gorilla.cd
Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Caught in the Act
As we were driving back from the airfield this afternoon, we overtook a truck. Just as we drove past, a waft of that sadly familiar smell of bushmeat swept through the window. A quick call to Sekibibi, who was on duty at Rumangabo just up the road, and within seconds he was running down the hill with a section of rangers. Just in time to intercept the truck. I left them to it, they knew exactly what to do.
The truck was searched through, and sure enough, a lady with hippo meat (we’ve blurred her face for legal reasons). She was from Ishasha on her way to sell the meat at the Goma market, and the hippo was from Nyakakoma, killed by the FDLR militias. Each piece of meat sells for an incredible 30 dollars. The whole operation lasted less than an hour. Unfortunately, with all the armed militias in the eastern sector of the park we’re going to have to launch many such operations to stop the killings.
The trade is incredibly damaging. Not only is it destroying the park, it’s destroying the fish stocks on the lake (hippos are the main reason the lake is so productive) and as a result, destroying people’s livelihoods. It’s also putting money into the hands of the FDLR, and they’re using that money to buy weapons that they use to kill our rangers (we received a report yesterday that they’ve bought two PKM machine guns in Ishasha with the money from the sale of bushmeat).
Leave a Reply
-
RECENT DONATIONS
-
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 $ - 14 May 2013Protecting Park Area 69
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
14 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
Gary S 30 $ - 14 May 2013Monthly Support
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 14 May 2013Protecting Park Area 43
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 13 May 2013Protecting Park Area 27
Elawann 25 $ - 13 May 2013Protecting Park Area 120
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 13 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 15 $ -
13 May 20132 x Elephant Crisis
georgina o 40 $ -
13 May 2013Open donation
Philippa T 24 $
-
-
-
News from Congo- Paul Kagame: I asked America to kill Congo rebel leader with drone - The Guardian
- DR Congo giant hydro dam work starts 2015 - NEWS.com.au
- Journalist found dead in eastern Congo - Fox News
- Page hopes work will help him lead Congo - Yankton Daily Press
- Refugee woman from the Congo finds friends, new life in Utah - ksl.com
- DR Congo mine collapse 'kills at least 20' - BBC News
- Rural churches in boost for Congo orphanage project - Portadown Times
- Business in the Democratic Republic of Congo Murky minerals - The Economist
- Congo: Many Dead After Attack - New York Times
- South African Army Prepares for Congo - ABC News
This website was funded by the European Union and the Prince Bernard Nature Fund.
9 Responses to “Caught in the Act”
Very disturbing. I have been worried about the hippo population in Lake Edward in the areas the FDLR control. I remember reading on this blog last year that the hippo population in the park was really starting to recover and was up to around 1,200. This is a worrying setback. I just hope the relative peace the park had earlier this year can return so that the FDLR can be sent fleeing again and no longer occupy villages.
that’s exactly right, Dave. The hippo populations in Virunga used to be the biggest single population in the world. In the 1970’s there used to be 27,000, that’s 20% of the world’s hippos. In 2003 there were only 350 left. Now we have 1200 but we risk losing them if we’re unable to stem the current burst in poaching.
Awful reading-I don’t know what is more disturbing,the extortionant price for each piece of meat,how it is obtained or where the money made from the sale of the meat is going?It beggars belief to think that yet again this lovely animal is under threat,through the evil greed & ignorance of man.I hope the punishment suits the crime?Probably not………………
This is a disturbing story. Once again you are called upon to put yourself in danger to protect what is truly a global resource — these glorious creatures. You really are the front-line in the environmental and biodiversity, fighting against an enemy that through ignorance, poverty, and sometimes just plain greed is draining the planet of its richness. Thank you for all you do.
[...] Schools of Virunga Log in or Join now « Caught in the Act [...]
This article brings to light the heartbreaking effect of these militias. I work for a nonprofit in Africa that helps to provide support to former child soldiers who are changing their lives and trying to rebuild. These boys are taken off of the streets at such a young age by these militias and trained. We need to protect these boys from this and thus stop the cycle. I hope this can end and Africa can see a peaceful future.
If you are a first time parent, and maybe even if you have several kids already, you may have unresolved issues about baby’s sleep.
is manifest as temper tantrums, active defiance of rules,
dawdling, argumentativeness, stubbornness, or being easily annoyed (p.
Parenting happens to be one of the most significant and demanding jobs known to humanity.
I want to to thank you for this fantastic read!! I absolutely loved every
little bit of it. I’ve got you book-marked to look at new stuff you post…
I am truly grateful to the owner of this website
who has shared this fantastic piece of writing at at this time.