Gorilla Protection

Sep 20 2007

Social Structure of Habituated Mountain Gorillas of DR Congo

44 Responses to “Social Structure of Habituated Mountain Gorillas of DR Congo”

1. # Linda & G4G, UKon 20 Sep 2007 at 8:28 am

   Diddy, Innocent,
   I’m concerned re Mambo who was with Mapuwa group (his son). He’s not there as a BB or SAM? Neither can I see him with other families near Djomba. He must be at least 5 now or even 7? Sorry to ask re one individual…
   Take great care guys - you’re doing a desperately dangerous job.
   Thoughts are with you always.

2. # Wanda, Atlantaon 20 Sep 2007 at 8:35 am

   I pray they are all there and ok!

3. # STEPHANIEon 20 Sep 2007 at 8:41 am

   We pray for you all everyday in the hopes that peace and tranquility finds you and the Gorillas soon. I wish so desperatly to be there and make a diffrence……. Diddy and all really stay safe, with out you guys there is NO protection. Steph

4. # Lisaon 20 Sep 2007 at 8:52 am

   Diddy and Innocent, Thank you for that detailed information. It’s a good thing you did the census in August, before all this fighting broke out, so that at least you have a point of reference. You guys are my heros. I’ve heard people say that before on this blog. It’s really the truth! Please stay safe and know that you have people out here wishing you all the best and in complete of admiration of all that you do and sacrafice. Thank you. Lisa, California

5. # sheryl, washington dcon 20 Sep 2007 at 9:23 am

   Here’s another angle to use to get the attention of our legislators: Nkunda is kidnapping children from schools to use the girls as sex slaves and the boys as fighters. This violates all kinds of international laws and makes him lower than pond scum. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hZpxNFk9Uzjjgv-KyIvB-KOBkRsg

   s.

6. # Lisaon 20 Sep 2007 at 9:47 am

   It’s appalling! As a Mother of two boys, I try to place myself right in the shoes of a Mother in Congo whose child has been taken from her, out of their school yard and made to do horrible, unspeakable acts. These kinds of things absolutely must stop. And as citizens of the U.S., the country who has visited this site more than any other, we must start campaigning to end all of this violence in the Congo. I remember something Oprah said on her show one day, it goes something like this: Now that we have seen this, we can not turn a blind eye, we must do something to help. 16,450 visits (during this 4-week period) from the United States alone. That’s alot of people that have seen and know what’s going on. Let’s go people. Lisa, California

7. # louise, UKon 20 Sep 2007 at 10:35 am

   Thanks Sheryl, also read that article, and yes probably is the way to go. They need to be stopped no question, i’m not a mother but want to be. its make me wonder, why and what world would i be bringing them into. I think fury is an understatement. Been emailed a link by WWF, about what F. Pechir was referring re wood for villagers.
   http://www.panda.org/how_you_can_help/donate/help_virunga_gorillas/index.cfm

   i Have voted for WWF on the search kindly website, but if they come head to head, i will vote for Wildlife direct, as i personally feel that WWF is already very well supported, and i suspect a lot more well known.

8. # F. J. PECHIRon 20 Sep 2007 at 12:17 pm

   Thank you Diddy and Innocent for this interesting details. You all have done a fine work with that census. Louise, you are right in your comment. If WWF and Wildlife Direct comes head to head all of us must vote for Wildlife Direct in order that the funds collected in this month can go directly in the help of the Congo rangers and our beloved gorillas. But to reach that point we must first ensure that WWf win the actual poll in Search Kindly in order that only WWF and Wildlife Direct could be the finalist of this month, but this may not happen. If you check the site of Search Kindly Heifer International is almost with the same puntuation as WWF and if Heifer wins and become a finalist with Wildlife Direct and win…so any funds will be sent in help of our gorillas and their heroic protectors. We all must now vote for WWF, so only this Institutions can compete for the money this month. And as I said, if Heifer wins the actual poll, maybe no money can be sent to WD if heifer wins the final votation.

9. # Wanda, Atlantaon 20 Sep 2007 at 12:34 pm

   I am not a religious buff, I do believe in GOD but I am not one who can quote the Bible - I ran across these on a website for animal rights and it just hit me hard for some reason today-

   “‘For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains … the world is mine and all it contains,’ said God.” (Psalm 50:10)

   “A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, the wicked are cruel.” (Proverbs 12:10)

   Maybe God knows our animals MUST survive and he will help someone help our precious African wildlife soon!

