Gorilla Protection

This is Diddy. Tensions are still running high around the Gorilla Sector. There has been sporadic clashes over the past few days around Rumangabo, where I am based with Innocent, Balemba and the others. Sometimes the fighting is next to the Gorilla Sector, near Bukima or Bikenge, and sometimes it is north of Rumangabo going towards Rutshuru.

You have probably read all the reports in the press about how this is the worst spate of clashes since the peace conference in January. So we just sit and wait. It is quite a strange feeling not to know what is going to happen each day with the outbreaks of fighting. We just want to get on and work - as does everyone else who lives near here. So we hope this will end soon and that the peace process can move forward.

I just heard that we will soon have 2 new trucks for the park. They are being shipped from England by Linda at G4G. The trucks were donated to G4G in England, but they will dock in Yemen on 23rd September and then should be in Mombasa by 3rd October, on the Kenyan coast. Once the trucks have cleared customs they will brought to Congo as freight. Donations made by all of you on this blog have paid for the transport of these trucks - the container to Mombasa is $5,930 and then it is $7,000 from Mombasa to the Rwandan/Congo border. To clear customs for DRC it is $1,800 for the 2 cars. And then running costs for 1 year for the vehicles is $9,500. So the total of this is $24,230.

This is all thanks to each and every one of you who has made a one-off donation or set up a recurring monthly payment through this site (or by check). All the money donated through the blog goes straight to the field - no admin costs are taken at all! Trucks & other vehicles are our lifeline here - without transport it is difficult to patrol and protect the park. So THANK YOU from all of us. I will send you pictures when we are actually in the trucks!

Linda, sitting in the first car, with her G4G team before the trucks left English soil! They have stuffed them with binoculars, bicycles, telescopes and medical supplies. 

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This is Samantha. Finally some good news. Over 1,000 Congolese soldiers have left Virunga National Park, with their families - so that is about 6,000 people in total - for good. Talks between the army and the Congolese Wildlife Authority (that we blogged about last week), so between General Vainqueur Mayala and Emmanuel, worked out and yesterday the army finally finished moving out.

The whole operation - that required incredible logistics as it really was like moving an entire town - took 3 days and cost $10,000 - mainly for trucks and fuel.  World Wildlife Fund paid for the operation, at the request of Emmanuel and the Rangers. This is a significant development for Virunga and its flora and fauna. Any human presence is detrimental to the conservation of Virunga, so this move by the army is a very positive step in the right direction.

The soldiers were primarily based in Rwindi, which is about 130km north/north-west of Goma, and Vitshumbi, on the southern shores of Lake Edward. This was for strategic purposes - to defend the main road going north from Goma and to prevent attacks from the Mai Mai and FDLR rebels. Most soldiers have now moved west of the park to Kanyabayonga. Bear in mind the Gorilla Sector, occupied by rebels loyal to dissident General Laurent Nkuda, is about 80km away. That is quite a long way over here. That situation remains tense.

Once upon a time Rwindi - the HQ of the central sector of the park - was paradise, with thousands of animals roaming the savannah. It was the place you simply had to visit in Virunga, and attracted VIPs from all over the world. The security situation has been precarious there however since about 1993/4. Today the facilities there are a shadow of their former selves. There was once a smart hotel - Hotel Invest - with tourist cabins, and even Mobutu had a house. Today it is a dirty, smelly shell, with an empty swimming pool that has not seen water for many years.

Pierre, Eddy & I were up at Rwindi on Monday to document the re-deployment of the troops outside of the park. I hope you enjoy the video and photos. This is really a very positive move toward getting the guns out of the park - and credit goes to General Mayala, Colonel Kitenge, Emmanuel and Norbert, among others. Warden Jean Pierre Jobogo at Rwindi oversaw the whole operation also, as you can see in the video.

Troops were already on the move when we arrived.

Rangers watched and were tasked with counting how many people were on each truck.

As the military gradually left, one by one, taking all their possessions.

The trucks were all filled to maximum capacity.

This hotel, Hotel Invest, once attracted visitors from far and wide.

Tourists relaxed by the swimming pool during the hot afternoons. Elephants would come and drink too, according to Rangers at Rwindi.

This was President Mobutu’s private house there. The President of Rwanda had the house next door. Today the inside is destroyed.

This was Mobutu’s bedroom.

And then they were gone.

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This is Norbert. I have just returned from the northern sector of the park, where on Saturday a 4-man Ranger patrol was attacked by assailants we suspect belong to the Mai Mai group of rebels. Villavu Kamate was shot 12 times, including twice in the head. Another Ranger, Kasereka Makeo, was shot in the thigh, while the 2 others managed to flee to safety and raise the alarm.

By the time we arrived on scene Villavu’s body had been stripped as the rebels had stolen his uniform and boots.

Villavu had been with ICCN for 40 years and had just reached retirement age. Our condolences go to his wife and family at this time.

I have very harsh photos of what happened to Villavu, that I shall not post. I have instead posted photos of his coffin and the help we received from the Red Cross to transport his body.

