Mar 14 2008
A patrol into the south of the Gorilla Sector
I’ve been accompanying an important patrol in the southern part of the gorilla sector, around Kibumba, the only functional patrol post in the sector. It was a regular patrol with 12 rangers on the southern slopes of the Mikeno and Karisimbi Volcanoes.
Kibumba Patrol Post
It was quite an eventful patrol. We tracked some poachers who were laying snares (a very unpleasant way of killing wildlife). 13 wire snares were dismantled.
Ndeze with some of the snares that we recovered
While we were doing this, we heard a silverback chest-beating, and tried to locate the gorilla. It was fairly obvious that this a solitary. The gorillas quite rare in this area, but a small group of 4 unhabituated gorillas are known to range in this area, but because of that they’re almost impossible to see. Still, all the more important to have removed those snares.
The patrol, on our return
We heard another group on the slopes of Mt Karisimbi, near the Rwandan border. We didn’t take the patrol in that area because we had seen tracks of other groups in the area. We know these tracks to be those of Rwandan military, who often come into Congo in that area. Last month, the rangers laid an ambush to some poachers in the park. Some of the poachers escaped and while they were being pursued by us, they got caught by a Rwandan patrol, and taken to Rwanda.
We’ll be going back into the park tomorrow to double check to make sure that there are no more snares.
Anyway, this patrol happened thanks to funding from this blog, so we’re extremely grateful for your support
Ephrem, at 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
That is fantastic to read. I personally feel I have a debt to you for caring for some of my favourite creatures. Thankyou so much, and please write as much as you can. Peace and Happiness to you.
Ephrem thank you for this news and the photos. I have heard that Nkunda is pushing people out of the hills and towards Goma. Is this true? What’s happening with the charcoal situation? Are prices for charcoal going up?
Ephrem — Thanks for this great post…thank God you found those snares…hopefully there are not too many more to be found at this point…be safe out there…
Wonderful work! I’m relieved to hear of this cooperation that exists between your rangers and Rwanda’s equivalent.
Ephrem — It’s good to hear of the progress, no matter how small. I am thankful you all returned safely. Thank you for all the hard work you and the other rangers do. Please be safe.
Thank you! God bless, stay safe!
Some good news at last! Thank you for the report.
You will never know how grateful the world is for the work you are doing. Great job in finding those terrible snares!!
Thanks for the news, I always love to read about your patrols and good work!
Great work! I truly appreciate your dedicated efforts during such hard times. Thanks for the report, Ephrem.
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Ephrem, Great re the snares, such dangerous work. Thinking of you all day in, day out.
Much love fronm Linda & G4G. Hope to get out to see you this year…
Thanks for the news…still saying a prayer for these guys…everyday I think of them!