gorilla.cd

18 Responses to “Atamato Madrandele 1969 - 2012”

1. Elliott Garber Says: 18 Dec 2012

   Oh man, I’m so sorry to hear this. Another life cut short by senseless violence.

2. Iris Peron Says: 18 Dec 2012

   I’m so very sorry to hear that you lost a good friend, Emmanuel. Please accept my sincere condolences, and convey them to his family, colleagues and friends.
   Iris

3. Greg Cummings Says: 19 Dec 2012

   This is appalling news! It’s time the Chief Warden of Virunga stepped up and accounted for the loss of life on his watch, both among his rangers and wildlife he’s charged to protect. In particular, he needs to explain why such a lack of resources has been allocated for the northern sector of the park. On his watch the gorilla population on Mt Tshiaberimu, a vital part of the gorilla gene pool, has dropped from 21 to just 6 individuals. Why?

4. Anjy Roemelt Says: 19 Dec 2012

   This is horrible sad news. My heart goes out to the family and everyone at Virunga. Please accept my deeply felt condolences (and a donation.)

5. Gabriel Chapman Says: 19 Dec 2012

   Shocking, tragic news. Atamato was a wonderful man, a compassionate man, and one for whom respect was always held high. His beautiful personality and determination will be sorely missed, but the strength of his work will mean that his legacy will live on. Thoughts and prayers to all his family and friends, and best wishes of safety to all in Virunga and in Upemba.

6. José Ramos Says: 19 Dec 2012

   I was born in the then Belgian Congo and I am deeply sorry to read this bad information. I read in another posted message, that the world was justifiably horrorised with what happened in Newtown, CT, but why do we forget all the misery of congolese people? I always say that Congolese people pay too much for the wealthy they have in their lands…Deeply sorry for Atamato Mandredele murther, my condolences to all of you and to his family.

7. Molly Feltner Says: 19 Dec 2012

   Greg Cummings, if you read the story you would see that Atama died in Upemba National Park, not Virunga. It’s very easy to make judgments about the loss of life in the park when sitting in comfort somewhere else. Unless you have spent a lot of time there, you have no clue how complicated and challenging it is to manage an enormous national park in one of Africa’s most violent and unstable regions. The park faces constant threats and also a lack of support from many actors who should be invested in the park’s wellbeing but choose not to. I have seen first-hand how Emmanuel and his top rangers manage the park and they do an outstanding job considering the serious problems they face and the limited resources they have to work with. Actually, in my visits to more than 25 national parks in Africa, I’ve never seen a better team. I am sure many more men would have died and much of the park land lost in the last few years without their leadership.

8. Greg Cummings Says: 19 Dec 2012

   Molly, I spent 20 years working in the Albertine Rift in the cause of gorilla conservation. If that’s ‘in comfort somewhere else’ then you must be living with the gorillas themselves. Much of my career in gorilla conservation was spent trying to bring the population of gorillas at Mt Tshiaberimu up from frighteningly low numbers. Working with local, grass roots organisations (no self-aggrandizing mzungus in this operation), we brought the numbers up from 16 to 21. Now there are six. And this after de Merode trained a ‘crack team’ of conservationists to confront the enemies of the park. Wildlife Direct posted online how successful their latest fundraising campaign to arm the crack team been, and shortly thereafter Mai Mai rebels attacked the Busia post at Mt. T, taking hostages. I lost a friend in that attack, and one of my staffers was shot in the leg. I made sure that afterward, he received medical and psychological support here in Kampala. More importantly, I demand to know what added value de Merode has brought to the challenges facing Africa’s oldest national park. I would like him to account for what has been lost on his watch. As a veteran gorilla conservationist, I have a right to ask these questions. What exactly is it that you do, Molly?

9. Wolfgang Says: 19 Dec 2012

   This news makes me sick to the stomach. One day history will show that there were men and women who gave their lives in the protection of wildlife that is dwindling.

   I am writing from afar, but I consider the work done by Emmanuel and his team nothing but absolutely impressive - they understand that a solution can only consist of a solution for the whole region. Criticism is important however good the work is that is being done, but, in my opinion, constructively and not in such a tone, Greg Cummings, even if you lived with gorillas and are frustrated, as we all are in our ways. Just my view, yes from afar, but not without having followed it for a long time.

   I am very sorry that you lost a friend, Emmanuel.