If you wish to donate to Villavu’s family you can do so here. Please just specify that it is for him and 100% will go to his family for funeral expenses and other costs. I think if we are able to raise $500 that would be excellent. Thank you.

Also, I must stress that the area in which Villavu and his Rangers were attacked is in the north, near Beni. This attack has nothing to do with the fighting in the southern sector near the mountain gorillas. That fighting has moved toward the Ugandan border today. You can see that Virunga is a complex place.

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This is Pierre. Yesterday morning we got a tip-off that there were people in Goma trying to sell a baby gorilla. We decided to set up a sting operation, where I would pose as a foreigner interested in buying the gorilla. We obtained the go-ahead from the local authorities and a team of ICCN Rangers was put on standby nearby to make arrests.

I arranged with a local contact to meet the men who were selling the gorilla. I was introduced to them and they told me that they were acting as middle men for the owner of a baby mountain gorilla that was being kept here in Goma.

After several hours of negotiating and discussions, the men handed me a mobile phone- on the other end of the line was the owner. The man was not in Goma, but he agreed to send someone to take us to his house to show me the animal. When I finally arrived at the house, we entered the yard and I immediately realized that it belonged to someone in the military. There was a army truck and a jeep there, and a soldier with an AK-47 was standing guard.

I was led to a small room in the house, where a man opened a basket revealing a baby chimpanzee. Clearly the men did not know the difference between a gorilla and a chimpanzee. The chimp had been in that basket for three months and came from Tongo in Virunga National Park.

After taking pictures of the chimp, I told the men that I would have to go back to my house to get the money. As we left, the team of Rangers roared up in a vehicle and raided the house. The three middle men and the soldier were arrested, and the chimp was confiscated.

We took the chimp back to our office and had the MGVP veterinarians give it a check-up. It is a male, about 9 months old, and in pretty good condition apart from some parasites. We are now taking care of him while we try to find him a good home in a sanctuary. We decided to call him Tongo.

Following the arrests, it has emerged that the man who owned the house, and with whom I spoke to on the phone, is a Major in the Congolese army. It was not a surprise that Major “X” (I can’t name him yet due to legal reasons) was involved in the trade of baby chimps. He has been implicated in poaching incidents in Rwindi and more importantly there is strong evidence that he is a ringleader in the illegal charcoal trade.

We hope that the judicial proceedings following the rescue of Tongo will finally bring Major X to justice. This would represent a massive breakthrough in our efforts to protect the gorilla sector.

Tongo already enjoys climbing the tree in our garden.

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July was great month for donations- we received $17,538 in contributions towards the protection of gorillas in Virunga National Park. Asante Sana!

A special thanks goes to Vanessa from Happy Hollow Zoo for their $2000 donation and to Kathleen B who gave $500.

Here is the full list the July donors:

Benjamin A $25; cathy s $25; DONALD M $25; Judi N $25; Judi N $25; georgia w $60; Michel T $105; richard w $165; Brenda G $85; Camille D $35; Daniel DQ $35; gerard g $35; Masako S $35; Steve T $60; Guy G $45; Mary H $45; M D’s Neighborhood $45; Sue D S $45; christine l $110; William S $180; Marco C $70; Nahja B $105; Stephen W $100; AKIHIDE R $10; DAPHNE K $10; joseph a $10; Rick L $10; Susan K $10; Cynthia U $100; Gideon M $100; Jerry H $100; Keith K $100; KENT F $100; Lechoslaw K $100; Marin R $100; Selina S $100; Vicki H $100; Marisa A $100; Robert H $100; Amanda S $100; chris n $100; Craig F $100; Hector V $100; Jason B $100; Jeanette D $100; Jill H $100; Jill P $100; Laura R $100; Mary L $100; Rae S $100; Suzy M $100; Veronica r $100; susan k $760; Lorena R $150; Marian D $105; Mary X $120; Paula B $15; Joyce L $150; Casey M $150; Chantal A $20; Maximilian H $20; Michael K $20; Briah T $20;

imelda a $20; Nicholas H $20; Robert L $20; Sandra C $20; Tina Y $20; Joe N $200; Julie M $200; Vanessa R $2000; KIM M T $25; Michael P $25; Faye T $25; Karin m $25; Laura M $25; Low Cost Lawn Care $25; Mary C $25; Rachel B $25; Nigel H $250; Bonnie S $250; Winthrop A $275; Jeff C $30; Erin M $30; Juanita G $30; Andreas C $300; Steven G $300; Heather M $35; Eric S $40; darrick u $40; Robert H $40; Eric B $100; Ann P $50; Caroline B $50; Dudley S $50; Jason G $50; Jeri F $50; Robert N $50; Sherri M $50; William H $50; Ashley E $50; Charmagne S $50; Deborah B $50; Dorothy M $50; Elizabeth R $50; Frank B $50; Jason J $50; Jennifer P $50; john w $50; juan f $50; Kate D $50; Kimberly B $50; Laura W $50; ROBERT R $50; Sandra M $50; Susan M $50; susan k $185; Kathleen B $500; Carrie J S $100; Jarett K $100; Annie Y $60;

