THE Inside DIAN Women following in Fossey’s footsteps 2 FOSSEY females have crucial roles 4 Empowering community women 6 Bwindi census Gorılla shows increase 7 New campus construction update 8 ournal March 2020 J Daily Protection | Scientific Research | Educating Conservationists | Helping Communities

Sign up! Celebrating women’s month Free monthly From science to daily stories on pages 2 and 6). Gorilla eNews Our work is also significantly supported gorillafund. protection to education, by a number of female celebrities and philan- org/enews women lead the way thropists, including: our long-term honorary chair Sigourney Weaver; Ellen DeGeneres in gorilla conservation and her wife Portia de Rossi; our board chair Judith Harris; and 40+year major donor and By Tara Stoinski, Ph.D. former board chair Sandy Price, who knew President and CEO/Chief Scientific Officer personally. It’s especially heartening that many of our Here at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, younger African female staff are we are perfectly poised to celebrate also rising to prominence, like our Women’s History Month in the U.S., research assistant Nadia Niyonizeye, as well as Inter- who is featured in a national Women’s television documen- Day around the tary airing this year world. Our founder, on Earth Day, about TheHelping Gorilla people. Saving Journal gorilla s. gorillafund.org Dr. Dian Fossey, women following in is a publication was one of the most the footsteps of Dian of the Dian Fossey well-known female 1 2 3 Fossey and the other Gorilla Fund® scientists of our time, leading female prima- International, recognized for her scientific tologists of the time. 800 Cherokee Ave., breakthroughs, her courage I am lucky to have worked in SE, Atlanta, GA and her persistence. Fifty-two the field with the , like 30315-1440, years later, our organization is Dian Fossey did, so I can’t miss 1-800-851-0203. still led by many groundbreak- an opportunity to acknowledge ©2020 Dian Fossey ing women and continues to all the amazing gorilla females Gorilla Fund® incorporate women into every 4 5 we observe every day — for International. aspect of our work. Some of the Fossey women: their strength, protection of gorillafund.org. All rights reserved. Women have truly made 1) President and CEO Dr. their youngsters, and for keep- No information history in our field, whether Tara Stoinski 2) Founder ing gorilla groups cohesive and Dr. Dian Fossey 3) Research from this publica- engaged in scientific studies, assistant Nadia Niyonizeye thriving (See story on page 4). tion may be used on the ground protecting 4) Research assistant Gudula I believe strongly in the without written gorillas, educating others about Nyirandayambaje 5) Tracker theme of the 2020 Interna- permission from conservation, or involving and Alphonsine Nakure tional Women’s Day — “An the Fossey Fund. impacting even more women in conservation equal world is an enabled world” — and am through community efforts, such as farm- proud that our organization embodies and ing and small-scale livelihood projects. (See acts upon this sentiment in every way. n Follow us @savinggorillas Daily Protection | Scientific Research | Educating Conservationists | Helping Communities Women following in Fossey’s footsteps . . . Dr. Tara Stoinski Fossey Fund president and CEO/chief scientist Tara Stoinski started at the Fossey Fund as a scientist in 2002, and has led the organiza- tion as president and CEO/chief scientific officer since 2014. As the Fossey Fund’s leader, Tara is responsible for the daily manage- ment of the entire organization. As a scientist, she plays an active role in numerous scientific studies with our own scientists and with collab- orators from around the world. Nadia Niyonizeye opment over time. “I am honored to be able to help Recently, Nadia also became carry on the legacy of Dian Fossey From student a television star, when she was and to work with the many other to scientist to film star chosen to be featured in a Cana- women who are making major con- Nadia Niyonizeye first came to the dian Broadcasting Company tributions to gorilla conservation,” Fossey Fund in 2015, as a biology documentary called “She Walks she says. student from the University of with .” This show tells the taking a study field trip story of the “trimates,” the three Dr. Winnie Eckardt with our staff at the Karisoke women who went into the forests Research manager Research Center. She learned to study apes in the 1960s: Dian about the many opportuni- Fossey, , and Birute in Rwanda ties the Fossey Fund offers for Galdikas. Winnie has been with the Fossey both undergraduate students The film also focuses on a Fund since 2004, first as a research and recent graduates and says new generation of young women assistant, then conducting her doc- her thirst for being part of the following in the footsteps of toral and post-doctoral research. Fossey Fund team and gorilla these pioneering field scientists, She has been our research man- conservation grew from there. and Nadia was chosen to repre- ager in Rwanda since 2015, while Now, Nadia is a full-time sent Dian Fossey’s legacy. also leading our efforts to build sci- researcher with the Fossey Fund, “I appreciate women working entific capacity among our staff and and part of a major collabora- in the field like Dian Fossey did,” all the Rwandan college students tive scientific project we have says Nadia. “Regardless of how who come to us each year. with The George Washington difficult the work is, it brings “Our programs for Rwandan University. She treks the forest joy and satisfaction. Dian Fossey college students include more and to take specialized photos of the is the person I look up to when more women every day,” Winnie gorillas, which are then used to it comes to dedication and resil- says, and these women will help measure their growth and devel- ience.” n shape the future of conservation in Rwanda.

