gorilla.cd
Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Save Congo’s Orphan Gorillas NOW
Do you remember this?
This was the gorilla massacre that shocked all the Rangers in our park two years ago
Senkwekwe, this majestic Silverback, and four members of his family were murdered in July 2007. Ndeze, then two months old, was found clinging to her mother’s breast. Ndeze was so young, it was a miracle she survived.
Ndeze, with her mother Safari, shortly before the massacre in 2007
Today, Ndeze needs a new home.
We, the Rangers of Virunga, need your help.
We need to raise $103,250 to take Ndeze, and the only other orphaned, baby mountain gorilla in the world, Ndakasi, out of the dirty and dangerous conditions in which they live in the city of Goma.
The city of Goma - the dust and pollution are a threat to the survival of Ndeze & Ndakasi
We need to take them back to their natural, forest habitat and put them in a purpose-built, open-air orphanage staffed by their carers and vets. The Senkwekwe Centre, a 2.5 acre (1 hectare) plot of lush forest which is named after Ndeze’s murdered father, will be a place where these two orphaned gorillas can be healthy, happy and safe. It will also be a place to which local children - the future guardians of Virunga - can come to learn about the gorillas and the forests that it will one day be their responsibility to protect.
Ndakasi & Ndeze play with their carers in Goma
We need to raise the $103,250 by 24th December 2009.
Time is short because these gorillas need to go home now.
All the money you give will go directly and entirely to the Senkwekwe Centre; and everything you give will be matched by the United Nations Foundation.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU GIVE, THE UN FOUNDATION WILL GIVE ANOTHER DOLLAR.
Some 200 of the world’s 720 Mountain Gorillas live in Virunga National Park in DR Congo: a unique, protected, cross-section of African ecology that runs from the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes, through the savannah that leads to the shores and wetlands of Lake Edward and north to the great forest and mountains of Ruwenzori. The park is unimaginable in its scale and diversity, and is home to many endangered species. None is more endangered than the Mountain Gorilla.
Andre Bauma, the chief gorilla carer, with Ndeze
The park, and the species that live within it, are under constant threat. Deforestation from illegal charcoal production led by reble groups, clearance for settlement and agriculture, threatens habitats. Poaching and over-fishing threaten the survival of the wildlife.
Perhaps the deadliest threat to the gorillas has been the fifteen year long War. The war has forced very large numbers of refugees to move in and around the southern part of the park. These refugees have caused a massive increase in demand for fuel and space. Poaching has also increased, with the chaos of war. These threats became a tragic and brutal reality in July 2007 when Senkwekwe and four family members were massacred by unknown assailants.
The struggle to protect the gorillas and their habitat from these many threats may at times seem desperate but the Senkwekwe Centre brings some hope.
There is nothing any of us can do about Senkwekwe and his murdered family but there is something we can do to protect the present, and the future, of Ndakasi and Ndeze.
Innocent checks out the lush forests of the Senkwekwe Centre last week, which is located at Rumangabo park station in Virunga National Park, a stone’s throw from the Gorilla Sector
We have completed roughly half of the building work. There is a 40×40 meter quarantine area within the Senkwekwe Centre that is complete, but the wall that will form the perimeter of the 2.5 acre plot is unfinished. As your money comes in we will continue building it until the security of these baby gorillas is guaranteed.
All the donations made through the website during the campaign will go to the Senkwekwe Centre unless otherwise indicated by the donor. Every Saturday we will post a total of the donations we have received in the previous week.
This is what we need:
The Perimeter Wall of the Senkwekwe Centre - $35,000
Gorilla Care & Supplies for 3 months @ $5,500 per month - $16,500
8 Observation Platforms for visitors @ $7,000 each - $56,000
Furniture for the Orphans & Carers - $4,000
Visitor & Educational Outreach Centre - $25,000
Carer & Veterinary Accomodation - $30,000
Educational Material for the children & visitors - $25,000
Office & Veterinary Laboratory - $20,000
Minus a $5,000 donation we received towards the Senkwekwe Centre on Friday. (Thank You!)
