Gorilla Protection

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 27 2009 | By: paula

We are all celebrating at WidlifeDirect with the good news  that the mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park have not been affected by the conflict there. In fact the population has increased by 10 new babies between August 2007 and January 2009. Five of them probaby fathered by this guy,

Kabirizi, the head of the Kabirizi family which now numers 33 individuals.

Here is the official press release from Virunga National Park.

26 January 2009

CONGO MOUNTAIN GORILLA POPULATION UP BY 12.5% IN LAST 16 MONTHS

DR Congo’s habituated Mountain Gorilla population in Virunga National Park increased by 12.5 percent from 72 to 81 gorillas between August 2007 and January 2009, according to the results of an 8-week census conducted by the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN) released today. Based on a previous 2003 census, Park Rangers also estimate 120 non-habituated Mountain Gorillas in the 250 sq km Mikeno Sector of the park, the only area in DR Congo that is home to Mountain Gorillas, bringing the country’s Mountain Gorilla population total to circa 211. The worldwide population of Mountain Gorillas is believed to be 720, all of them living in the conflict-affected area between DR Congo, Uganda and Rwanda.

“The status of Virunga’s Mountain Gorillas is a triumph for conservation, and is the product of 15 years’ effort and sacrifice on the part of Congo’s Rangers, of the consistent support from international organisations and individuals, and of the sustained determination of 3 African nations to protect this globally important species,” said Virunga National Park Director Emmanuel de Merode.

Over 50 Park Rangers conducted over 128 patrols during the census, and identified 6 gorilla families in Mikeno and 3 solitary
Silverbacks. The largest family is the Kabirizi Family, with 33 individuals including 5 newborns. The Rugendo family - victim of the July 2007 massacre - now has 9 members, up from 5, including 2 Silverbacks vying for control of the group.

“Mountain Gorilla family structures change with each birth, death, interaction and migration. The Kabirizi family, our largest gorilla group with 33 individuals, has 5 newborns which is wonderful news. But we are still hoping to locate the 2 gorillas from this same family that we have not yet seen,” said ICCN Gorilla Monitoring Head Innocent Mburanumwe.

During the 16-month period from August 2007 to late January 2009 10 baby gorillas were born into 4 of the habituated families - the Kabirizi, Mapuwa, Lulengo and Mapuwa families - and 2 adult female gorillas previously non-identified (from non-habituated groups) have joined habituated gorilla families. Three gorillas that had been previously identified in the August 2007 census have not been found and are listed as missing.

Significantly no evidence of gorilla mortality was reported by Rangers, although 536 snares laid by poachers were found and removed by Park Rangers, representing a significant increase as compared to previous findings. Snares are laid to catch small antelope and other forest animals, but gorillas, especially infants, are sometimes caught in the snare and can suffer loss of limb or life.

Go to www.gorilla.cd for more information and to www.gorilla.cd/press to access the Mountain Gorilla Survey Report

Tags: census, ICCN, mountain gorilla, Virunga National Park

7 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 23 2009 | By: paula

It has just been reported by BBC that Laurent Nkunda has been arrested in Rwanda . Apparently he was arrested in Rwanda after he tried to resist a Rwandan-Congolese military operation.

Wonderful news to wake up to? The verdict is out on that, we are still waiting for news on why was he arrested by the very government who has been accused of supporting Nkunda and CNDP. Also, in the protracted war it has become clear that though CNDP has been ruthless, there are other militias in the area. Some believe that who may try to fill the leadership vacum. The fact that over 3,000 Rwandan troops in DR Congo is probably not an unrelated to the arrest of Nkunda.

Tags: Arrested, BBC, CNDP, DR Congo, Laurent Nkunda, Mountain Gorillas

7 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 22 2009 | By: paula

 Just two years ago we were celebrating that mountain gorilla populations were increasing especially in Uganda. However, a recent study has just poured water on these findings and suggests that that nest counting methods overestimate the number of gorillas.

Some gorillas construct more than one nest per night

According to to research conducted in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda, mountain gorilla populations may have actually declined. Researchers estimate gorilla numbers by counting the number of ‘nests’ which the animals build each night. This method suggests that there are 336 gorillas left in this population accounting for half of the worlds mountain gorillas. However, recent DNA tests from dung were conducted by Katerina Guschanski of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Liepzig, Germany, and reveal that there are actually far fewer mountain gorillas. She found evidence of 302 separate genetic codes or individual gorillas, suggesting that the nest counting method overestimates the population size because some gorillas create more than one nest. The study was reported in the New Scientist magazine. A previous genetic study put the population at 340 individuals. Dr. Guschanski’s work suggests that this population has declined by 10% and while some news reports are saying mountain gorillas are in dire sraits, scientists are more cautious and are not really sure if the populations are decreasing, or stable.

