Mar 21 2007
Richard Leakey interviewed by National Geographic on our baby gorilla birth
I just received this link to Richard Leakey’s interview on the National Geographic website on the birth of our baby gorilla.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070316-free-podcasts.html
You will remember our post on 1st March this year, when we published the first photos of the baby gorilla. It was a big moment for us - a sign of hope after weeks of hardship and struggle. Richard Leakey is the Chairman of WildlifeDirect, and the patron of the Great Ape Survival Project. His enthusiasm for the good news is very encouraging. His family’s history is closely tied to Virunga - his father, Louis, studied the gorillas, and brought Diane Fossey to the Virungas almost forty years ago.
National Geographic has also had a long history with Virunga. Bob Campbell spent many years taking fantastic photos of the gorillas, and in a couple of weeks, Stefan Lovgren, a photographer / journalist from National Geographic, will be coming out to continue this tradition.
Daily news from the conservation frontline by Innocent and Diddy, and other Congolese rangers risking their lives to save mountain gorillas of the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
My students here in America have watched Gorillas in the Mist and are interested in Dian Fossey’s efforts to protect the gorillas. After reading about how two silverbacks were killed, some students want to know more about the Rwandan governments efforts to protect these animals inside and/or outside Virunga National Park. Thank you.
Dear Robert,
Virunga National Park is protected by the Insitut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, which is the national parks agency run by the Congolese Government (because Virunga NP is in Congo). I myself work for the Congolese government and we have a large team of rangers to protect the gorillas.
I am coming to rwanda in jan 08 for a trek with epic tours - my mother and i are outfitting but i have a question about photography and best camera to bring - any suggestions?