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A simple electric fence acts as a conflict-resolution tool between the park and surrounding population.

by Norbert Mushenzi
Norbert is the warden of the northern sector of the park that includes part of Lake Edward, the Semliki River, and the Ruwenzori Mountains. This is his report on one of the issues he deals with in the north and how it can be solved.

Crop depredation by wild animals is a major problem that most protected areas in Africa must deal with. Virunga, as with most parks, is contiguous with the cultivated fields of people living around the park, and without any real buffer zone, there isn’t much to stop elephants, buffalo, and gorillas from destroying the hard labor and food supply of the local people.

The line between the park and the farms can be clearly seen.

In the northern sector, elephants have caused considerable damage to crops. During the late summer, for several weeks they crossed from the park land into private land to feast on the vegetables planted there.

In the past, the main options when elephants came out of the park were:
1.    Repression by using the sound of bells and banging of pans
2.    Repression by shooting in the air
3.    The practice of planting peppers in areas frequented by the wild animals.

These solutions are all short-term, and don’t really solve the problem. The best long-term solution has been the electric fence, which we built in 2010 along a 19 km section of the park beginning near Mutsora, the park headquarters, heading south. It has worked well in that section.

How the Electric Fence Project Worked

Step 1: We first brought together farmers and their traditional leaders to create an atmosphere of community interest, explaining the project and how it would significantly reduce the conflicts between the park and the population, and that it should include volunteerism.

Step 2: We inventoried the damage caused by elephants that year, and used this to select the workforce among the residents to build the fence.

Electric fence and the cabin for the solar powered electricity.

Step 3: Building the fence was an easy task in many ways. It involved 3 parts:
•    Building of a cabin for solar electrical power using two solar panels, two batteries, two transformers, and two charge controllers.
•    Building the fence, which was made with poles and electrical wire in a 10 meter wide by 19 kilometer long section of cleared space.
•    Forming an association made up of local residents for maintenance of the fence. The association of 150 farmers not only makes sure the electric fence is working properly, but also reports all suspected poaching incidents within their area.

These two small solar panels power 19 km of electric fence.

Future:
The electric fence has been hugely successful but there’s still need for it to be extended into other areas where the elephants have come out regularly. In the big picture, it’s not an expensive project. We are currently looking for donors interested in funding several more fences in the park, and the construction of an electric fence in the gorilla sector in the south will hopefully begin soon.

The solar panels power two batteries. Everything for the electricity is in this small cabin.

Our Ranger Louis Kabwana passed away in the early hours of the morning.  He had been ill shortly before the evacuation on 10th October.  We had taken him to the clinic in Goma, but providing adequate treatment has been incredibly difficult in recent weeks. He was carried by our Rangers on his final journey, accompanied his family and by myself and the Director, and all the members of our refugee camp in Goma.  It was a simple, dignified occasion.

Louis Kabwana dedicated his whole life to the mountain gorillas of Mikeno.  He joined the Park in 1971 as part of the team protecting the gorillas, and had worked there ever since.  He leaves a widow and 9 children.

It is very quiet in Rumangabo and Goma- today has been declared as a day of reflection and prayer for peace in the North Kivu province. People are not going to work and are instead going to church.

The details are emerging from the aftermath of the arrests of the soldiers last week. As Pierre blogged on Sunday, one of our cars was attacked on the way back from Goma.

That very morning, soldiers from the same brigade stopped a car transporting two of our rangers from the Kibumba patrol post. The soldiers pulled the rangers out, took their weapons, and beat them with punches and kicks. The rangers were stripped naked and taken to the army base nearby where they were questioned by the Major in charge of the brigade. They were told that they would not be set free until the two soldiers who we had arrested were released.

I was informed of the situation at that point, so I immediately got in touch with the headquarters of the 8th Military Region (ie North Kivu) and demanded that our rangers be released. The General and Colonel in charge for this area were very co-operative and assured us that this was the work of rogue elements. They promised me that they would sort out the problem and initiate an internal inquiry.

By the next morning at 4AM, the rangers were finally released. Ranger Bagambe Safari and Ranger Safari Kimanuka had spent 18 hours locked in a cold, dark cell. They are now recovering from their ordeal.

We have now filed complaints at the military tribunal against the Major in question as well as the two soldiers we arrested. Specifically, there are three complaints: one with regards to the destruction of forest within the park, one about the damage done to our vehicle when it was shot at, and one in relation to the kidnapping of our rangers. We understand that the Congolese Army is under strain and on full alert in the midst of the current hostilities, but we cannot allow these actions to be ignored by the judicial system.

Ranger Bagambe Safari

Ranger Safari Kimanuka

Even with all the fighting in and around Virunga National Park, we continue with our efforts to combat poachers and habitat destruction. Last week a troop of the Advance Force of Rangers, led by Kasereka Kavusa, went on a series of patrols in areas of forest near Rumangabo.