Many forget that mountain gorillas have always been restricted to montane forest habitats which are found in a very small part of Africa on the tops of mountains. Although it is unlikely that populations were ever much greater than they are today due to habitat restrictions, it is of concern that they are threatened by habitat exploitation, poaching and disease caused by greater contact with humans. Climate warming however may be one of the greatest threats which will accelerate all the other impacts. Temperature incraeses have already melted many of the glaciers on the East African mountains, and as this continues it will cause mountain gorilla habitat to recede up the mountains.

The Virunga population of mountain gorillas was estimated to number about 380 individuals in 2007 (up from 260 in 1978). These figures are  considered accuate because they are based actual sightings. We are awaiting for the outcome of an ongoing gorilla census in the Virunga National park, so far nothing alarming has been reported.

If it is true that the Bwindi population is shrinking, then this is bad news for mountain gorillas - it is estimated that there are only around 700 in existence, this work suggests at least a 5% decline of the global population.

Mountain gorilla deaths in the last 18 months have been reported on a number of blogs

10 were killed allegedly by rangers in 2007

7 died of natural causes in Rwanda

3 Eastern lowland gorillas in  Congo have also died

1 died in a tragic accident in Mt. Tshiaberimu

2 died of disease in Mt Tshiaberimu

Gorilla doctors in DR Congo, Uganda and Rwanda are working hard to monitor gorilla health and treat any injuiries or sicknesses. Read Dr.Lucy Spelmans blog for more details.

Tags: Bwindi, DNA, DR Congo, Gorilla numbers, mountain gorilla, population, Uganda

9 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 21 2009 | By: paula

It finally seems like things might be looking up in Congo. 2000 Rwandan troopes are working the the DRC military to flush out the perpetrators of the Rwandan Genocide.

Following a review of 156 logging concessions granted in recent years, 91 (60%) will be canceled and 13 million hectares in the DR Congo will not be logged. The remaining 65 logging operations will go ahead and clear nearly 10 million hectares. While the cancellation of contracts is a step in the right direction, it falls short of expectations. All of the canceled contracts were issued in questionable circumstances, just part of the rampant corruption in that country. The Congo Basin is the second largest tropical forest in the world after the Amazon and is home to thousands of great apes amongst other species. But it is being destroyed at a rate of over 800,000 hectares a year (an area roughly the size of Massachusetts) due to logging, mining and agricultural land clearance.

We will be bringing news from the ground shortly.

Tags: , Congo, DR Congo, gorillas

3 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 17 2009 | By: paula

Amazing developments over the last 24 hours. Reported here on bbc

Senior officers of the main Tutsi rebel group in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo have announced a ceasefire with government forces.

The breakaway faction of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) said its fighters would join the Congolese army.

The move is expected to increase pressure on CNDP leader Laurent Nkunda to declare a full ceasefire.

Some 250,000 people have been displaced by fighting which erupted in August.

Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attacks by Rwandan Hutu rebels based in DR Congo, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide.

2 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 12 2009 | By: paula

Several news articles illustrate the situation on the ground in the Virungas where 6 people were killed on Friday

The Mail and Guardian here http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-01-11-wildlife-warriors-share-neutral-drc-park

And this article on CNN about the killing of a ranger http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/01/11/congo.gorilla.ranger.killed/ at Mt Tshiaberimu is also carried by AP here http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h_voPhRFmaOSJX111j2J1L-H9slwD95KAK080

This article is taken from Press TV http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=81420&sectionid=351020506

Six killed in fresh Congo fighting
Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:18:25 GMT
Children near a camp overlooking Lake Kivu, in Kibati, 5km north of the provincial capital Goma.
Clashes between DR Congo rebels and pro-government militia in the east left six people dead as UN envoy holds talks with embattled rebel chief Laurent Nkunda.

United Nations peacekeeping spokesman Lt. Col. Jean-Paul Dietrich said his troops found the bodies of six Mai Mai militiamen after an hour of fighting Friday morning between the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) and Mai Mai militia in the village of Mabenga, about 90 kilometers north of the regional capital, Goma.

Mabenga is the site where Virunga National Park was to be constructed but is at present used as a military base by the CNDP rebel fighters. The site also marks the border between rebel-held territory and a zone designated neutral where several pro-government forces are located.

CNDP spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Seraphin Mirindi said they suffered no casualties when they were attacked by members of the Congolese Resistance Patriots, a part of the pro-government Mai Mai.

Meanwhile, the UN special envoy for Congo, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, held talks with Laurent Nkunda, who was the undisputed rebel leader until recently when he was challenged by one of his senior aides, Bosco Ntaganda who now heads a group of rebels.

After the talks in Jomba, 60 kilometers north of Goma, Nkunda told AFP that discussions with Obasanjo were focused on issues “that could move forward the negotiations in Nairobi”. He said that the UN envoy is going to talk with the presidents of the Congolese national assembly and senate by telephone and that Obasanjo has promised to help “until peace returns to the Congo”.

