Feb 07 2008
National Geographic visiting Virunga & the Rangers for feature story
National Geographic Magazine is currently visiting us in Virunga National Park to cover our story - that is us, the Rangers. Mark the writer and Brent the photographer are spending a few weeks here. We think the story will finally come out in about 6 to 8 months.
Coincidentally Brent is also the photographer who was here last July when Rugendo and his family were massacred. So he was kind enough to bring us some photos that we can use on this blog. Here are some of our favorites. Diddy & Innocent
Technorati : congo, drc, iccn, national geographic, 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
amazing pics! how exciting. i can’t wait that long to read the story!
Fantastic! I wonder if you will be able to venture out into the gorilla sector while they are with you - could that be a possiblity? I miss seeing and hearing about the gorillas and really hope that they are all doing okay. Lisa
Wow, what cool pics. The motion one is a nice effect. I’m with Lisa… any ideas when rangers will start patrolling in the park???
Ditto! What a pity it will not be available for months as the word needs to get out NOW about the onging plight of these gorillas and the other endagered animals there. What we need is some high level official to have the courage to say to the world, this is it, we are going to enter the park and reclaim it once and for all!
We hope guys that soon we will be back in the Gorilla Sector. Patience is required at this point. The Rangers cannot go back in without a UN escort because the rebels still occupy the patrol posts. As i said, the mistrust will stay for a long time and the effect of the peace agreement will take a while to filter down. But the situation is much much more hopeful than it was before the peace agreement. So please be patient!
Samantha, of course you are right! Patience has never been one of my virtues…I’m much older then you and I can remember activists chaining themselves to trees to save the forests! People cared in a BIG way, whether it was to save the whales or the spotted owl, they were commited to the cause…as we are today.
Dear Diddy and Innocent,
It’s great National Geo will tell this story. Even though it won’t publish for a while, it will reach an international audience to remind us that this primate is threatened so we all get behind ensuring its survival. Hopefully you can get into the park soon. We’ll stand by for that and please be safe!
thank you,
Judy in CA
I am very happy that the situation is calmed as much as it has. I can not wait until you can go back to your posts. I am still very worried about the status of the Gorillas.
Good news! this will drive attention to the big problem in Virunga N.P.
Gosh that silver back is gorgeous!!!!!!! Happy to see this is making more news…it darn well needs to! Thanks
Is that Senkwekwe in the photo? I’m still sad when I see photos of the Rugendo family. They were mentioned last night in my “Intro to Primates” class at the zoo. I actually had a chance to put in a plug for this blog and Wildlife Direct, too. Everything thing I know about mountain gorillas, I learned from y’all.
s.
That is Kabirizi in the photo Sheryl - the one and only!
Any news on Mapendo? I have been thinking about her! I hope she is thriving……
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