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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Baby Gorilla Seized in Trafficking Ring Bust
Hot off the press everyone: A baby gorilla has been seized from animal traffickers by ICCN following a 3-month undercover investigation to bust an international wildlife smuggling ring. This operation was led by Emmanuel with the participation of a key group of Rangers and Pierre.
Here she is - recently rescued with… you guessed it… Faustin
You can read more about it here (we just issued a press release), but here are the main elements:
One suspected trafficker was caught and arrested at Goma International Airport on Sunday while disembarking from a flight from Walikale (in the interior of the country and close to gorilla habitat) with an eastern lowland gorilla (remember these animals are only found in DR Congo). The gorilla was found concealed under clothes at the bottom of a bag and was suffering from over-heating and dehydration after spending over 6 hours in transit.
The Gorilla Doctors have overseen her care so far. She has a puncture wound on her right leg and has sustained other injuries. Plus she is really weak, dehydrated, and malnourished. Dr Eddy has been tending to her and she is responding to treatment, which is the good news. These next few days are crucial however.
This is what Emmanuel said in the press release:
“Our work has revealed a significant upsurge in the trafficking of baby gorillas in recent months, possibly as a result of the war last year. Investigations have yet to reveal where these animals are being sent and who is buying them, but on the ground sources tell us that a baby gorilla can fetch up to $20,000,” said Emmanuel de Merode, Director of Virunga National Park. “We must remember that for each trafficked baby gorilla, several gorillas have probably been killed in the wild. If we want to preserve our gorillas - and other wildlife - significant resources must be invested to put a stop to these trafficking rings.”
Pierre and Katya are just editing a video that they want to upload on YouTube. It is pouring with rain at the moment so the connection is terrible - so please be patient. But the video should be up within the next few hours.
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- From 'Oprah' to Building a Sisterhood in Congo - New York Times
- Congo Lifts Ban on Exports by 16 Mining Companies - BusinessWeek
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31 Responses to “Baby Gorilla Seized in Trafficking Ring Bust”
Thank you for this report, Samantha. And to Emmanuel et al for their efforts, courage and perseverance. This baby is exceptionally beautiful. I hope that Dr. Eddy’s medicine and Faustin’s affection will nurse her back to physical and emotional health.
Well done!
There are many, many people across the world who find your efforts incredible.
Thank you for your work and for doing everything you can to keep our precious cousins safe from the greedy, cruel and ignorant.
She has got the sweetest look. Looking forward to knowing her name.
Wow, nice work everyone. Her eyes look sad. She must’ve seen some horrible things. I hope she finds the will to live and I’m sure being with Faustin will help tremendously.
s.
She has got the sweetest look. Looking forward to knowing her name. Yes Virginia. what a EYES. expresive like humans, better . . regards Betty
Are there any Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Virunga? I read that they are mainly found in the Maiko National Park and the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. I hope those parks are starting to recover.
Totally senseless…and for what? I don’t get it! Lucky she is in save hands now!
Brilliant job to all involved in rescuing her and uncovering this! Your work never seizes to amaze and inspire me
Great work everyone.
I need to find pills that stop my blood boiling.
She is certainly is in the best hands possible and if only the buyers could be found - the root of this horrendous trade.
This rules. Way to go!
Bonjour Samantha!
Maintenant que je sais que tu parles très bien le Français je me permets de t’écrire ce message dans ma langue natale … et la seule que je manipule
Elle est tout simplement magnifique et quel soulagement de la savoir entourée par votre équipe maintenant à défaut d’être avec les siens!
Je vois que Faustin est toujours présent, tu lui donneras mes amitiés pour moi!
Merci encore pour les photos des Kivu Four, As-tu vu les photos de lui avec des… Poils? enfin prêt pour l’hiver!
Merci de protéger ces magnifiques et si rares animaux, continuez comme ça, nous sommes de tout coeur avec vous!
Bien amicalement,
Carole
Thanks for all your comments everyone - et merci Carole
David - there is only a very small population of eastern lowlands in Virunga - and the majority are in Kahuzi Biega National Park, in South Kivu province. Emmanuel and the Rangers feel confident that this is where this female has come from - because she came via Walikale which is out towards that way. Walikale is also known for its mining by the way - you may have all read about this in previous press reports.