‘I appreciate women working in the field. Regardless of how difficult the work is, it brings joy and satisfaction. Dian Fossey is the person I look up to when it comes to dedication and resilience.’ — Nadia Niyonizeye, Fossey Fund researcher* *Nadia appears in “She Walks with Apes,” airing on BBC America, April 22.

2 March 2020 gorillafund.org | THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL Daily Protection | Scientific Research | Educating Conservationists | Helping Communities and beyond

Alphonsine Nakure the success and growth of the Long-time mountain gorilla population. “Being a woman gorilla gorilla tracker tracker gives me a unique The Fossey Fund not only has opportunity,” she says. “It’s a long track record of women amazing to be able to take scientists and researchers, but care of these wonderful moun- also has women serving as tain gorillas and I’m proud trackers in the forest, protect- of the work I’ve done to keep ing the gorillas every day. them safe.” Trackers are at the front- Alphonsine, who is a line of conservation and work mother of three and now in rugged, harsh conditions, awaiting her fourth, adds that including high altitudes, dense she is proud to have such an forest and difficult weather. important job, which helps her Alphonsine Nakure has been care for her own family while a gorilla tracker with the Fossey also protecting the gorillas Fund since 2008, after working every day. as a farmer. She has helped “I wish that one day all peo- protect many of the gorilla ple will understand that wild- groups that we follow over the life should live safely in their years, playing a direct role in environment,” she adds. n

Veronica Vecellio near gorilla habitat while also Gorilla program reducing pressures on the forests. Many are led by women. senior adviser “It has been amazing to see the Veronica joined the Fossey Fund in women involved in our projects 2005 as a research assistant, after become more confident in playing working with apes in other parts a role in conservation, especially in of . She became our gorilla Congo,” says Sarah. program manager in 2007, super- vising our daily gorilla protection Gudula operations in Rwanda. In 2017, her work was expanded Nyirandayambaje to include regional public relations Veronica Vecellio, left, and Research assistant and field communications, coor- Dr. Winnie Eckardt in Rwanda. Gudula is a research assistant dinating with our U.S. team in Sarah Tolbert who started with us as a college Atlanta. Community student, then completed a sci- “As a child, I always dreamed of entific internship at Karisoke to working in Africa one day, and was engagement manager finish her degree. Now, she is with so inspired by the film ‘Gorillas Sarah directs our ever-growing the gorillas every day, collecting in the Mist,’” Veronica says. “The community programs in Rwanda information for our long-term gorilla groups that Dian Fossey and Congo, which now range from database and scientific projects. studied were always a source of community farming to small-scale “I am thankful to Dian Fossey for inspiration to me and I feel so lucky husbandry, clean-water starting gorilla conservation and to be able to carry on the model projects and a bamboo nursery. research,” she says. “Her work is of that she started.” These projects help people living such great value!” n

THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL | gorillafund.org March 2020 3 Daily Protection imity to the dominant male. Hier- perament,” which not only provided Gorilla archy among females is regulated security to her offspring but helped by several factors, such as number her maintain top rank in her group. females play of offspring and relationships with Effie already had two offspring other group members, especially the when Fossey first saw her, soon to crucial roles dominant silverback. All of this helps be followed by more daughters, shape the groups in many ways. which eventually created an import- in group ant extended family. Many of her Matriarch Effie daughters became strong leaders success Ever since Dian Fossey launched and productive mothers in their our in-depth studies of mountain own groups, including Puck, Tuck, Poppy, Maggie and Mahane. Eventually Effie’s offspring and subsequent generations came to be known by Fossey and our subse- quent researchers as the Effie clan, or more formally as the Effie matri- line. It is the largest wild mountain gorilla family we have ever recorded and one which is still going strong 53 years after Effie was first seen. Many of Effie’s female descen- dants are now in groups monitored by the Rwanda park authorities, such as the Susa group. In the groups currently monitored by the Fossey Fund, we have 22 members of Effie’s matrilineal family. And that’s without counting all the males who are also related to her! Effie’s grandson, the late Cants- bee, became the most successful Matriarch Effie, right, in 1976, with one of her early offspring, Puck. Effie’s “clan” silverback of our time, leading the became the largest wild mountain gorilla family ever recorded. largest group ever and siring the Although gorilla groups are led by a gorillas in the 1960s, our field staff most offspring. Another grand- dominant silverback (adult male), has observed many historically sig- son — Mafunzo — is still a leading who determines the group’s daily nificant females, but none perhaps silverback today. And Effie lived travels and certain other activities, as important as matriarch Effie, until 1994. adult females play crucial roles in who was first seen by Dian Fossey the success of every group. in 1967. Effie lived in Fossey’s study Current Effie descendants Of course, having numerous group 5, which later transformed The Fossey Fund monitors around females is critical to the stability into Pablo’s group and is still moni- 40 adult females currently in the and growth of the mountain gorilla tored today. groups that we protect and study population. Adult females don’t Fossey was greatly impressed every day. The number varies give birth while they are nursing by the strong maternal slightly due to normal events, such their young, which takes up to four of the female gorillas she observed as births, deaths, and transfers years. With more females, the better and none more so than Effie. One between groups. it is for all mountain gorillas! example occurred when Effie swiftly For example, last year, two Effie And even though they are largely rescued her daughter Poppy from a granddaughters — 26-year-old peaceful, female gorillas do have tree, where the youngster had fallen Ukuri and 14-year-old Ishyaka — hierarchies within their groups, with and become entrapped in a stran- transferred groups several times, dominant females having preferred glehold between branches. Fossey and in the process helped to estab- access to feeding spots and prox- also noted Effie’s “dependable tem- lish two new groups, which we now

4 March 2020 gorillafund.org | THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL Daily Protection monitor every day (Mutobo group group. Makuba had transferred original group (Susa). and Urugwiro group). to an unmonitored group in 2007, Gutangara is currently the most Ukuri is with the newest group, and we had not seen her since then. successful female we monitor, with Urugwiro, after making several But during the 2010 and 2016-2018 seven offspring, all of whom are transfers. She is a mother of three mountain gorilla censuses, we thriving. Her success is at least in offspring, who live in her former received DNA reports showing that part due to her family bonds. Four groups. Ukuri has always had high she was with an unknown group of her offspring still live with her status, following in the footsteps ranging outside of our area, in the in Pablo’s group and they spend of grandmother Effie, and so we Democratic Republic of Congo. a lot of time together. She is also expect that she will become domi- Then in March 2019 we saw her with the mother of the two silverbacks nant in Urugwiro’s group as well. Kuryama’s group, which also ranges who recently formed their own new groups: Mutobo and Urugwiro. Also exciting is that both Gutan- gara and her daughter Shishikara gave birth in 2019, only a month apart. This allows us to observe how close family bonds may help and influence the raising and devel- opment of their infants. We assume that the support of family mem- bers will speed up the youngsters’ maturation and weaning, helping them to become independent more quickly than usual.

