Mar 07 2008
Latest News from the Gorilla Sector
This is Balemba. We are just beginning to develop the informer network around the gorilla sector. The approach is to work on the edge of the forest.
So far it is working quite well. Two of the informers from the local community have manged to set themselves up as a team of herders. The rebels have livestock, and use local Bashumba herders to manage the livestock for them. The two are now herding the rebels’ livestock and are able to discuss the status of the Gorillas. This is the information that they have managed to obtain:
A group of gorillas was found near the Bukima Patrol Post, on the flanks of Mt. Gashore. According to them, this is the Rugendo family that was so viciously attacked last July. Apparently one of the black backs had had a fight, probably with a solitary male in the forest. This is not surprising as the blackbacks are very vulnerable to an aggression by solitary silverbacks wanting to take over the group. Apparently the blackback has many wounds as a result of that fight.
A worrying development is that there is beginning to be more and more livestock, and some of it is regularly going into the park. But there is still nobody living around Bukima because people are still very scared of the rebels. Only Luzaria, the widow that I spoke of in the last post, who lives on her own with her two sheep, is living near Bukima.
Bikenge is now a tourism spot. The rebels have started to open footpaths, because they say that large numbers of tourists will be coming soon. Trackers and new rangers have been recruited by the rebels, although most of them have no idea what they are doing. One of our informer’s brothers has been hired as a tracker and may be able to provide us with regular and detailed information.
We are all quite scared, but continue to work as best we can.
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
Not the news I was hoping for. But at least it’s something. Thanks for the update and for all the work you are doing to protect the gorillas.
Hi! I am a lot taken care for what it’s happening but I continue to hope and to pray.
However it’s already something! I hope with all my heart that the situation returns more soon to “normality”.
In attended of new news I say thanks to you for all what you been making.
Paola
I will never be able to accept the existing situation with rebels calling the shots.. Isn’t there anything that the Congolese government can do. It’s totally unexceptable to allow rebels to do what they are doing at the moment. It just makes me very angry..
Hey Balemba, I will be posting an update at your Virunga Youth Alliance blog a little later. As for your report, I share the frustration and fears of the other commenters. However, it is very good to know what the heck is going on, goood or bad, we need to know! This intel the informers/infiltrators provide will definetly help keep our rangers safe and help them plan ahead. Is there perhaps a chance of an 3rd party who could intervene on the behalf of this injured gorilla? We know the rebels willl not meet with the REAL rangers but maybe they would consider meeting with a member of the MGVP, so this gorilla could be treated. This livestock situation is also very worrisome as there is sure to be conflicts with these animals and the wildlife there. I assume more of the forest is being cleared for their grazing and that is a pity. Finally, I must commend the singular courage of this old widow, may she be a beacon of hope for all of you as you press on.
Thank you for all you are doing for these beautiful gorillas. All the rangers and their families are in my thoughts and prayers. Stay safe. God bless.
Forgive me if this is a ignorant question, but: who are these “tourists” and how can they be informed that they are PAYING murderers, rapists, and theives to go up to see your gorillas!!!????
Christ Almighty. Is this a result of the cease fire? Where is the DRC government? Are they happy to let rebel soldiers make a profit and destroy their national park? Utterly depressing news.
s.
Yes, where the heck is the government? Are governments now irrelevant? which org can go into the forest and get these rebels out of there? why isn’t that being done? Who are these tourists going in and are they even aware of the situation at hand and that they are contributing to endangering the gorillas? If better informed I don’t think they would pay for this. Why is Rwanda and Uganda govts allowing this to happen since tourists must be coming from across their borders? The food needed by the rebels will destroy the forest and sabatoge future tourist industry as all the wildlife ngos know. I hate to see any more bloodshed and I don’t want to see rapists and murderers allowed back into the local communities but what can be done? If their food supply is interrupted they will go after bush meat which is probably already being done as well. Is there a peace process in place or negotiations going on with these rebels? It’s such a difficult situation. Please don’t take risks because the gorillas need you healthy! Be careful!
Judy in CA
Can we donate funds to the old widow who is a true hero?! I fear for all of those who choose to work undercover and deal directly with these rebels who are unpredictable. But at least these heroes are not seen as competitors for tourist trade. A truly amazing story unfolding. Please be careful!
Judy in CA
Judy, I love your spirit; this widow is simply amazing. I’m thinking we should donate to the restoration of the Bukima Patrol Post. We also need to have Emmanuel testify in front of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in behalf of House Resolution 795, which would call for the DRC government to protect these gorillas. Emmanuel would be considered an expert witness.
Guys, I just had a very scary thought. what if the renegade rangers who joined forces with the rebels, are monitoring this blog! Please, in the future, anyone with special intel to offer, email it instead of posting it here.
Theresa - my thoughts exactly when I just read Balemba’s report. I would suggest the repots refer to ‘information received suggests’ when giving internet reports rather than giving specific information that can be traced back to particular individuals. I think most people would agree that the anonymity of informants must be preserved at all costs.