Also - something you all may or may not know is that while chimps (Mapima, Tongo and the Kivu Three) are fighters, gorillas are much more sensitive and prone to giving up the fight. So these next few days are essential in terms of her long term care - from both a veterinary and emotional perspective. We are fortunate to have such a good team with MGVP, Dr Eddy, Faustin, Andre…
How tremendous that this sweet little baby was found. Bless you for your hard work and her care. I will be sending a monthly donation to help with your efforts.
Hey, Samantha! This seized baby gorilla story just hit front page (Latest News) of the US CNN online edition! See here:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/28/congo.gorilla.rescued/index.html
I could not spot a place for comments but will look again to see if there’s a way to send readers over to here to help with donations.
PS: There is a direct link in sidebar of CNN story to gorillacd.org home page.
Thanks Suzanne. That is great. I have seen the story actually - they were very quick to pick it up. And it is great to have the link as it helps us to boost visibility on the web and traffic in general. Are you a Facebook member? If so you can also help us to spread the word there. And of course using the cockpit of tools at your disposal on this website at My Virunga when you login. Thanks again…
Good work team! I will keep my fingers crossed that all turns out well. Hopefully being out of the situation will help her survive. Along with a little TLC. Her eyes are so sad. I hope to see a sparkle in them soon.
That poor sweet baby..such a sweet face! I hope she pulls through and thanks to all for helping protect her and make her feel better……I cannot even imagine what she went through!!!!
Samantha, Thanks so much for this wonderful report! She is so precious! Special thanks to Emmanuel, Pierre, and all the other rangers and anyone else involved in this successful rescue!
Thank you so much for your bravery and courage in protecting these beautiful creatures.
They will never forget you, nor will we
[...] Sunday a suspected gorilla trafficker was caught and arrested at Goma International Airport. He arrived from Walikale with a baby eastern lowland gorilla hidden under clothes at the bottom [...]
Thank you Emmanuel, Pierre and all the rangers involved. A wonderful end to an appalling business. A long covert operation like this must be hard on everyone’s nerves and full of very real risks. I hope the gorilla makes a full recovery and that the animal traders think twice in future. It is not the first time that the potential buyer has turned out to be an undercover Pierre and I don’t suppose it will be the last! Again, congratulations to all of you for a great outcome to a fine piece of work.
I’m amazed that they were transporting the gorilla that way, stuffed in a bag, but what can you expect if they’re willing to kill who knows how many others. This was certainly a well run investigation, and neatly done on the part of the rangers as far as making the arrest. Nice work guys!
Hi Samantha, any news of the baby gorilla? The Gorilla Doctors and their team do a wonderful job.
Excellent work!! Thank you so much for all the effort. People around the globe are so thankfull for your work!
im scared for them
I don’t believe that they “don’t know who the buyers are”. These traffickers know who is next in line and so on and so forth. There isn’t one informant among them? One trafficker who snitched in order to avoide incarceration for himself in a plea deal? How can this be? Unless the penalties are so low for wildlife trafficking that they’re willing to pay them. I can’t imagine what kind of garbage is buying baby gorillas and for what conceivable purpose. Like another person commented here, it makes my blood boil too. I hate the ‘helpless’ handwringing attitudes in the reporting. Do some investigative reporting. Get law enforcement to do their job. Obviously there are very wealthy people out there with no soul who are driving this trade. It’s imperative that they be identified, publicly shamed, prosecuted, punished. They are probably powerful people , who else has 20K to throw away on a baby gorilla. I cringe when I think of what they planned to do with her. I just really hate the whole lifeless attitude when it comes to wildlife trafficking and human trafficking. I believe there has to be a conspiracy amongst the politicians, law enforcement and the judiciary for this to grow unchecked as it does. While it’s nice everyone is commenting on how cute this gorilla is, we need to get to the bottom of this evil trade.
[...] For a change, there isn’t war on the news, but peace. Or should I say “Amani,” which means peace in Swahili. That is also the name of the baby female gorilla rescued last week. [...]
Good, interesting article, but where took information?
I need to find pills that stop my blood boiling.
She is certainly is in the best hands possible and if only the buyers could be found - the root of this horrendous trade.
Glad you saved this baby Gorilla….
This outrage must end.The individuals who get caught have to pay a severe penalty, life sentences or required to go undercover for the benefit of catching other traffickers.Make the smugglers the ones to bring down the industry.Bless the mountain gorilla, our brothers and sisters in the new year.Peace to all who care.