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After two days of searching in the forest, we today found the missing female from the Lulengo group. We found Kidole on her own in a patch of bamboo. She seems to be doing better than last time we saw her and was moving around much better, but she is still not 100%. We saw her eating a little, which is a good sign.

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This week we have set up 10 new fuel briquette making machines in the surrounding areas of Virunga National Park: 3 in Rutshuru, 3 in Kiwanja, 2 in Kalengera and 2 in Biruma. These are all small towns and villages that use illegal charcoal - so are the perfect target for this very important pilot project that we have running here in Congo.

Briquette Making Machines arriving in Kiwanja - these have traveled over 60km in the truck. Read the full story »

In the beginning of the week there was an interaction between the Lulengo group and the Mapuwa group. On the next day, Rangers noticed that Kidole, one of the females from the Lulengo group, was bleeding heavily, apparently resulting from an abortion. The MGVP vets were called, but by the time they arrived Kidole had disappeared. Read the full story »

We found the Kabirizi family this morning without too many problems, but it was not so easy to to get near the female Mahisho, who was being closely protected by the silverback Kabirizi. Read the full story »

Rangers yesterday came back from the field with reports that there is a newborn in the Kabirizi family - which would bring the total number of individuals in the group to 34! Read the full story »

Yesterday Emmanuel wrote about the joint patrols we are conducting with our Rwandan counterparts. Last week I led one of these patrols on the flank of the Visoke volcano. We found a patch of forest where we found many snares, probably all left by the same poacher. As we were dismantling the snares, I heard the cries of an antelope not far away. We found the antelope, which was caught in a snare and had probably been struggling to get out for hours.

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Over the past few weeks we have re-launched a series of joint patrols in the Gorilla Sector with our Rwandan counterparts. Joint patrols with the Rwandan park authorities were launched in the late 90’s. The concept was developed by IGCP and has been supported by them ever since. It’s an incredibly innovative approach, and a very brave approach given the political realities of the time. Until 2003 the two countries were effectively at war, but both were able to acknowledge the importance of protecting the Mountain Gorilla Sector, because of its universal importance to humanity. Despite being being at war, the two countries were able to work together, on the ground, to protect a critically important piece of world heritage.

A joint patrol team including Rangers from Rwanda’s ORTPN and Karisoke as well as Congo’s ICCN (including Augustin Kambale in the blue jacket) Read the full story »

I went to see the Humba Group this morning and was concerned when I heard a gorilla whimpering. I had a closer look and found the juvenile Kanyarwunka looking very sorry for himself.

Kanyarwunka Read the full story »

The Kivu 3 left this morning. They were up at 4.30am for their milk and nappy changing and in their crates by 5.45am.

This is Thierry trying to get them used to their crates yesterday. You can see we put their name on each crate. Faustin had gone to see his wife and kids seeing as he went to Lubumbashi with the Kivu 3 and will stay for 3 months to give J.A.C.K. a hand. Read the full story »

On Monday and Tuesday, I led a photography and video course for 9 Rangers from the Gorilla Sector with the help of my colleagues Katya and Eddy. The Rangers came from all the surrounding patrol posts and were instructed on the basic techniques of digital photography, filming videos, and story-telling for blogs.

I am surrounded by enthusiastic Rangers Read the full story »