I am a researcher who traveled with Nkunda’s rebels last November to track gorillas near Bunagana. The “rebels” who led me into the park were former government rangers who have joined Nkunda’s CNDP organization. They followed the proper protocol— they limited the amount of time I spent with the gorillas, maintained a proper distance, and even provided flyers with information on how to limit the spread of human diseases. The rangers also recorded GPS data on gorilla location and nesting sites. I paid a $300 “entrance fee”, which presumably went to the CNDP, although they filled out proper government receipts for this standard tax. On the whole, the rangers were remarkably professional and demonstrated a sincere desire to protect the gorillas– they are well aware that gorillas offer the hope of future tourism.
This anecdote, however, is not intended to discount the current threat faced by the gorillas. The problem in Congo is that a multiplicity of armed groups control the areas inhabited by gorillas. Although certain rangers may still be able to operate in some areas, other gorilla populations are certainly at risk. The anectdote does reveal, however, that the situation is not black-and-white.
The solution to the gorilla threat is not simply to drive out the rebels from the forest, as some comments advocate– simply restoring government authority will not improve the gorilla’s chances for survival.
Negotiations with Nkunda’s rebels to secure access to gorilla families may be a more productive strategy.
re:Nicholai Lidow
The rebels intentions are purely monetary, they have no desire to protect and save the gorillas, they just want to make money. They have no reason to be there and controlling the area. The rangers like Diddy, Innocent, Emmanuel and all the other rangers are the true hero’s and protectors of the Mountain Gorillas, they risk their lives for these Gorilla’s. The rebels are not rangers and should not even be associated with the rangers. Remember these are the same rebels you paid 300 dollars that massacred the Rugendo family. Their intentions are not sincere nor genuine and do not belong there. I do hope something can be done and the rangers gain access back to the gorillas
Again, I don’t mean to downplay the risks faced by the gorillas right now— and I have tremendous respect for the rangers who continue to fulfill their duties, despite the tremendous challenges and risks.
But claiming that Nkunda’s rebels are only protecting the gorillas “just to make money” is beside the point– it is precisely this monetary incentive that is the gorillas’ best chance for survival.
The rangers that I met, although now associated with Nkunda’s forces, were formerly government-accredited gorilla rangers.
This situation is probably not typical– I’m sure many other areas of Virunga are controlled by armed units–whether CNDP, FDLR, Mai-Mai, or government–that are not as concerned with the gorillas’ welfare.
My point is that the situation in eastern DRC is incredibly complicated.
The massacre of 8 gorillas several months ago appears to have been carried out by local villagers, not members of any armed group. Any attempt to protect the gorillas must be sensitive to the complex social and political problems that currently exist. Simply blaming the rebels is not a productive response– Some form of negotiation with local communities, as well as the armed groups that control the areas, will be necessary.
You are a researcher, how would you feel if years of your research was taken from you and claimed by someone else ? My point is that the rebels are there to make a profit and not to protect the long term survival of the mountain gorillas. The 300 dollars “entrance” fee, how much of that went back into the park ? I’m willing to bet none of it, it all went into the rebels pocket. It might have been better served to donate 300$ to help raise the orphaned gorillas that were left when their moms were shot, that’s helping conserve and protect the future of the mountain gorillas. How about the rebels involved in the charcoal trade, destroying the mountain gorillas habitat. It doesn’t matter if the rebels were former rangers, they made a choice and chose a side, they are no longer rangers, it doesn’t give them the right to take control of the gorilla sector and be benefiting from the rangers work and refuse entry to the real rangers who truly love and protect the mountain gorillas. Many readers of this blog donate to help the rangers in their effort to save the Gorillas and I highly doubt any one of them would donate any money to the rebels.
I agree it is a very sensitive and complex political situation and has to be resolved peacefully. The fate of the gorillas depend on it
Nicolai. How can you shut your eyes for not seeing for what the money will be used by the rebels? I can’t imagine that you really are a supporter of the actions of the rebels. But everybody that give money to those men supports them. There are not only the gorillas (I love them and they must be protected!). But, have you visited the house at Goma where some of the rapped woman get some medical help? Have you made some interviews whit the mothers of the kids that have been kidnapped or the widows of the rangers? I don’t think so!
I would gladly donate to help fund any trip for Emmanuel or others to testify on behalf of the gorillas. And it is imperative that lives be protected at the local level, especially those on the front line, left behind and helping the legitimate rangers. It is good international attention is on this endangered species literally on the brink of extinction: no doubt the rebels see the gorillas for funding only, not to save them or protect them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be in the forest in the first place, using it for bushmeat and burning it down to graze livestock for food. Yes, a complex situation. But support should go to those who’ve lived and worked there all their lives and understand the situation first-hand, who’ve made a lifetime commitment to protect gorillas. No one can make the case there are “nice rebels” who’ve teamed with Nkunda. The gorillas were killed by the charcoal mafia, that situation is being addressed. Not the rebels, who’ve raped, murdered, left entire communities in ruin, recruiting child soldiers - their track record. Any association with them is not justified, including gorilla tracking for personal entertainment by tourists in the midst of this on-going tragedy for humans and animals.
Judy in CA
Nicolai, while I respect your point of view, I simply can’t condone your actions.
Nicoli, You may think that the rebels reasons are “beside the point”, but you’re talking about people who are threatening to EXECUTE the LEGITIMATE rangers. Why, if not purely for greed, wont they let the Rangers back in? I can’t condone your actions either!
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Jessie
Super article