Facilitating genetic diversity Female gorillas also have a major responsibility in helping to keep the gene pool as diverse as possi- ble, which they do by transferring among groups as they become adults, so as to find new, unrelated Mother Makuba, who is an Effie granddaughter, surprised us when her group males with whom to mate. was briefly ranging in Rwanda where we work, after many years in Congo. Last year we observed an Ishyaka was born to mother in Congo but paid a brief visit to unusually high number of female Poppy in Susa’s group and then our area. And the good news was transfers — 35 in total, involving 16 transferred to Pablo’s group, before that she had a new infant with her. females. Twenty-one of these moves she had offspring. She then had were related to the formation of one youngster, Akariza, who moved Other leading females the two new groups formed by with her to Kureba’s group as they The historic Pablo group currently Mutobo and Urugwiro, as well as split from Pablo’s group after leader has eight adult females, with the to the ending of one group (led by Cantsbee died. Ishyaka now is two eldest — Gutangara, age 36, Kubona, who became a lone silver- with the new Mutobo group, after and Mukecuru, age 39 — in the back again). her many moves, though Akariza dominant positions at this time, This highlights both the indepen- remained behind in Kureba’s group. after two other important females dence and the crucial importance The best female event of the year left the group in 2018. Both Gutan- of females as they move from group was when we saw Effie granddaugh- gara and Mukecuru had moved to to group, thus facilitating genetic ter Makuba appear in Kuryama’s Pablo’s group in 1995 from their diversity in the population. n Hierarchy among females is regulated by several factors, such as number of offspring and relationships with other group members, especially the dominant silverback. Dominant females have preferred access to feeding spots and proximity to the dominant male. They also reproduce more quickly, likely because of their access to resources.

THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL | gorillafund.org March 2020 5 Helping Communities Working with local women helps families and conservation The Fossey Fund has many female rity is a major issue in these com- staff members leading and working munities, so the women recently in all aspects of our conservation formed a gardening group to grow efforts See( story on pages 2-3), but we vegetables for their families as well are also especially proud that our as some crops, such as peanuts, that community conservation projects they can use to raise income and purposefully include local women start additional projects. and women’s associations near Throughout the gardening sea- gorilla habitat. son, our community team is leading In addition to helping disadvan- a variety of trainings to help these taged women in the communities women, including making compost, where we work, these projects are using natural pesticides, creating also aimed at making sure that raised beds, and other sustainable women have a voice in conservation agricultural techniques. Given the and in making conservation-related poor nutritional quality of rainfor- decisions. est soil, such training is critical to ensure these projects are successful We have mushrooms! in the long term. One of newest projects involving Growing mushrooms, above, and We also provide workshops on Rwandan women living near the bamboo, below, are among the projects project management, basic health helping to empower local women. gorilla forest is a mushroom-grow- information and work strategies. ing effort, which has just resulted And we continue to help a women’s in its first harvest. The mushrooms association in raising chickens, in will not only help improve the addition to other ongoing small- nutrition of these families, who scale farming ventures. used to depend on hunting for food, but will also give them valu- Measuring the impact able additional income as they sell “Even though emerging research their surplus. demonstrates forests and wildlife are better protected when women And bamboo! are involved in conservation proj- We’re also excited about our ects and decision making, women bamboo project, designed to help continue to be underrepresented, reduce illegal cutting of bamboo especially when facing obstacles to in the park where the gorillas live. education” says Sarah Tolbert, Fos- The goal is to grow about 10,000 sey Fund community engagement bamboo seedlings that will be used manager. “That is why we take a locally for bean poles, household gendered approach to our commu- construction and mats, and also to nity conservation projects.” transform the bamboo into high- To make sure our projects are er-end products to sell for addi- leading to positive changes, we also tional income. Committee women in Congo measure the effects, using house- We are working with two coop- In Congo, where we work with local hold surveys on family well-being eratives, with a total of 64 mem- communities that are managing and nutrition, as well as health and bers, many of whom are women, to the forests, we have encouraged the conservation knowledge. In Congo, set up and manage a bamboo nurs- participation of women in meet- our team has completed household ery. The seedlings are now ready to ings, projects and decisions related surveys with more than 500 people transplant. to forest management. Food secu- this season. n

6 March 2020 gorillafund.org | THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL Daily Protection 40 years ago, there were just 240 mountain gorillas left in the Virun- Bwindi mountain gorilla gas, with an unknown number in Bwindi. In fact, Dian Fossey feared census shows increase they would all go extinct by the end of the last century. “The latest census results show what a concerted effort by multiple stakeholders can do to reverse a seemingly hopeless situation,” says Dr. Stoinski. “It takes hard work by community members, government leaders and conservationists — but it can be done.”