10. # F. J. PECHIRon 20 Sep 2007 at 1:01 pm

    More bad news! the Ebola, a fatal illness that has already almost put at the brink of extintion the western lowland gorilla, has been conffirmed in Kampungu, a place in the DRC. I just don´t want to think what could happen if this virus can get to the Virunga area with so many refugees coming and going… The Ebola is transmited by bodily fluids and even a dead corpse can be potentially dangerous. Apart from the refugees, there are in the gorilla sector so many rebels and army members that could have come from who-knows where…I just hope that the Ebola virus doesn´t reach the area. That could be demolishing for the gorillas… I´m also wondering about the wellfare of the two little gorillas rescued in the last months, are they fine?. Can someone in Wildlife Direct tell me something about them? I will really appreciate the information. Thank you in advance…

11. # adminon 20 Sep 2007 at 1:08 pm

    I just went on to Search Kindly to vote for WildlifeDirect and we are no longer on there??? i dont understand!

12. # F. J. PECHIRon 20 Sep 2007 at 2:05 pm

    ADMIN
    Wildlife Direct won the first poll that last for 15 days; now, others institutions are trying to win the second poll of this month. The two month´s winners will compete then, but only one will reach the funds. We all expect that Wildlife Direct could win and that the funds can go directly in help of the gorillas.

13. # F. J. PECHIRon 20 Sep 2007 at 2:53 pm

    What a nasty day!!! Now, the LAR, another armed force of rebels, are situated in the Garamba National Park, in the northeast of DRC, just in the border with Uganda. This place is a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, and is home of magnifficent wildlife, among others, of the last handful of northern white rhinos (5-10 individuals). The recent talks between Congo and Uganda to coordinate an attack to LAR, and the answer of the rebels to fight back any agression will put in danger the area´s wildlife even moore, since the park´s rangers have already stopped their activities due the volatile situation there. All that rhinos, buffaloes, elephants, congo jiraffes, etc, are now unprotected from poachers and the militias. The UNESCO must do something about that! peace talks must be immplemented at once in order to stop a confrontation that result in the slaughter of many innocent animals, and probably the exinction in the wild of the northern white rhinos!!!

14. # Lisaon 20 Sep 2007 at 3:14 pm

    Thank you F.J. Pechir for all your information. What can we do to help with this crazy mess? Lisa, California

15. # F. J. PECHIRon 20 Sep 2007 at 3:58 pm

    LISA.-
    Could you be so kind in invest some of your time investigating internet sites from the UNESCO, The Environment Minister of DRC, and if the Garamba National Park has in the web some site for donnations and comments?? That will be of great help if all of us can write to this sites and put there our demmands for the paciffication process in the Virunga, the safeguard of the gorillas, stop war in the Garamba N.P., and the anti-Ebola measures that must be taken in the gorilla sector by the NGO´s in order to prevent a disastrous spread of this virus there. Please spread the world; the most people involved, the most we can do.

16. # Dinge und Wesen » Blog Archiv » Damit ihr die Gorillas nicht vergesst…on 20 Sep 2007 at 4:14 pm

    […] vertrieben und können nur sehr eingeschränkt arbeiten. Aber heute gibt es von ihnen so etwas wie ein amtliches Update über den Zustand der 72 habituierten Gorillas im […]

17. # STEPHANIEon 20 Sep 2007 at 4:23 pm

    The gorillas dont have the viruses yet do they????? Are or would you be able to treat them?????

18. # Samon 20 Sep 2007 at 4:46 pm

    The current Ebola outbreak is far away from the mountain gorillas:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6990759.stm

19. # sheryl, washington dcon 20 Sep 2007 at 5:01 pm

    This outbreak hasn’t threatened the gorillas, but ebola has laid waste to a high number of gorillas in Africa. I blogged about it a while back: http://nothoney.wordpress.com/2007/07/05/live-earth-more-on-the-ebola-outbreak-farm-sanctuary-news/

    s.

20. # sheryl, washington dcon 20 Sep 2007 at 5:03 pm

    Here, too: http://nothoney.wordpress.com/2006/12/11/extinction/

    s.

