Congo Rangers regain access to Virunga National Park and the gorillas 14 months after war forced them to flee
27/11/2008 10:36:16
Mountain gorilla. Copyright Wildlife Extra
Mountain Gorillas are critically endangered, with only 700 remaining in the
world, about 380 in the Virunga Volcanoes Conservation Area (shared by DRC,
Rwanda and Uganda) and 320 in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda.
Despite the conflict in the region, their decline had been reversed up until
January 2007 thanks to international support and courageous conservationists
coupled with the popularity of gorilla-watching tourism.
The Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN) and its Rangers work throughout the
country to protect the National Parks of Congo and their wildlife from poachers,
rebel groups, illegal miners and land invasions. Over 150 Rangers have been
killed in the last 10 years protecting the 5 parks of eastern DRC, and Rangers
worked throughout the civil war without receiving a salary.
November 2008. Over 120 Park Rangers in DR Congo have returned to Virunga National Park 14 months after fleeing violent hostilities between rebels and government soldiers. The Gorilla Sector had been occupied by rebels and void of Rangers since September 2007; since 26 October 2008 all Rangers from other park stations in the southern sector of Virunga, including Rumangabo HQ, had fled and were living in a refugee camp near the city of Goma.
All sides want to protect gorillas
"It is a huge step that all sides have agreed that the protection of Virunga as a World Heritage Site and its mountain gorillas is of sufficient priority to transcend political differences," said Virunga Park Director Emmanuel de
Merode. "Rangers are neutral in this conflict, and it is right that they should be allowed to do their job."
Fighting between rebels loyal to Laurent Nkunda and the army has been intermittent in this area for over 1 year, but the conflict intensified in late October, bringing renewed instability and chaos to the park, including the Gorilla Sector that is home to 200 of the last remaining 700 mountain gorillas in the world.
Gorilla census
The re-establishment of a Ranger presence in Virunga National Park is paramount to the protection of the flora and fauna in the park. The Rangers are now planning to initiate a census of the habituated mountain gorillas in coming days; the last census in August 2007 found 72 habituated gorillas, but this figure is expected to have changed due to births, death, and interactions.
Gorillas killed in 2007. Credit Wildlife Direct.
The Gorilla Sector was attacked repeatedly in 2007 during which 10 mountain gorillas were killed. It was attacked in January 2007, when two Silverbacks were killed. An adult female was executed in June 2007 and in July 2007, 5 were massacred causing an international outcry. In September a dead infant female was found in the hands of alleged traffickers.
Some 1,100 Park Rangers protect the National Parks of Eastern Congo, a region affected by a 10-year civil war and current political instability. These parks are home to mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants and rhinos. The Rangers have remained active in protecting these parks, 4 of which have been classified as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
How to help, it doesn't cost much.
- £10 covers the cost of the food for a ranger patrol for a day.
- £25 covers the cost of a uniform for a ranger.
- £20 covers the cost of a pair of boots for a ranger.
- £25 covers the cost of a salary bonuses for rangers for 1 month. Necessary as regular salaries havent been paid for several years.
- If you would like to help the rangers and the wildlife of the Virunga National Park, please click here.
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