gorilla.cd
Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Intermittent bombing, but otherwise business as usual
It has, once again, been a long week, with the sounds of war in the distance. We are still trying to understand the conflict on our doorstep, and much of our information suggests that it will get worse before it gets better. There was heavy shelling again this morning towards Bikenge on the edge of the forest. This is where the Rugendo and Lulengo gorilla families tend to live, so we are very worried about them. It is also hard on our staff, as the fighting in 2008 and the attack on Rumangabo is still fresh in their memories.
The elephant protection program continues.
That said, most of our activities, except tourism and gorilla protection and monitoring in the eastern half of the Gorilla sector, have continued almost as normal, especially with the elephant protection program, and the protection of civilians along the main road that goes through the park. We’re still completing the water project for the local population around Rumangabo, and the hydro-electric project in the north is progressing well.
The park is suffering from the loss of tourism revenue with the closing of all activities such as gorilla treks.
Some of our activities are going to suffer because of the loss of tourism revenue. This will hurt (our income had doubled during the first four months of 2012 compared to the same period last year). It’s a shame as our fledgling tourism industry was beginning to look quite promising. It’s now suspended until we are certain that the situation is stable again because we can’t put visitors at risk. So we are enormously grateful to those of you who have continued to support us through this difficult period, through your ongoing monthly support, or by helping Paris’s widow, or by buying our rangers a pair of boots (or 10 pairs, in the case of some of you). It really does make all the difference, and helps our rangers realise that there are people out there who care about their efforts.
These rangers know about the gift of boots, and the money coming in from around the world. Thank you for your generosity!
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RECENT DONATIONS
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20 May 2013Protecting Park Area 76
Kevin 25 $ - 20 May 2013 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 20 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 20 May 2013Monthly Support
Unregistered Donor 35 $ -
20 May 2013Protecting Park Area 169
25 $ -
20 May 2013Open donation
Tatjana D 10 $ - 20 May 2013 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 20 May 2013Protecting Park Area 216
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 20 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 19 May 2013Open donation
100 $ -
19 May 2013Protecting Park Area 117
Anna L 25 $ -
19 May 2013Protecting Park Area 39
Bill W 25 $ - 19 May 201320 x Virunga's Surveillance Aircraft
Unregistered Donor 20 $ - 19 May 2013OPEN DONATIONS
Unregistered Donor 50 $ - 18 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 20 $ - 18 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
Unregistered Donor 30 $ - 18 May 20132 x Gorilla and Wildlife Protection
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 18 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
18 May 2013Protecting Park Area 133
Janice T 25 $ - 18 May 2013Protecting Park Area 131
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 18 May 2013Support Andre and the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 18 May 2013 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 20 $ -
17 May 2013Protecting Park Area 218
Thierry 25 $ - 17 May 2013Monthly Support
Unregistered Donor 15 $ -
17 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
stefanie r 30 $ - 17 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 17 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 50 $ - 16 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
stefanie r 10 $ - 16 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 16 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 16 May 2013 Multiple items
Selina S 200 $ - 15 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
15 May 2013 Multiple items
Bob V 50 $ -
15 May 20133 x Widows and Rangers Fund
Marlene Z 45 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 15 May 2013Protecting Park Area 215
Bob V 25 $ - 15 May 2013Protecting Park Area 137
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
15 May 2013Open donation
Eugene Martin F 100 $ -
15 May 2013Open donation
Lisa T 10 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Brenton 10 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - 15 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 15 May 2013 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 14 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
14 May 2013Open donation
Lou W 25 $ - 14 May 2013Support Andre and the Gorilla Orphans
Lou W 25 $ - 14 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 30 $
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News from Congo- Rwanda's Paul Kagame denounces UN force in DR Congo - BBC News
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- Anthony Bourdain Checks Out Congo, Libya, Food Porn - Bloomberg
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- Journalist found dead in eastern Congo - Fox News
- Bloomington teen's Appalachian Trail trek to aid children in Congo - The Herald-Times (subscription)
- Refugee woman from the Congo finds friends, new life in Utah - ksl.com
- Page hopes work will help him lead Congo - Yankton Daily Press
- DR Congo mine collapse 'kills at least 20' - BBC News
- Business in the Democratic Republic of Congo Murky minerals - The Economist
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