Gorilla Protection

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

Technorati : congo, drc, iccn, mapuwa, virunga

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The trackers that were sent to Bukima and Bikenge yesterday have just returned to Rumangabo park headquarters after being prevented from entering the park to find the Mountain Gorillas. The army currently controls the area near these two patrol posts after the clashes with the rebels, and would not let the trackers enter the park to start trying to locate the animals.

The army sees everyone as an enemy, including trackers and rangers. So it is just not safe to try anything else at this point.

I can also confirm that Jomba is still under the control of Nkunda’s rebels.

Diddy

Technorati : congo, drc, gorilla, iccn, mikeno, ranger, virunga

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I have instructed 10 trackers to conduct an initial search into the Mountain Gorilla sector tomorrow. I have sent 5 trackers to Bukima and 5 to Bikenge. They are all from that area so can stay the night in their homes nearby (away from the army and rebels), and tomorrow head into the forest. I made this decision today based on the cease fire and that we need to make the most of this window of opportunity. At the moment it is calm, but it can still go either way and I am anxious to know what has happened to our animals.

I hope to hear from them tomorrow.

Thank you for your support during this tense time. Our working conditions are so very challenging, but your support is vital.

Norbert

Rumangabo Park Headquarters

Technorati : congo, drc, gorilla, iccn

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We have found 24 members of the Kabirizi family so far - out of 32. The family, which had moved from the Gatovu patrol post area back to the Bukima patrol post area in the Gorilla Sector, had been located but we are still carrying out a head count. At the moment 24 Gorillas have been counted, which means 8 are missing. But the count is by no means over and we are hopeful we will find them all. We want to physically see all of the gorillas - and also do a nest count.

The Bukima rangers have taken over the work, and actually they know the family very well because Kabirizi is often in their area.

Thank you for all your support and donations during this time. From all of us rangers. Paulin

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I have just heard that the Kabirizi gorilla family has been found by our rangers and trackers. This news has just come in and I don’t have any more details just yet, but I will post later on today. This is great news, but I must confirm the numbers to see that the remaining 32 family members are well. We also need to see what effect the traumatic killing of Rubiga has had on the family.

Kabirizi - we hope his family is intact

Ndakasi being bottle fed by his surrogate parent

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Following my post last week Dr Jacques from the Mountain Gorilla Vet Program traveled to Bukima today in the Mikeno sector to try to see the sick 2 1/2 year old infant of the Kabirizi family. He was unable to visit the family. The trackers, who following the Mountain Gorilla families every day, had trouble locating the Kabirizi family as they had moved to about 4 hours walk from the patrol post. So by the time the trackers got back to Bukima, it was too late for Dr Jacques to set out. With an 8-hour round trip you need to make sure you have enough daylight.

Dr Jacques is going to try again tomorrow. He will leave early from Goma. It takes 2 to 3 hours from Goma to Bukima, and then the walk starts.

Fingers crossed.

Technorati : bukima, congo, drc, goma, kabirizi, mgvp, mountain gorilla, ranger, wildlifedirect

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Yesterday a group of Congo Rangers, Rob Muir and Emmanuel de Merode, the Director of WildlifeDirect, set out to find the Kabirizi family near Bikenge after hearing reports that a newborn had been sighted in the group. They were also accompanied by Paul Taggart, a photographer with World Picture News.

They set off early from Camp Karema, heading toward the Mikeno volcano from where the sector gets its name.

They walked along the edge of the park, following the dry stone wall, and then into the forest.

Jean Marie, currently head of the Bukima patrol post, here in the foreground, led the group.

They crossed streams and climbed hills…

And spotted Mountain Gorilla prints…

And eventually sighted a member of the Kabarizi family…

And then another…

And then a mother with her baby (look to the right of the picture)

The Kabirizi family has only been habituated for 2 years, so can be quite shy. But yesterday they weren’t.

And were curious to see the Rangers and our visitors.

Jean Marie was able to get up close…

Unfortunately there was no sighting of the newborn… but my Rangers will return in coming days and try and get pictures for you. You do have to be careful not to offend the Silverback or scare the mother… so we are careful.

Technorati : bukima, congo, drc, kabarizi, mikeno, mountain gorilla, newborn, virunga, wildlifedirect

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I have been asked many questions about the four missing Mountain Gorillas by concerned friends around the world. As you’ll remember, during the rebellion in December and January, two Gorillas were killed. Subsequently, my Rangers carried out extensive searches to establish the safety of the remaining Gorillas. Back on February 12, I reported on the status of the Gorillas: The impact of the rebellion had been 2 confirmed killed and 4 missing (3 Silverbacks and 1 female).

Rangers have been searching since then, but have not been able to find them. I am fearing the worst for those Gorillas, although I would not like to come to any conclusion before we have exhausted the search. For that reason, I and my Rangers are going to carry out one last intensive search, using five extra trackers hired through the WildlifeDirect donations, and come to a conclusion after that. I will post this information as soon as it is done.

This monitoring work is important for other reasons as well. It allows us to focus our Gorilla Protection activities to the most important areas, and acts as an early warning surveillance exercise. We need to keep a permanent presence of wildlife protection officers in the park to demonstrate our commitment to saving these Gorillas. Camp Karema is a very important part of this work, and has been developed thanks to the support we’ve received through WildlifeDirect. Many thanks, again, for your support in helping us to make this possible.

Technorati : congo, drc, gorilla, ranger, virunga, wildlifedirect

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