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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Four Gorilla Families Found On First Monitoring Operation in Two Months
We have wonderful news this week from our rebel-held gorilla sector of the park. The rangers were finally able to begin a gorilla monitoring operation to search for our missing gorilla families, and they have found four out of seven, plus discovered a new baby in the Munyaga family.
The gorilla monitoring operation was originally scheduled to begin last week following authorization by government authorities and M23 rebel commanders, but we were forced to postpone it when the conflict escalated on 24 July, and intense combat in and around the park headquarters prevented the rangers from beginning the planned search.
The mission started from our Bukima Patrol Post where most tourist gorilla treks began until we were forced to close all attractions in April. Twenty rangers and 15 local trackers from the surrounding communities split up into eight groups the first day, heading in different directions, looking for any sign of the gorillas such as overnight nests, excrement, or the sounds of their activity.
They were able to find the Humba, Rugendo, and Munyaga families, and half of the Kabirizi family who appear to have split into two groups. All seem healthy, but a more detailed assessment and individual counting will take place in the coming week if security allows.
Innocent, our warden of the southern sector who knows these gorillas better than anyone, described the reaction of the gorillas to seeing our rangers. Members of the Kabirizi family circled them, he said, and most wanted to touch and smell them. One small juvenile shyly reached out its hand to touch Innocent’s boots, and another came up from behind to touch his back when he wasn’t looking.
We’ll keep you posted on our search for the remaining three families, plus the full health and identification process that we hope to start soon.
Here are a few photos from Innocent’s trek, and the Kabirizi family they discovered. This half of the Kabirizi family is being led by silverback Bageni who we believe is Kabirizi’s son. Prior to this war, in February and March, the Kabirizi family was showing signs of splitting into two. It appears to be official.
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News from Congo- Congo Central Bank Governor Seen Extending Bank Services - Bloomberg
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20 Responses to “Four Gorilla Families Found On First Monitoring Operation in Two Months”
YAY! So happy everyone is safe and sound. Great to hear the gorillas seemed to miss the rangers too! Keep up the great work!
Thank you for the update, it is fantastic news that you have managed to resume the monitoring, and that so far everything seems ok. The gorilla’s reaction to Inocent and his team is touching, it goes to show how well they have accepted the rangers presence, and perhaps understand it is for their benefit.
Brilliant news! Thank you for the update - with all the work and trying conditions, greatly appreciate your effort to keep all of us informed. Stay safe
Great news!
Hope the other 3 families are safe, sound, & healthy!!! And bless the new little baby!
Fantastic - a sunny news in these dark days - keep up the fantastic and courageous work !
Fabulous news! Well done to Innocent and the team.
Thank you for your brave work and sharing the heartening news. Wonderful pictures of the gorillas. Your work is so important and appreciated.
Just fantastic news
Wow, the rangers are so brave and great news. Very touching that the gorillas missed them, very sweet. Well done all! Be safe…
This is awesome news!!! Thanks for the update and we wish you all the best and safe tracking. Looking forward to more updates of families found.
This is such a relief!! Such wonderful news. Very happy to see these beautiful gorillas again!
I think I am going to start calling these gorillas the “miracle gorillas.” With all the turmoil its a miracle that 4 of the 7 groups have already been found. Good work everyone.
So good to hear, despite all the tragedy around. Thanks to you, the rangers, the locals and their families for your perseverance in such austerity.
That picture of the boot was too much, so cute and precious.
For the first time in months, I have let out a little exhale. This is wonderful, encouraging news! And I hope seeing their faces, these precious gentle giants that you’re fighting so valiantly to protect, has helped lift your spirits in these dark times. Thank you to all!
Great news! Well done team.
Great news that you finded 4 families gorilla’s. ^^ But where you hide them during the fucking, terrible, ignoring war? And why are they fighting within your park?
Please keep up those updates, really interresting and give us more assured.
Thank goodness. I bet they are terrified. Why must they have to deal with this in their home.Their home not any one elses.God Bless Innocent what a gentle soul.Thanks for updates.
[...] Park rangers have attempted several times to check in on the habituated mountain gorilla groups, with the last contact in early August, but routine monitoring of the mountain gorillas has been suspended. The routine monitoring of the [...]
Thank you rangers for your work. Is it safe for you and the gorillas with the fighting so close? And the fighting is for coltan so people can have more cell phones and electronic devices. The world needs to come to its senses!
[...] may remember at the end of July that eight ranger teams managed to find four of our seven gorilla families in one day: Humba, Rugendo, Munyaga, and half of the Kabirizi family. It was the last time that our [...]