Jan 14 2008
Mapendo flies safely to Goma, and is settling in to her new home
So Mapendo has arrived safely to Goma. She was driven early this morning from Mutsora in the park to Beni airport, which takes about 90 minutes. (See here for map).
Then we hired a plane (with your donations) to take her to Goma.
This is the plane Mapendo flew in with Dr Eddy and Andre. This is not at Beni airport; I just happened to take the same plane in December. It is operated by Aviation Without Borders.
Jospin from MGVP picked up Andre, Dr Eddy and Mapendo on the tarmac. I waited with Dr Lucy and Dr Magda. We figured the less people on the tarmac the better. Goma airport is notorious for officialdom seeking to complicate matters for financial gain!
Dr Lucy, Dr Eddy, Andre, Jospin & Dr Magda - all relieved Mapendo arrived safely and with no hitches.
This is where Mapendo had to be for the flight and for the 5-minute drive from the airport to her new home at the DFGF(I) office, where she will be cared for not far from Ndeze and Ndakasi. This will considerable facilitate the work of Dr Lucy and her team.
She had to go in the crate (which had lots of air holes) simply because Andre was not sure how she would react to the car and air travel. Mapendo could end up harming herself. I am sure the pilot would not travel either with a loose gorilla in the plane. Animals often feel safer in a contained space, much like dogs and cats, when they travel. In addition, although Dr Jacques had done all the documentation, it is just easy if the afore-mentioned airport officials do not see anything in the crate. Better all round.
So Dr Lucy will blog in a couple days about how Mapendo is settling in - and what she thinks of her new home. And she will continue to blog about Mapendo’s care and progress.
At WildlifeDirect we are organizing for forest food for Mapendo to be brought on a weekly basis from Mutsora. So we need to hire someone to collect it, then drive it the 90 minutes to Beni, then put it on a free flight to Goma, then pick it up in Goma to take to Mapendo. Dr Lucy tells me Mapendo will benefit enormously from proper forest food - ie not fruits from the market that have been contaminated by chemicals or humans. And with the security as it is round here, it is not possible right now to do this.
So thank you for your support. I know many of you have donated. Thank you. Monthly donations are also terrific - as it guarantees a certain income for Mapendo’s care. As I said yesterday these can be made on this blog or the Gorilla Doctors blog.
Thank you everyone for your kind words and encouragement. Samantha
Update at 7pm DR Congo time: My colleague Ephrem has just arrived in Goma. He was there when Mapendo was put on the plane this morning. He gave me these photos that I thought would interest you.
Andre checks on Mapendo when they get to Beni.
Arriving at the airport.
Figuring out how to get the crate on the plane.
Dr Eddy and Andre lift Mapendo into the plane.
Finally - ready for take off.
Technorati : congo, drc, iccn, wildlifedirect
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
Wonderful news Samantha…so happy to hear that Mapendo is finally in Goma. For some reason, none of your pics are coming up…don’t know why.
Samantha, what an achievement! Poor little Mapendo, I look forward to updates on her progress, please God look after her. I entered Vumilia on Rainbows Bridge this morning. Anyone can visit him, just go the visitors section and click in the letter “V”. Comments can be left by aneone who chooses, When little Vumilia lost his battle, I vowed to keep his memory alive! It is my hope that those who visit his site will learn of the plight these gentle creatures are facing…my special thanks to Andre, whp probably more then anybody has had his heart torn into many pieces, God bless you Andre, we need many more like you.
Now there’s something she can tell the other gorillas when she meets them. I hope Mapendo continues to thrive and feels loved and I hope someday she can meet Ndeze and Ndakasi and that we can build a sanctuary for them all. Thanks Samantha.
s.
I have just reloaded the photos. Internet has not worked well today. Hopefully this will work. It’s all proving a little challenging!
Thanks, Sam. This blog is loading really slowly today but all the pics are visible now. I can’t wait for a progress report from Dr. Lucy on Mapendo. I hope she’s doing well.
s.
I´, really sorry about Vumilia, its so sad,…
Thanks Theresa - I just signed his guest book, the poor little guy!
Some humans are just without heart!
Great pictures, thanks for sharing. Sad that Vumilia couldn’t make the same journey.
This is on the top of the front page at msnbc.com, complete with a large photo of young gorilla:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22627399/
There’s a direct link to this blog from the article. Maybe many people are trying to follow the link and that’s slowing things down? Hopefully people won’t get frustrated because the can’t access the page and will come back later.
I am so sorry. I wish Mapendo all the best, hope to see happy pictures of her soon.
So glad to hear this..it’s like a roller coaster ride…up and down with all the news each day….I hope more positive news will continue to happen! Thank you for letting us experience Mapendo’s journey through pictures!
Thank you to wonderful update. Great team job. Finally Mapendo goes to her new home, where will be start try to be a beautiful lowland gorilla. Thanks again.
Thanks Samantha for working to get Mapendo’s send off pictures for us; I wish you could have smuggled me inside the crate too! I’m missing her already but I believe her big brother Vumilia is watching out for her. Wanda, thanks for visiting Vumilia’s burial site, it means the world to me. C.J. thanks for the link, I read the article very eagerly. If you guys want to read a happy story, the January Issue of National Geographic has a wonderful story of a western lowland gorilla family with breathtaking pictures. You can see the story and pictures at National Geographic.com I learned from this article that silverbacks make pretty good “moms”!
Lynne, I want to thank you also for your kind comments at Vumilia’s burial site, means more then I can put into words. I’m delighted you have chosen the gorillas as your focus. Lynne, F.J. Pechir is the one who really knows about gorillas(or any animal!). But, I’d be delighted to help in any way for your presentation about gorillas on World Animal Day in October.
My sincere sympathy on Vumilia’s passing. I pray Mupendo will always be loved as is her name-sake. As an advocate on Care2.com, I have signed many petitions to protect and save the Gorillas, especially in Virunga, in the Congo. Anderson Cooper, of CNN’S 360 was there, and documented the illegal traffic trade and killing fields. This suffering must stop. Obviously with the rebels fighting and killing the rangers who are trying so desperately to protect the Gorilla population, without intervention and prosecution by the Congolese government, their survival is left in the balance. I fear for them. I have loved Gorillas my entire life - 60 years! Living in Canada leaves me wondering what else I can do? Prayer is always ongoing! If there is anything that I can post on Care2 or if you would like to join and post information or draft a petition(s) please know you are welcome.
Thank you Samantha, and to each one who cares, my best regards for a New Year which marks the beginning of a new era of Protection and Preservation for all Gorilla’s.
Rosemary, what a gracious offer..
[…] care of Mapendo, the Grauer’s gorilla orphan, is being handled in part by WildlifeDirect donations, which we […]