Direct talks between the rebels and the Kinshasa government have been underway since Wednesday in the Kenyan capital.

Years of sporadic violence in eastern Congo, which intensified in August, has displaced more than 250,000 people and has sparked a humanitarian crisis. Some 17,000 UN peacekeepers have not been able to quell the chaos.

Tags: conflict in Congo, Congo, DR Congo, Mountain Gorillas, Virunga National Park

3 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 09 2009 | By: admin

Year of the Gorilla is now underway – here are some interesting things to look out for.

The Gorilla Agreement has been signed. It is an international treaty, a legally binding agreement among the ten countries with gorilla habitats, requiring that they protect and conserve the gorillas. Implementation will include anti-poaching campaigns, reforestation work, and developing eco-tourism along with community development projects. Six of the ten governments have signed the agreement: Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Gabon. Still to sign are Angola, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda.

A gorilla appears on Rwanda’s largest banknote, the pink 5,000-Franc bill, which is worth almost $10. But the apes carry an even greater responsibility on their hairy shoulders: they have effectively become national mascots.

Recycling phones - A company called Eco-Cell recycles cell phones, collecting them at zoos and other places around the country. The company recently announced that the Louisville Zoo led the more than 100 zoos across USA that recycled cell phones in 2008.

At WildlifeDirect we have done several things already.

With partners Clinton Foundation, Turtle Pond, Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation and Scholastic Publications we Published a childrens book “Looking for Miza”- the true story about how 2 year old baby Miza survived after her mother was killed in the DR Congo last year

In partnership with with Scholastic and Turtle PondHeld the Kids Gorilla Summit and got thousands of signatures on the Kids Global Act Pact

American and Rwandan children met with President Clinton to sign the Act Pact

This is only the beginning of the Year of the Gorilla. Throughout this year we will be bringing even more news about gorilla conservation from across the continent and working with new partners in many gorilla range states. We will of course be letting you know how you can help save one of our closest living relatives.

A number of conservation organizations are announcing their commitments to actions this year. The following activities are planned by the The Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe organization

Reforestation of a Buffer Zone on Mt. Tshiaberimu
Near Mt. Tshiaberimu (a part of the Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo) trees are grown in a tree nursery. The Congolese initiative SAGOT planted 40,000 seedlings that will be planted at the border of the national park in 2009. The aim is to create a forested buffer zone for the Mt. Tshiaberimu gorillas who frequently use the area. The whole project is funded by us.

HuGo in Uganda und Ruanda
Conflicts between humans and gorillas are common if the forests for the gorillas shrink and land is cultivated right next to the conservation areas. In Rwanda und Uganda the program HuGo (Human-Gorilla Conflict Resolution) was initiated to solve and avoid such conflicts. Teams with members from the villages close to the park observe the gorillas’ ranging and become active as soon as they leave the parks. If the situation is critical, the HuGo teams chase the gorillas away with loud noise.
We support the HuGo teams in Rwanda and Uganda in 2009 by funding training and equipment (rain jackets, gumboots, bicycles).

Emergency Support for Cameroon
The international financial crisis now also affects gorilla conservation. We received an urgent request for support from Cameroon because a sponsor had to cancel his funds. The projects for the conservation of the Cross River gorillas there need the followind:
The solar power system needs repair after having been damaged by lightning. The daily patrols for gorilla monitoring and protection have to continue in Kagwene. In the Mone Forest a botanical survey is planned. And the employees of the project need additional funds for their families because highly elevated food prices in the markets.

Do you know of any other planned YOG activities? Are you going to do to celebrate the Year of the Gorilla?

Tags: , Clinton, Looking for Miza, UN, wildlifedirect, Year of Gorilla

5 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jan 06 2009 | By: paula

The latest news from Congo suggests that Laurent Nkunda has been ousted by his own rebel force, the CNDP say our sources on the ground. It has also been reported in BBC, Reuters and Angola Press.

Nkunda however denies being ousted according to AFP   Many would think it a good thing if Nkunda is removed, however it may not be as simple as that. One of the challenges will be to continue the peace negotiations under these circumstances. Indeed the news of Nkunda being ousted significantly complicates matters and one of our sources fears that his denial suggests that the CNDP is splitting up.

The New York Times describes Nkunda as a man who “has pushed the nation to its most dangerous precipice in years”

The change in leader ship at CNDP will affect the Virunga National Park, home to 170 of the worlds mountain gorillas where CNDP rebels and the park authority have reached an uneasy agreement on managing the park and monitoring the gorillas. Until now the gorillas have been doing fine. 

Tags: DR Congo, gorillas, Laurent Nkunda, Mountain Gorillas, wildlifedirect

2 responses so far