Sep 13 2007
Rangers start tracking 1 Gorilla family at Jomba; no result yet
I have just learned that a group of rangers at the patrol post of Jomba have started tracking the Mapuwa group. Apparently the rebels, who still control this area, gave back two guns and two GPS’ to the rangers to start their work. This is all the information that we have.
This is a positive step forwards, but there is much progress to be made. We still have yet to receive reports on the status of the Mapuwa family, as communications are poor. Remember we wrote about the Mapuwa group last month. In addition, although the rebels have returned two weapons and the GPS’, they stole a lot more than that from the rangers at the patrol post when they attacked it nearly two weeks ago.
They must still return radios, 15 more weapons, ammunition and cellular telephones. And this is only what was taken at that time from Jomba patrol post, not Bikenge.
We still have no access to Bukima or Bikenge, where in fact most of the gorillas are according to the work from a month ago.
As you can see the situation is still murky at best, and we need to really get more information as to what is going on at Jomba. The rebels there are controlled by dissident General Laurent Nkunda. In January he and his men were held responsible for the killings of two solitary Silverbacks. We think that Nkunda does not want to be blamed again for any more Mountain Gorilla killings, so this is why his men are letting the Rangers enter the park, albeit tentatively.
Diddy & Innocent















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