Alive and Well!
Since the execution-style massacre of gorillas that took place this summer in Virunga National Park in the DRC, the park rangers
have been on constant alert, and have also been taking a census of the gorillas to determine whether or not any more are missing.
On September 3, 2007, the sector of Virunga National Park in DR Congo where the gorillas live was occupied by rebels fighting against the Congolese Army.
The rebels drove out the Park Rangers who protect the gorillas and looted their posts. At this moment it is uncertain whether or when the Park Rangers will be allowed to return to the park.
This most recent conflict comes on the heels of a long state of open warfare that began in 1998, that has been replete with atrocities, has killed nearly four million people, and directly involves eight African nations. In 2003, the war officially ended; however, the conflict continues to smolder and explodes into open flare-ups from time to time.
On the current situation, Wildlife Direct has commented,
"The Mountain Gorillas in DR Congo are under enormous pressure. Since January this year nine have been killed, most in execution style as in July when the bodies of the Rugendo family were discovered. Mountain Gorillas are currently facing the worst crisis in 30 years."
Alive and well!By Diddy, Park Ranger, reprinted with permission from Wildlife DirectRwimo just rang me from Jomba. The Rangers there have located a solitary Silverback called Ruzirabwoda. He went missing in January, and we think he crossed over into Uganda. So this is exciting news. We can add one more gorilla to our census data.
Ruzirabwoda was born into the Rugendo family , and became a solitary some years ago when he turned silver. He, like other gorillas, do not know international borders - so they cross as they please, and sometimes come back again.
Rwimo also told me that the Rangers continue to track the Mapuwa family every day, who are near Jomba, and the Rugendo family, who are near Bikenge. They still have the two weapons and two GPS’ that the rebels gave back, but nothing more. None of the equipment that was stolen by the rebels at Bikenge has been given back either - the guns, the radios, the cell phones, rations etc.
We suspect in fact that the rebels are allowing the Rangers to follow Mapuwa and his family because they want to try and bring in tourists from Rwanda. Jomba is right next to the Rwandan border, and in our neighboring country tourists pay $500 per day to see gorillas. I know it sounds strange, but this is what we believe. The good news is that the rebels will protect the gorillas if they see them as a source of revenue.
No other gorilla families have been located and identified in the Mikeno sector. So out of the 73 habituated gorillas, we have located 17, and of course Ruzirabwoda is an added bonus.
We are still concerned. The Rugendo family is still very vulnerable, because they do not have a Silverback leader. I am also worried about the Munyaga family. They often have interactions between the three Silverbacks of the family, and it is important to keep track of these. Interactions make families move also - sometimes large distances. There could also have been interactions involving Humba or Kabirizi . We still know nothing of either of these three families.
And the orphan in the Kabirizi family Mutazimiza needs to be monitored by Dr Jacques , who of course has not been in for over three weeks now. Noel in the Rugendo family is still healing from her cut that she got in the July massacre and Dr Jacques needs to take a look at that.
Noel, born 24 December 2003. Photo taken in August during census. Still so many questions. Rwimo will be back at Rumangabo tomorrow. We have no idea about the ceasefire that was meant to end this weekend between the rebels and the army. Bukima and Bikenge are still controlled by the army, who still won’t let our Rangers in. Jomba by the rebels. But it can’t go on like this forever so we are still waiting.
Posted by Sharon St. Joan, Best Friends Network What you can do Please visit the website of Wildlife Direct to read the latest news about the mountain gorillas, cheetahs, rhinos, bonobos, and other large African wildlife.
http://www.wildlifedirect.org "WildlifeDirect is a program of the Africa Conservation Fund, a charitable organization registered in Kenya, in the US and the UK aimed at helping Endangered Animals in Eastern Africa.
"WildlifeDirect takes no administration fee on the donations received so that the financial support can go to where it was intended in its entirely. Our core costs are provided separately through grants, primarily from the European Union."
To read an earlier story, on International Friends, about the gorillas, please go to:
http://network.bestfriends.org/international/news/17707.htmlTo show your support for grassroots movements working for animals worldwide, please join the Best Friends Network--and then please also join the community "International Friends". To do this, look to the upper right of your screen. Thank you!Photos: Courtesy of Wildlife Direct