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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Baby Chimp Trafficking Ring Busted by Rangers
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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News from Congo- Congo: General Indicted in '03 for Using Child Soldiers Is at It Again, Report ... - New York Times
- Vodacom May Lose Congo Shares as Court Orders June Sale - BusinessWeek
- Prosecutor: Congo suspects are guilty as charged - Fox News
- Falconets Off to Congo DR - AllAfrica.com
- Message from the Congo tailored for Alaska - Homer News
- Taste of Africa Fashion Show at IMA will benefit school in the Congo - Indianapolis Star
- Group: Congo general recruiting children again - STLtoday.com
- ICC Prosecutors Say Congo Leaders Guilty of Village Massacre - AllAfrica.com
- Congo Police Investigate Former PM for Corruption - Voice of America
- Congo: Peacekeepers Wounded - New York Times
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30 Responses to “Baby Chimp Trafficking Ring Busted by Rangers”
Wonderful news! I hope you have enough evidence to lock up that murdering Major for a long, long time. Please let us know what sanctuary you find for Tongo — I’m sure many of us will want to support him there.
Well done! Another important breakthrough in combating illegal wildlife trade. The ensuing consequences for Major X will be a good indicator as to how serious the DRC government is about cleaning out the graft and vice within its own military. If this guy walks it will be a clear indication of deeper corruption within the ranks. This is a clear opportunity for the DRC to set new precedent that these activities by corrupt individuals will not be tolerated, and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law no matter who the perpetrator is. We’ll be watching the outcome. It’s pretty pathetic that the perpetrators are so ignorant of the wildlife in their own country, that they can’t tell the difference between a gorilla and a chimpanzee. You’d think that people who dealt in wildlife would have at least some knowledge of the so-called product they are peddling. Perhaps they just called it a gorilla because they thought that might draw more buyers. Whatever the case, these guys need to do some time. Again, hearty congratulations on a successful sting to defend the flora and fauna of the DRC. Best Wishes.
Hello Pierre, I’m very glad that you and the ICCN rangers were able to save this beautiful young chimpanzee. It is so sad that the political situation in eastern DRC is such that the military are involved in animal trafficking and in the destruction of the Virunga park. I hope better times will come soon under the leadership of the new park director, Dr. de Merode. Until then, all of you keep safe, and bon courage! Iris
Thank you for the good news!
I am always astounded that that they can peddle such an important and rare animal for so little $ and so little concern -
put in a basket or cage if it dies it dies –
it never ceases to amaze me - and somehow it seems their own keepers in their own park just continue to turn on them — will it ever end………….
great work.
Awesome, Pierre. Just like the move “The Sting” except in africa and with a Baby Chimp, but you are the next Paul Newman, except maybe not with the salad dressing…
Outstanding work! Thank you Pierre and everyone involved in this raid. I hope, hope, hope that the poacher/charcoal trader will be punished to the full extent of the law. It’s time for DRC to “put up or shut up” when it comes to wildlife crimes. No one should be is exempt from prosecution, not even the military or government members.
May I suggest J.A.C.K. for little Tongo? They’re having some success in educating the community about the importance of wildlife conservation and since they blog on WLD we’d get updates on Tongo’s progress.
Again, thanks to everyone and the MGVP doctors for saving Tongo from a worse life than he’s had already. Y’all are AWESOME.
s.
Thanks a lot for save this baby chimp. I hope that you found a good sanctuary for him, with chimps companion and good caretakers.
Well done Pierre!!!! It is a very cute baby…..I know I shouldn’t say this, but I envy you, I would love to be there to caress him and hold him in my arms….so sweet! Just like Congo (he is now in Lwiro) That is a nice sanctuary for him to go - maybe?
I am grateful that you were able to save Tongo. I know the rescues are not all this easy, and plenty of risks are involved.
We need these animals to sustain our enviroment, it takes all of us humans, animals, birds, plants to maintain a perfect balance.
It is a bittersweet victory…, I can’t help but feel sadness for the little chimp growing up without his/her Mother….
Brilliant Pierre & the rangers. Great work & not without its dangers. Bless little Tongo - at last he/she can now have the best chance possible to grow up in peace.
Sorry Tongo - you’re boy! Should have read the blog properly…
Best of luck Tongo….
which news???… and what courage to carry out such an operation. Congratulations for your success. Long life for Tongo. I hope that justice will be very hard against the soldier and that you will not have troubles. Take care of you. Thank you for this information wich shows us the difficulty you often meet.
Wow…..awesome job…thanks for saving lil Tongo..he does look in fairly good condition but I am sure he was a little scared! Poor baby! Take care and be safe….what a dangerous job you guys have!
Fantastic job, Pierre. Hearty congrats to you. Keep it up…..
I’m totally amazed! you guys are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Great job! I can only imagine what an experience like that is to go through…for both you and Tongo. You guys are heroes! Please keep us updated on any further developments with Tongo.
I am so glad this sting was successful and Tongo, you and the park rangers are safe.What rewarding work!!!
Its great that you rescued this little fella, Hope the awful people who took him get what they deserve. Have you found a sanctuary for him yet. What about J.A.C.K., they are a fantastic sanctuary .
Great work
Wonderful work! I am so pleased to hear that you have caught an individual who seems very active in the baby chimp trade. And Tongo is so beautiful…I hope you find him a home soon, JACK, perhaps?
[...] JANE  won’t be alone any more as some of you know already that little Tongo is due to arrive from Goma. Yes, Tongo was seized a few days ago in Goma by I.C.C.N. authorities [...]
Great work! In our culture (American Indian) a true warrior is one who protects others. You are a true warrior!
[...] here often take baby chimpanzees and monkeys as pets. You may remember that in August we confiscated a chimpanzee from an major in the army. We are trying to see what we can do about the chimpanzee being held at the moment. It was again [...]
It is amazing that people will take poor innocent animals from the wild and keep them as pets!!!! I am fourteen and I know how that can damage not only the animal, but the ecosystem and the numbers of that animals species!!!!
It is so awesome that some people are trying to save these creatures, wonderful job Pierre!!!!!!!!!
[...] the sanctuary in Lubumbashi that has taken confiscated chimps in the past (you all remember Tongo, Mapima and the Kivu Four). After 3 false starts (cancelled flights, chimps unwilling to go into [...]
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