GRAND TOTAL: $206,500
WE NEED $103,250 FROM YOU, AND THE UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION WILL DOUBLE IT.
If you have any questions, comments, information… please leave a comment on this post. We need your help on this one. Thank you.
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RECENT DONATIONS
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Unregistered Donor 25 $ - Support the Gorilla Orphans
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Protecting area no. 30 for one month
Sofie V 25 $ - Salary Supplement for a Ranger
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MEET THE TEAM
recent comments
- brenton on Baby Gorilla Caught in Snare Dies, Despite Vet Intervention
- soniatews on Triumph as Gorilla Orphans Move to Senkwekwe Center
- Clare on Baby Gorilla Caught in Snare Dies, Despite Vet Intervention
- Inger on Baby Gorilla Caught in Snare Dies, Despite Vet Intervention
- vanessa allen on Baby Gorilla Caught in Snare Dies, Despite Vet Intervention
Recent Posts
- Baby Gorilla Caught in Snare..February 8, 2010
- Gorilla’s Face Mangled..February 7, 2010
- Baby Gorilla Caught in a Sna..February 5, 2010
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- More than 8000 women raped last year by fighters in eastern DR Congo – UN - UN News Centre
- From 'Oprah' to Building a Sisterhood in Congo - New York Times
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- At UN, US Official's Pitch, like Obama's Speech, Omits Darfur, Congo, Anti ... - Inner City Press
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- Now in San Francisco, Soon at the DMA - KERA (blog)
This website was funded by the European Union and the Prince Bernard Nature Fund.
30 Responses to “Save Congo’s Orphan Gorillas NOW”
Done! Can’t wait to see pictures of the new center. A wonderful legacy to Senkwekwe and those lost in 2007. It still hurts my heart to think about the massacre. Such a horrible deed!
Thanks Theresa. And thank you everyone for your donations. Hi Erica! Today I am sending out an email, and would be really grateful if you could forward it to all and sundry… it is a shortened version of this post. As always we take no admin fee from the donations and they will all go to the Senkwekwe Centre. This is our biggest target yet. I feel confident we can make it. Thanks everyone.
I would also like to add that to date all the construction has been financed by The Murry Foundation, who also financed the primary school at Rumangabo that we inaugurated in March this year. We also received some funds from a Canadian donor. Thank you to both of them.
I believe it was Ndakasi who was found clinging to her dead mother’s breast while Ndeze was found riding on her brother’s back.
In any case, I love both of them.
May these 2 and all of the gorillas enjoy a long, healthy life living in their natural environment.
Thank you everyone for your generosity and the donations that are coming in. I will be post all the donations on Saturday…
I know that one of the problems is that the forests are being decimated for charcoal for cooking, thus leaving the gorillas less habitat. I have tried to put forth the idea of solar cooking units, which can be very cheap to build, as an alternative to charcoal, I have mentioned this on a few different sites, but never got any response.
I will never forget this story…just. Broke my heart! I hope all the money will be raised to remember this family that was ripped apart my evil man …I hope these precios babies will continue to thrive! Will try to donate soon!
Thanks to Innocent and all the rangers for their dedication in looking after these magnificent animals - a small donation towards securing the future of these 2 precious gorillas!
Where are the orphans currently living in Goma? Is it a residental home or offices? If their care in Goma is well known does this put them at risk of security?
[...] Emmanuel said on Monday all donations made from 16 Nov to 24 Dec will go to the Senkwekwe Centre, unless otherwise [...]
[...] This is the menu that Andre and the other carers follow for Ndeze & Ndakasi. [...]
God Bless the staff that saves these poor orphans and protect their families as well. it is not an easy job,as a matter of fact it is a dangerous one(poachers).God Bless all of you and Thank you.!!!
[...] you like to become a Gorilla Godparent to Ndeze or Ndakasi - the ONLY 2 baby orphan mountain gorillas in the [...]