21. # F. J. PECHIRon 20 Sep 2007 at 5:04 pm

    Stephanie.-
    Afortunately, no. The Ebola is not present in the Virunga N.P., but this very same virus is the responsible of 90% diminishing in the total population in the wild of the western lowland gorilla, which is now in the brink of extinction not only for the Ebola but for the bushmeat trade. Is frecuent that when the Ebola appears it will do it in places where are humans in crowded situations, without higienic services, just like the present situation in the Virungas. If just a few or the refugees, soldiers or rebels in the area can become infected somehow in their comes and goes the virus can spread to the gorillas and wiped out entire families of this already endangered animals. I know that this statements can sound very crude, but believe me that there is a real possibility of this. The western lowland gorilla is a sad witness of this. A sanitary ring must be immplemented by the UNESCO in the area to detect in time any possible human case to take the neccesary steps to safeguard the gorillas, at its best possible. All of us hope the best, but most be prepared for the worst. Is best now to have this possible danger in mind and take preventive measures than confront ourselves with the nightmare of dozens or hundreds mountain gorillas killed by the virus. As long as I know the Ebola has never been detected in the Virungas, and I hope that this never could reach the area.

22. # Garyon 20 Sep 2007 at 7:05 pm

    Kathlyn….Great article….He certainly knows whats going on in the DR Congo. Thanks for posting it.

23. # nedon 20 Sep 2007 at 7:09 pm

    Regarding protesting: The point of protesting is to gain national attention and whether or not the local residents of Wash DC dislike it or not due to inconvenience is irrelevant. So, I think ANYTHING that draws attention and more audience is a good thing. Contacting congressman/senators is also good if you can get big volumes of people to do it and can be done in addition to protesting. The are not mutually exclusive. We need to get more people to know about this. Also protesting does not have to be done in a way that shuts things down or is offensive.

24. # sheryl, washington dcon 20 Sep 2007 at 7:25 pm

    Ned, for those of us who live and work in the District, it’s not irrelevant. Dismissing our concerns as so much Washingtonian “irrelevance” is not only rude, it’s naive.

    s.

25. # Lisaon 20 Sep 2007 at 8:01 pm

    F.J. Pechir, I will do that investigating of the different sites as you suggested and then I’ll let you all know what I come up with. The following goes out to Gary - Gary, thank you for the, completely generous and totally unexpected, surprise from the Art Helping Mountain Gorilla Auction. The painting of Senkekwe is so beautiful and I will cherish it forever. It definitely is a meaningful piece of artwork and it will have a very, very special place in my home. Everyday that I look at it, I will be reminded of Senkekwe’s sacrifice and his brave majestic spirit. Looking at it will give me courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other, on those days that I lose faith. I will keep fighting the good fight for him. Thank you Rangers and thank you Wildlife Direct for fighting the good fight too. Words are just not enough! Lisa, California

26. # Kathlynon 20 Sep 2007 at 8:15 pm

    Sheryl, maybe this guy could be of some use:

    http://enoughproject.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/senator-brownback-floor-statement-on-eastern-congo-091207/
    http://brownback.senate.gov/

27. # Garyon 20 Sep 2007 at 8:19 pm

    Lisa…You are welcome. I have read all your posts and your passion for this cause. It is great having people like you and everyone else here that want to did whatever they can to protect our beloved Mountain
    Gorillas. Diddy and Innocent and all the other rangers I can never thank you enough and I’ll always be faithful to keep up with my monthly donation. Also would like to thank Virginia, Will, Samantha and everyone else at WildlifeDirect for what you do.

28. # Robin Andreaeon 20 Sep 2007 at 9:43 pm

    I second that, Gary!

29. # Annie/Texason 20 Sep 2007 at 10:29 pm

    Thanks for the census I am thinking like the rest that it is a good thing you guys took this I really hope all are still strong and protecting their families..some of the posts here are scaring me…….Ebola virus? I pray to God not…………Nkunda needs to be removed from power……!!!

30. # Lisaon 20 Sep 2007 at 11:11 pm

    This is what I came up with Mr. Pechir. I hope this will help. This first one is the donation/comment page for the Garamba National Park:
    https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/InternationalRhinoFoundation/OnlineGiving.html
    This next one is the World Heritage site for the Democratic Republic of Congo:
    http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/cd
    And last but not least, the Unesco.org Ministries - Africa site. This is in French, but I’m posting it anyway:
    http://erc.unesco.org/portal/Ministries.asp?region=4&language=en

    Lisa, California

31. # Diddyon 21 Sep 2007 at 6:18 am

    Linda. I am happy to tell you that Mambo is doing well in the Mapuwa family. He has become a Sub Adult Male, so in 2 or 3 years he will become a Blackback. I am going to look for a photo for you with Innocent and we will post it on the blog. Mambo is very curious. Often if you take a picture of him he wants to see the camera afterwards. And he plays a lot with another male of the family called Bikenge, who is smaller than Mambo in size. I will also send a picture of him.