 

 Elee C $75; Garth R $400; cynthia r $15; Dafna M $15; Gloria A $15; K E Adams $15; Kathleen W $15; Nicholas H $15; Marco C $55; Constance B $85; Sara T $85; Teva S $85; Ah K L $40; Alicia K $40; Helen S $40; Jorge G $40; Norma A $40; sarah a $40; William W $40; Silvio L M M $30; beth f $70; wild entertainment $30; William S $130; Ayako U $10; Deborah B $10; MIRIAM C $10; Pam P $10; Black Circle Technology $10; Elizabeth H $100; Sophie N $50; Brad S $15; Deanne H $15; Andy S $15; Maria B $15; Robert H $15; brad h $100; Willem v $16; Andrew B $20; Arnie S $20; Carrie J S $20; g roberts $20; Deeanna B $20; Jennifer A $20; Tresha D $20; Michael L $25; Sharon C $25; aleta W $25; lenette b $25; Sharon S $25; Kathy M $30; Steven G $300; thomas l $40;

 

Michelle W $5; Christine L $5; john z $50; Pirjo I $50; Michael G $50; Northwest Shows, Inc. $50; A BROWN $20; alberto g $0.1; Angela S $25; Anne K $20; ATV Off Road Stuff $20; Baerbel W $50; beth m $15; Brad M $40; Brenda P $50; Brian M $100; Carol H $15; Caroline N $10; Charla M $10; Claude H $50; Cynthia W $30; Daniela M $25; DARIO R $50; Daryl P $20; david b $20; David L $20; Deanne D $15; diana t $50; Donald T $35; doug b $20; elizabeth d $40; Elizabeth V $20; Eric O $10; Eric S $25; Erin M $20; Etienne B $50; Haishin O $27; Hayez V $20; Jacqueline T $200; Jana S $5; Janice G $10; Jeanie N $10; Jeffrey W $20; Jennifer K $20; Jennifer L B $15; Jesse W $20; Jessica I $20; Joseph S $20; Joy E $10; julia b $20; justin m $20; kari h $40; Karin T $55; karith c $100; Kelly M $50; Kevin C $20; Kevin F $15; Kim M $40; L Vos $30;

 

Lalita S $20; Lara D $10; Lisa H $50; Madeleine P $40; mandi c $10; Maria H $30; Marilyn L $20; Mark H $20; Mark S $20; Mark T $20; Martana R $15; Martha A $30; matthew c $10; Meghan L $25; Micaela B $10; Michael D G $15; Michael S $30; Michel S $15; Michelle P $30; Michelle W $20; mr glyn c c $15; NATHANIAL W $20; Nicholas M $5; Nikki N $25; Paige W $10; Paul J $15; Paula J G $15; Petrina L $50; PRISCILLA L C $30; Ramsay B $50; Rebecca P $25; rebecca w $10; reisa v $30; Richard I $50; Robert J $10; Robin D $20; Ross W $10; ruth t $15; Salim Jamal $10; Sean H $40; Shawn M $15; Sherri S $25; Shine Web Design $25; Stephani A $25; susan r $20; Suzanne C $30; Tammie F $25; Tasha C $20; Ted W $20; Teresa E $10; Thomas T $20; Tonia W $15; Wild Mare Productions $15; william c $35

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This is Diddy. Exactly one year ago today we discovered the bodies of the gorillas that had been killed on 22 July 2007. Today we all paused to remember the gorillas from the Rugendo family group.

 

Emmanuel and Innocent over the body the silverback Senkwekwe 

Innocent at the time had written an account of happened on that fateful day. We are all very disappointed that the people responsible are still at large one year on, but we are confident that justice will eventually prevail.

By coincidence, the Rugendo family had been filmed by a visitor shortly before the attack:

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This is Diddy. We have been holding workshops with our colleagues in the ICCN and from NGOs working in Virunga National Park. The goal of these meetings is to develop strategies for the next 5, 10, and 15 years. This involves not only considerations about forest protection, anti-poaching, etc., but also practical things such as the construction of accommodation for future tourists and the maintenance of trails. We also have to consider the relationships we have with the local populations, such as the community groups who manage the buffer zones at Rubare and Rugari.

Part of these workshops involved going to various locations in the Southern Sector of the park to make assessments on the ground. This included going up the Nyiragongo volcano to see what was required to cater for tourists. Below is a picture of our group at the top- thats me with the walking stick, quite tired!

You can also see the video of the volcano that Pierre filmed earlier this month.

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This is Augustin. Here is a video of an interview I did with Albert Sebagabo, the ranger who went missing after a run-in with FDLR rebels. Translation is provided by Ranger Augustin Rwimo.

 

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Our very own Emmanuel de Merode and Godefroid Wambale will be on the Charlie Rose Show this evening on PBS Televison.

The time varies depending on your PBS affiliate, so you should check the exact time for your local channel here.

Let us know what you think!

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