The first patrol was in the Gabiro and Mahura areas, where we found many signs of charcoal-making being done at a large scale. We found several spots where trees had been cut down.

Kasereka Kavusa estimates chopped wood

We also discovered a charcoal kiln, which we immediately destroyed.

Further on, we caught a woman who was in the forest carrying a bag of charcoal- she was arrested and later released.

The next day we moved on to Kabashenyi and Ndagar, where we encountered even more habitat destruction. In that single day we found and destroyed 5 charcoal kilns.

As you can see, the charcoal problem is continuing pose a major threat the habitat of mountain gorillas and other wildlife in the park.

You can learn more about the charcoal trade and the measures we are taking to provide an alternative source of energy here.

This is Norbert. I have just returned from the northern sector of the park, where on Saturday a 4-man ranger patrol was attacked by assailants we suspect belong to the Mai Mai group of rebels. Villavu Kamate was shot 12 times, including twice in the head. Another Ranger, Kasereka Makeo, was shot in the thigh, while the 2 others managed to flee to safety and raise the alarm.

By the time we arrived on scene Villavu’s body had been stripped as the rebels had stolen his uniform and boots.

Villavu had been with ICCN for 40 years and had just reached retirement age. Our condolences go to his wife and family at this time.

I have very harsh photos of what happened to Villavu, that I shall not post. I have instead posted photos of his coffin and the help we received from the Red Cross to transport his body.

If you wish to donate to Villavu’s family you can do so here. Please just specify that it is for him and 100% will go to his family for funeral expenses and other costs. I think if we are able to raise $500 that would be excellent. Thank you.

Also, I must stress that the area in which Villavu and his Rangers were attacked is in the north, near Beni. This attack has nothing to do with the fighting in the southern sector near the mountain gorillas. That fighting has moved toward the Ugandan border today. You can see that Virunga is a complex place.

This is Director Mushenzi with an update on the seizures of illegal charcoal. Remember this charcoal is made in Virunga National Park, the oldest part in Africa that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We cannot stand back and let this destruction happen.

This truck was stopped last Sunday by Rangers. It was on its way to Goma, like so many of the trucks that we stop. Since we started the crackdown on the illegal charcoal trade, we have confiscated over 60 tonnes and distributed this to IDP camps near the park.

This truck was full of sacks of charcoal. So the truck was escorted to Goma, and the charcoal confiscated.

Since we started doing these seizures, primarily on the road north of Goma, the charcoal mafia has tried to avoid the Ranger road blocks by crashing through them. Now they are trying to hide the charcoal sacks in military vehicles, and avoid being stopped by my Rangers at the barriers we have set up on the road. So we all need to now work together, with the military, to put a stop to this. The fact that the charcoal mafia are now resorting to more creative ways to get their illegal produce to market means that we are being successful. But there is much more to be done.

Director Mushenzi

Technorati : charcoal, congo, drc, iccn, wildlifedirect

Fighting is going on at Bikenge between the army and the rebels. It has been going on all day.

I can also report that the Rangers who fled the sector yesterday are still at Rumangabo. The information they had collected regarding the gorillas that they had been tracking was taken from them by the rebels. This would have been useful to us for our records which we keep diligently.

The Rangers who fled the Gorilla Sector yesterday, now safely at Rumangabo. Diddy took this photo today.

Thank you for all your encouragement and support. Please lobby. I do not know much about lobbying outside of my country and how you put pressure, but anything you can do to help us get back into the park and protect the animals will be much appreciated. Thank you to you all.

Director Norbert Mushenzi

Technorati : congo, drc, fight, iccn, wildlifedirect

The Mountain Gorillas of my country have been unprotected for exactly 1 month now. The first attacks on the Mikeno Sector took place on 3rd September.

The sector is still occupied partly by CNDP rebels, partly by the FARDC army forces. There was more fighting between them on Sunday, just outside the park. I am told 17 rebels were killed and 5 army soldiers.

I am still lobbying to try and get Rangers back into the park to track the gorillas. We hear that the Rugendo family has now moved toward the Bukima patrol post (from Bikenge). The Mapuwa family is still being tracked at Jomba. We still have yet to account for 54 of our 72 habituated Mountain Gorillas.

Thank you for all your support and donations. We have several projects on standby: the water system at Bukima, toilets at Bukima, the 13km stretch of road to the Gorilla Sector (that can hardly be called a road), to name a few. Thank you also for the donations for the widow of Rugira Sebuja Faustin, the Ranger killed last month.

Director Norbert Mushenzi

Technorati : congo, drc, gorilla, iccn, mikeno, virunga, wildlifedirect