32. # Diddyon 21 Sep 2007 at 7:09 am

    F J Pechir. I can tell you that the two gorilla orphans are in Goma and are okay. They are still being monitored by the vets, and our Rangers from Rumangabo are permanently at the house where the babies are kept. Both are eating leaves and vegetation from the forest. Dr Jacques brought some on two occasions after he had visited the Kabirizi family and the sick infant there. The gorillas also drink milk and eat carrots and fruit. So in general their state is positive and they are not at risk of dying. We were worried about both of them, but they are both stable.

33. # louise, UKon 21 Sep 2007 at 7:43 am

    DIDDY, THANKS FOR THE UPDATE ON THE ORPHANS. GLAD TO HERE THEY ARE DOING WELL.

34. # Angieon 21 Sep 2007 at 8:52 am

    I just wanted to say that it is people like all of you that give everyone hope for the future. Your dedication to these amazing animals is so wonderful. My daughter, Morgan, and I have been following the blog for several months now. She had a lemonade stand to raise money to help you and we are working on more fundraising ideas. Keep up the great work, we are thinking of you.

35. # Lisaon 21 Sep 2007 at 10:08 am

    Diddy, Thank you for the update on the orphans. I had been wondering about them and how they were doing. Very glad to hear that they are both stable. Hoping you will be able to get out to the other families very, very soon. Lisa, Caliornia

36. # Robin Andreaeon 21 Sep 2007 at 11:30 am

    Thank you, Diddy, for the update. I’m happy that the orphans are doing good.
    Are you all ok with the rains? I know parts of Rwanda and Uganda got hit pretty hard. The rangers and the gorillas are always in my prayers. ~Robin

37. # F. J. PECHIRon 21 Sep 2007 at 12:01 pm

    Thank you Diddy for the up-date onb the two little gorillas. Thats wonderful news!! Thank you again to answer my request and let us all know their actual status. Please take care of them and also take care of all the gorillas that you are tracking now. Thank you Lisa for your efforts.

38. # Christine C.on 21 Sep 2007 at 4:18 pm

    Diddy — thank you for letting us know how “our” two babies are doing…if anyone has a chance (if things are slow (hah ha!) it would be lovely to see some pictures of them.

    Thanks to everyone for the great info on here…hopefully Ebola will stay far away.

    Sheryl noted that in DC (and I concurred), protesting is not always the best, or most positive way to get a message out…I personally do not believe a”any publicity is good publicity, and, unfortunately, that is what often happens. For example, there are almost always counter-protests that often dillute the originally intended messages.

    However, I wonder if there is some organization that would be willing to sponsor something like local or national walk-a-thons (the severla mile kind…not the several day kind)…something where the overhead would not eat up most of the profits???

39. # Linda & G4G, UKon 22 Sep 2007 at 5:01 am

    Diddy, Thank you so much for the update on Mambo. When I saw him he was always curious & tried to jump on us. I have film from 2004 showing what a little ‘joker’ character he was, trying to get close to us all the time & climbing small trees so his weight would bring him down on us!
    That is why he is so close to our hearts. He wsa always playing then with another youngster, so that must have been Bikenge. They are good pals…Thank you for replying - look forward to a photo if you can get one! Take great care Diddy & Innocent.

40. # Gorilla Protection » Blog Archive » Karateka: Will he always be Solitary?on 17 Oct 2007 at 8:00 am

    […] died, Karateka - “He who practices karate” - was still a Blackback. The Blackback Buhanga, Karateka’s brother, briefly took over leadership of the family, including […]

41. # Gorilla Protection » Blog Archive » Rugabo the Silverback & his family, circa 1988: Innocenton 25 Jan 2008 at 12:24 pm

    […] Remember Rugabo had 4 sons: Lulengo, Pili-Pili, Mareru & Mvuyekure. We have not seen Mvuyekure for some time and believe he was the other Silverback, with Karema, that was killed in January 2007. To read more about all our habituated Mountain Gorillas click here. […]

42. # Gorilla Protection » Blog Archive » The Humba family of Mountain Gorillason 28 Jan 2008 at 9:05 am

    […] Humba family of Mountain Gorillas is one we have talked about many times as he is one of our habituated families. He and his family were last spotted mid November by the Ranger who was allowed in by the rebels to […]

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