10. gorilla.cd Says: 20 Dec 2012

    Greg, indeed, it is fair that you should be able to ask these questions, though I would prefer if it wasn’t on this post. As mentioned, Atama was killed in Upemba, which is about 1000 kilometres from Virunga. I wrote this post in the hope that we might raise some money for his family.

    Tshiaberimu is indeed an enormous concern, and you’re right, I am, and feel responsible for our inability to secure that population. That said, as far as we know, none of those gorillas that died were poached. Population had reached a critically low numbers, and unfortunately we can’t explain the high levels of fatality and the level of infertility in the population (there hasn’t been a single birth in five years). All the evidence suggests that the problem is pathological. I would welcome your suggestions if you know of a way of reversing this pattern, and we’re certainly going to keep trying.

    A sweeping statement on wildlife depletion is not a fair assessment on the efforts of Virunga. Based on recent censuses, in the past five years the mountain gorilla population has increased by an estimated 30%, the hippos increased from 358 to 1100, and the elephant populations have not increased, but have remained stable from what was a catastrophic decline (3800 to 340 between 1980 and 2005).

    With respect to the funding, it’s best to stick to the actual data. The staff in each of the park’s sectors have received equal treatment in terms of their remuneration and benefits (which wasn’t the case before, when NGO’s were channelling the funding solely to those working directly with the gorillas). In the past four years, the minimum pay has increased from 28 USD to 180 USD, and they now get health benefits and a basic pension, all of it funded through the park’s management (funding from the NGO’s has decreased over the same period). The Northern Sector has received more than twice as much in community / social development investment as the other sectors (over 3 million dollars) since 2007.

    Of course I feel responsible for every death in my team. I am the one who has to inform their widows and children, and it’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. But of the 16 rangers who have lost their lives on my watch, 11 were killed not because they were protecting the wildlife but because they were protecting members of the local community during attacks by armed militias on civilial vehicles. Many, many more lives would have have been lost had they not fulfilled their responsibilities as professional, dedicated law enforcement officers.

    All of that said, we still have a very long way to go, and I would welcome your advice as a veteran gorilla conservationist.

11. Samantha Newport Says: 20 Dec 2012

    Does anyone know where Mwanzo is? (Atamato’s widow?) Is she in Beni? I know that is where she used to be because the children were at school there. Would really like to know if anyone has a phone number for her, as I would like to call. I spent hours and hours with her and Atamato in Ishango in 2007/8. I still cannot believe he is gone.

12. Linda Says: 20 Dec 2012

    I too remember Atamato when at Ishango and am numbed by the news. I’m so, so sorry for the tragic loss of such an astounding ranger and friend to you, Emmnauel. He will remain in our hearts forever.

13. Susan McCauley Says: 21 Dec 2012

    I am so sad to learn this. My deepest sympathies to his family
    and all at Virunga.

14. Steffi Says: 21 Dec 2012

    Money can help the family for a while. It can’t replace a honorable and beloved person. I am very sorry to hear this. My deepest condolescense to all people who knew Atamo.

15. Marlene Says: 22 Dec 2012

    I am very sorry to hear about the tragic death of Atamato Mandrandele. What a loss! My sympathies to the family and friends.
    I have been coming to Virunga for almost two years now. I am working very closely with the rangers most of the time. When there is one thing that stands out, whenever I talk to them, that is their great respect and appreciation for the Chief Warden and his incredible visionary and energetic way to improve both the park and the life of the people around the park (see post Water for Goma). I feel honored and happy to be part of his team and will continue with all my strength to support it. Dr. med. vet. Marlene Zähner, Switzerland

16. dr antonio canella italy Says: 4 Jan 2013

    Rest in peace , great Atamato, another victim of the bloody (and idiot) war in Kivu

17. Dave Says: 17 Jan 2013

    My deepest sympathy to Atamato’s wife and children. I remember when Atamato used to post news and videos about Ishango on the wildlife direct website. I think that was right around the time that this website started. I would have thought Upemba in Katanga would have been safer for him but sadly that was not the case. I think Atamatos work in saving the elephants and hippos of Ishango from the brink of extinction was one of the great success stories in the history of modern conservation in Africa. The death of Atamato is a tremendous loss for the Congo. Again my deepest sympathies to his family.

18. Emmanuel Says: 17 Jan 2013

    Thankyou Dave. Indeed those were very special times, and Atamato does leave a great legacy. I will be visiting his family next week to give his widow the incredible gifts that have been given.