gorilla.cd
Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Having a Baby…
And that would be a human baby! Not a gorilla, nor a chimp, nor any other kind of primate that may be found in the Congo wilderness.
Yes - William and I are due to be parents on June 2nd. So in 2 weeks. (Sorry - no photo of protuding belly!) This means I will be visibly absent from the blog for June, July and August. I will still follow what is going on - the ups and downs, the hiccups and the successes - but just from a slightly further distance than usual. I am now in London and will be back in Congo and back in the saddle by mid to late September.
I shall post a photo undoubtedly of the new arrival - we don’t yet know if it is a boy or a girl. A dear friend has already sent me baby grows with the Virunga logo emblazened on the front - so for better or worse it will be very hard for me to forget what is going on in the park! It has been a pretty interesting pregnancy I think, being in Congo - as most people logically assume that us muzungus came out of 4×4s and planes. Mostly it doesn’t even cross their mind that we procreate in the same way! So lots of comments, questions, surprise, curiosity…
I hope to see the Protect the Park project improve in leaps and bounds with more and more plots sponsored, and of course the briquette program, a park-changing project that is so important to all of us. We have nearly reached our fundraising target which is exciting. The gorillas and other wildlife of Virunga will never be far from my mind - Diddy and Innocent and others are on the Google Talk regularly to tell me what is going on!
Thanks again for all your comments, donations, awareness raising and overwhelming support for what these brave and talented Rangers are trying to achieve. Catch you all later… Samantha
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RECENT DONATIONS
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30 Jul 2010 Multiple items
Alexandra S 60 $ -
30 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 45
Pascal 25 $ -
29 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 212
Helmut Albert P 25 $ -
28 Jul 2010Open donation
Laura S 100 $ - 28 Jul 2010Briquette Program
Liz W 12 $ -
28 Jul 2010Open donation
Juli&Family R 10 $ - 28 Jul 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 28 Jul 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
28 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 211
Louise M 25 $ - 27 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 20
Jessica 25 $ - 27 Jul 2010Patrol Rations
Caroline 15 $ - 27 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 179
Caroline 25 $ - 27 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 27 Jul 2010Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ -
27 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 71
Bernard B 25 $ - 27 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 30 $ - 26 Jul 2010Fuel for Patrols
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 26 Jul 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 26 Jul 2010Briquette Program
Unregistered Donor 20 $ - 25 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 141
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 25 Jul 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
25 Jul 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Theresa S 10 $ - 25 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
25 Jul 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Brenton H 10 $ -
25 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 206
Ryan B 25 $ -
25 Jul 2010Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Mark L 40 $ - 24 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 50 $ - 24 Jul 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 24 Jul 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 23 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - 23 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
23 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 55
Pirjo 25 $ -
23 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 70
Rebecca T 25 $ - 23 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 61
Pirjo 25 $ - 23 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 112
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 23 Jul 2010 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 22 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 6
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 22 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 13
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 22 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 28
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 22 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 38
scott l 25 $ -
22 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 109
Gillian 25 $ -
21 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 48
Vanessa C 25 $ - 21 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 100 $ - 21 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 217
Suzannah 25 $ -
20 Jul 2010Protecting Park Area 76
Kevin 25 $ -
20 Jul 2010Open donation
Vanessa 10 $ - 19 Jul 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 19 Jul 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - 19 Jul 2010 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 82 $ - 19 Jul 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Josephine B 10 $
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News from Congo- Congo Boat Accident Possibly Claimed 140 Lives - Seer Press
- Vodacom Held 'Promising' Talks With Congo's Kabila Over Venture - BusinessWeek
- Nearly 90000 People Uprooted By Clashes In Eastern DR Congo - Bernama
- Why recent US 'conflict minerals' legislation may not help in eastern Congo - Christian Science Monitor
- Motorola spent $880000 lobbying in second quarter - The Associated Press
- Uphill task to solve Congo's conflict minerals - Reuters Africa
- Nokia spent $150000 on lobbying in second quarter - The Associated Press
- Mvelaphanda Holdings's Willcox Advising Zuma's Nephew on Congo Oil Blocks - Bloomberg
- Democratic Republic of Congo: Militia Leader Ordered Back to Jail - New York Times
- DiManno: Too easy to blame Africa's the white usurpers - Toronto Star
This website was funded by the European Union and the Prince Bernard Nature Fund.
19 Responses to “Having a Baby…”
You too are having an out of this world baby, that is for sure! Hope all is well with the big watermelon, we look forward to seeing those pics!
Congrats Samantha and William! We hoped you’d come out of the bush at some point and pass on your best traits to the next generation. Luckily for the gorillas and the park, you won’t be away too long. Good luck!
Congratulations, Samantha! Wishing you a safe (and short) delivery. Motherhood is absolutely the best experience in the world. Looking forward to seeing the new Virunga baby. Take care.
Great news, Samantha! I hope the next two weeks won’t seem too long to you. I look forward to seeing photos of the baby – and the proud parents! Untill then, all the very best, Iris
Many congrats Samantha and William! I wish you all the best and looking forward to the photos
x
Wow Samantha!!!! Congratulations to you and William!!!!! Visitors to the park…..babies being born…..all such wonderful and welcome news after so much time of working so hard. Motherhood is like nothing else. The love is overwhelming and actually makes you care ten times more (if that’s possible) about the world we are leaving behind for our children. I know you will be a fantastic mom and I’m so happy for you!!!!! : )
Good luck!
Will be in touch.
(Felicitation…! ET Bonne chance pour tout) will be waiting for September to welcome the baby!
All the best Samantha and William! I am sure that all in the Congo will be missing you while that you are in London. I hope that you will use a name from Africa for the baby. Brenton.
Samantha, mis mas sinceros votos de felicidad para ti y para William y tambien los mejores augurios para el bebe que esta proximo por llegar. Espero que en setiembre puedas regresar a Virunga para continuar con tu valiosisima tarea.
Un afectuoso saludo
Susana Pataro
Thanks everyone! (y gracias :)) Will keep you all posted… 13 days to go!
Well, you could knock me over with a feather. Good luck, hope everything works out OK and look forward to hearing from you soon.
s.
Dear Samantha. Good luck an all the best! Congratulations, Brigitta
That’s great you guys are going to let it be a surprise. Good luck, Ma & Pa!
Nous te manquons SAM, essayez d’écourter ton séjour à Londres après l’accouchement.
september is so far.
Yey!!! Only 12 days to go!!! Sending you positive vibe!!! You’ll do great!
Can’t wait to see you back in Goma in Sept!
xxx
Yup - 12 days and counting.
hey Sheryl - didn’t mean to shock you!
[...] am pleased to announce that on Saturday at 5 AM Samantha gave birth to a healthy baby boy at St Thomas Hospital in London. The as yet un-named baby weighed [...]
Yey!!! Only 12 days to go!!! Sending you positive vibe!!! You’ll do great!
Can’t wait to see you back in Goma in Sept!