades ago, has begun to look a bit more positive in recent years due to conservation efforts but we still have a long way to go. Donations from sales of The Thinker have been donated to DSWF to support the conservation efforts for the Gorilla. "When you realize the value of all life, you learn to dwell less on what is past and concentrate more on the preservation of the future." Quote by Dian Fossey