Fossey staff helps with census The Bwindi census occurred in two sweeps in 2018, the result of a large collaborative effort among the national park authorities from all three countries where mountain gorillas are found, as well as conser- vation organizations like the Fossey The mountain gorillas protected by Fossey Fund tracker Clement, far left, Fund that work in this region. the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund live in was one of our staff who helped with Fossey Fund trackers Prosper the latest Bwindi gorilla census. the of Rwanda, Kaberabose, Clement Tuyishime Democratic Republic of Congo and . And due Kagaba, Olivier Hodari and Phocas Nkunzingoma to daily protection their numbers, while still tiny, have joined the census teams, camping in the forest and trek- been increasing, based on the latest census counts. king 12 hours each day to locate evidence of gorillas. The There is also another, separate population of moun- Fossey Fund’s Rwanda research manager Dr. Winnie tain gorillas living in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Eckardt served as a co-instructor in the initial training National Park and the adjacent Sarambwe Nature phase and helped co-author the final report. n Reserve in Congo. And the great news is that this pop- ulation is also increasing. Editor’s note: The 2018 Bwindi-Sarambwe population surveys of A complete count — or census — that was started in mountain gorillas were conducted by the Protected Area Author- 2018 has now been fully analyzed, showing an increase ities in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Uganda in numbers from 400 in 2011, to at least 459 individ- Wildlife Authority and l’Institut Congolais pour la Conserva- uals now. Added to the latest Virunga gorilla census tion de la Nature) under the transboundary framework of the count of 604, that means the total number of moun- Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration. tain gorillas is now at 1,063. The census was supported by the Rwanda Development While this is still a small and endangered popula- Board, International Gorilla Conservation Programme (a coa- tion, the results are remarkable, says Fossey Fund CEO lition of Conservation International, Fauna & Flora Interna- and chief scientific officer Dr. Tara Stoinski. “Given the tional and WWF), Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit severe declines other wildlife populations are facing, of the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, Max Planck this is amazing news. It’s a real testament to the high Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, The Dian Fossey levels of effective and intensive conservation measures Gorilla Fund, Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation, Gorilla happening for both of these mountain gorilla popula- Doctors, Conservation Through Public Health, Wildlife Conser- tions,” she says. vation Society Uganda Country Office, WWF Uganda Country In addition to their small numbers, mountain goril- Office, and Bwindi Mgahinga Conservation Trust. The census las still face a variety of dangers, including disease, was funded by Fauna & Flora International, WWF, and Part- climate change and habitat encroachment. However, ners in Conservation at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium.

Daily protection is crucial, but gorillas still face dangers such as climate and habitat pressures.

THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL | gorillafund.org March 2020 7 The Ellen DeGeneres Campus in Rwanda How to build your own Designing, engineering, conservation legacy testing, prepping There are many vehicles that allow you to provide for your loved ones and also make a planned gift to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund:

n wills and living trusts, n life insurance policies, n retirement plan required distributions, n bank and investment Campus workers and families gathered in December for the holidays. accounts, It’s been a year since the ceremonial facilities for them, such as a can- n gifts of stock or securities, groundbreaking for the new home teen and toilets. And of course of our gorilla conservation work we’re continuing to engage with and in Rwanda — the Ellen DeGeneres local governments to keep them n donor-advised funds. Campus. And we are well under- updated on our progress. way, with our partner, MASS ------Design Group, as well as engineers, Construction highlights surveyors, environmental special- n Creating access roads to the Also consider ists and other experts, making site for moving materials exciting progress every day. n Fencing the entire site, qualified charitable We spent much of 2019 doing which involved digging by hand IRA distributions detailed work on finalizing through volcanic rock design and engineering plans for n Excavating foundations for Qualified charitable the entire site, including mate- the various buildings distributions allow people rials to be used, environmental n Starting a nursery for more and safety standards, landscape than 150,000 native plants to be ages 70½ or older to planning, and even geological used to re-forest the campus instruct IRA trustees to and hydrological considerations. n Developing and designing make transfers to charity And now we’re all hands on at the main elements of the public without incurring taxable the beautiful 12-acre site, nestled exhibits next to Volcanoes National Park. n Building a fabrication work- income on those amounts, Recent months have been shop for masonry, metalsmithing up to $100K per year. focused on fully mobilizing and and other preparation of raw preparing the site, which has materials. included hiring and training To learn more, please local community members as For more information, please contact Shari Henning: workers (75 so far) and building visit our website at gorillafund.org [email protected]

Thank you to our Platinum Corporate Celebrating Sponsors for their extraordinary 25 years in Atlanta. support in 2020 Thank you

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8 March 2020 gorillafund.org | THE DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL