Best of CASE District II Award
 

Institution: Swarthmore College

Title of entry: The Fragile Dynasty of the Gorilla

About this entry: Both a science & conservation story, and a love story, this robust feature involved a multitude of interviews with alumni married couple Amy Vedder ’73, H’23 and Bill Weber ’72, H’23 as well as with a Rwandan conservationist who work with the couple in their efforts to save gorillas and support the communities around the national parks.

The story elevates not only the saga of the endangered gorilla, but also the passion and commitment of a Swarthmore couple whose work and sacrifice helped to bring Rwanda’s mountain gorillas back from the brink of extinction. Their method of asking critical questions and being undeterred by obstacles as they worked to understand the gorilla, and the human context in which it exists, ultimately led to sustaining the species and the forested world on which it depends.

In addition to sharing their time to be interviewed, Amy and Bill shared original photo prints shipped to the college where they were included for the layout allowing readers to be absorbed by the beauty of these majestic and complex animals in their natural habitats.

Reporting for this story also included research into the behavior of gorillas as well as learning how efforts to save the species contributes to eco tourism success. Deciding to look at communities holistically changed the way Vedder and Weber practiced conservation — and now — how they teach it today conservation educators.