Hi Judith. I believe solar cooking units have been tried here but sometimes there is not enough sun. Especially in the rainy season. That is why we hope that the briquettes will be successful - we need to stop the destruction of the forests here.
Hi Betul. The orphans are currently in a house in Goma and we do not reveal the location of this house for obvious reasons. But this is another reason why we want to move the orphans to the Senkwekwe Centre - it will certainly be more secure.
Thanks for your donations everyone!
Thank you for letting me know Samantha! I hope they remain safe until the Senkwekwe Centre is built. I have set up a monthly donation for them but it’s not showing on my page. Just one more question, is the plan to reintroduce them back with a gorilla group? Sorry for all the questions!
God Bless all of you at Virunga park for all your hard work,care and dedication.
Bonsoir Sam ,
Je souscris pour 20 dollars pour les orphelins
Je souscris par une modeste participation de 20 dol car ces orphelins gorilles ont aussi droit à la vie au même titre que les humains , victimes de la barbarie des écocidaires
[...] am at Rumangabo, the HQ of Virunga National Park, and have just come up from the Senkwekwe Centre which is progressing well - THANKS TO YOUR [...]
[...] like to tell her today that there is still hope. Ndeze and Ndakasi are two strong babies, and the Senkwekwe Center is half way through to being [...]
Hi, dear friends.
I would like to donate some money for the Senkwekwe Center, but I can’t do it through the website (I’m working righ now) and neither by check (It’s complicated and more expensive because of the money the bank takes for itself). Is there any way to put the money directly in an american account from Spain? Thank you!!
And thank you for your magnificent job with the gorillas and all the animals living in the Park. Take care.
Merci Norbert - fantastique! Si tout le monde donnait $20 ce serait merveilleux
Aurora - please email me samantha at gorilla dot cd and i will explain how to donate. Paypal is the most cost effective and efficient way, followed by check. Thank you.
I think this is a very touching story even thou i realy am not a big fan of GORILLA’S. But animals like Nedeze&Nadaski need are help to surrvive & we can be biger and stronger if we all helped GOD BLESS YOU AND HAPPY HOILLDAYS.
I congratulate you all for this campaign and wish you all the success. Once you achieve this goal, you might consider another complimentary option, to make it lasting. Best way to protect the gorillas is to make the villager living around them to understand their potential value, by increasing their livelyhoods. Then they too become the protectors of the gorilla population. If you are interested in this option, pls visit “www.fxb.org’
site. FXB village networks work with 80 families for three years to transform their lives from one of poverty to dignified self sufficiency. We have few village networks around Goma. More could be started around the Virunga park , which could be a complimentary sustainable solution.
I saw yesterday in the Natinal Geographic Channel and I was chocked.
Please respect the ranger who are fighting for gorilas mountain, like Augustin.
Who is Paulin?
How is Ndeze?
I can’t help by send money, but what else can I do to help rangers of the park and the gorilas?
Sincerely, worried about
My name is Ana teresa and I live in Portugal, but I was born in Mozambique, my holy land till I die.
How can I help as well.
Congratulations for the effort made by Rangers of Virunga Park
Sincerely, worried about
My name is Ana teresa and I live in Portugal, but I was born in Mozambique, my holy land till I die.
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[...] is a plan of the Senkwekwe Centre, as drawn by Katya. It’s fairly self-explanatory, but you can see the observation platform [...]
We need to publicise this as far as possible!
Hello Samantha!
First off, it was a pleasure to meet you and your staff. I believe that what you are accomplishing there at the park deserves a huge pat on the back. I hope that all of your hard work and dedication to the mountain gorilla finds its way to the homes and hearts of those whos lives you have touched.
I loved reading through your website and watching the videos that you have posted. I will forever keep up on the progress that you’re making. Congrats to you and your staff, and may you fight (tooth and nail) to save these beautiful creatures.
Hugs from the States