issue 46 autumn 2014 the gorilla organization New Charter pledges to raise mountain gorilla numbers to 1,000 by 2018 Letter from the As mountain gorillas continue to teeter on the edge of extinction, the Virungas Gorilla Organization has launched a new initiative aimed at securing the Here in the Virunga region of Africa, long-term future of the great apes. we take great pride in the rich variety Over the past few years, the of wildlife we live alongside. number of mountain gorillas left in Above all, though the the world has been rising, thanks in communities living alongside the no small part to the move away from protected parks have great respect traditional models of conservation for all animals, it is the gorillas they towards community-led, grassroots revere the most. alternatives. Encouragingly, the Now, however, those latest censuses carried out in of us working to save Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo wildlife, including indicate that there are now around gorillas, are 890 mountain gorillas living in the really feeling Virunga mountains, the only place the effects of on the planet where they are found. the economic Nevertheless, despite recent Despite recent gains mountain gorilla numbers remain perilously low troubles of successes, mountain gorillas, as with the rest of all other sub-species of the great for Evolutionary Anthropology Jillian Miller. “With it we pledge the world. ape, remain critically endangered, explained to Digit News, “smaller to work with local communities Funding we and numbers are still believed to be populations are intrinsically more to ensure the long-term survival of have previously well below the carrying capacity vulnerable to environmental change, gorillas, while also supporting more relied upon has of their native environment and epidemics, or, over the long term, immediate conservation efforts been drying up, insufficient to guarantee long-term loss of genetic diversity”. such as ranger patrols and ongoing making a tough job even survival. As Dr Linda Vigilant of research. We know that this is the tougher. the prestigious Max Planck Institute A Charter for the future best way to protect gorillas and, We know the good will is there, To help stabilise the mountain hopefully, will ensure we meet our but this drop in financial support gorilla population, the Gorilla ambitious target.” makes it hard for us to carry out vital Organization has launched its frontline conservation work at a time new Target 1,000 Gorillas appeal. Funding frontline conservation when, for economic reasons, many of The aim of the ambitious appeal To succeed in ensuring that there our neighbours are turning back to the is to help increase the number of are at least 1,000 mountain gorillas resources of the protected forests. mountain gorillas living in the living freely in the forests of Central It’s no secret that many of us wild to 1,000 by the end of 2018. Africa by 2018, £750,000 needs to fear the advances made over the past Underpinning the appeal is a new be raised over the next 36 months. 20 years could soon be undone. We Gorilla Charter (left), outlining All of the money will be used to should be proud of what we have how this target can be achieved fund vital frontline conservation achieved – and we are. and asking supporters to sign work as well as innovative But we know that, in these most up to be part of the generation grassroots development projects difficult of times, we are more reliant that brings mountain gorillas aimed at addressing the factors that than ever on outside support if we back for good from the brink drive habitat loss and poaching. are to keep gorillas from vanishing of extinction. A copy of the Gorilla Charter forever. “The Gorilla Charter can be found on the Gorilla encapsulates everything Organization website. “Please read we’ve learned in more than it, pass it on and play your part 20 years of working to save in making sure these wonderful gorillas from extinction,” animals are around for generations Goma, DR Congo says Executive Director to come,” adds Jillian.
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Crossing continents for nature’s gentle giants
Some fundraisers really do go the “I’ve loved gorillas since I extra mile for gorillas, and Kyran was a boy,” Kyran says. “And so Young is one of them. In fact, the when I learned how this beautiful, young conservationist is getting hazel-eyed pacifist has been pushed ready to walk the 2,600 miles from to the brink of extinction, I knew Mexico to Canada for the great apes I had to do something.” next spring. The ‘Gorilla Walker’ believes To prepare, Kyran spent his his trans-continental trek will take summer holidays rambling across the him up to four months to complete Spanish Pyrenees. Walking 14 hours and he’s calling on his fellow a day and overcoming dense fog, great ape lovers to help him hit his occasional bouts of loneliness and sponsorship target of £10,000. At the regular dreams of pizza, he made it time of going to print, he’d already to the Mediterranean coast after just raised almost £1,000. four weeks, and is now confident that To follow Kyran on his he’s ready to go even further for a journey, visit his blog at www. species close to his heart. gorillawalker.com, where you’ll also find out how you can donate. Kyran Young, the ‘Gorilla Walker’ hits the high road GO flag flies on top of Africa once again
The flag of the Gorilla Organization Kilimanjaro to highlight the plight Day, the climb was dedicated to once again flew over Africa when of great apes around the world. those who work on the frontline of Chairman Ian Redmond reached the “We’re all of us 98.4 per cent conservation, and above all to the continent’s highest point on a special chimp, 97.7 per cent gorilla and brave men and women who have fundraising mission. 96.4 per cent orangutan, so this was lost their lives protecting gorillas The globe-trotting prima- a great chance to unite to save our and other endangered species. tologist was part of a group of cousins,” Ian said from the summit. conservationists taking part in the Since the team made it to the Pictured left: Ian at the summit expedition to the top of Mount top of Kilimanjaro on World Ranger with GGR flyer Great Gorilla Run 2014
The fur flew in London for the 2014 they were rewarded with a medal Great Gorilla Run, with more than 500 and, of course, a banana. participants raising tens of thousands “You guys are a perfect of pounds for gorilla conservation. example of animals inspiring the As always, celebrity best of humans,” Bill told the crowd conservationist Bill Oddie was on of runners and supporters after the hand to wave the gorillas off on the event. “I truly do treasure this event 8km course, which saw them cross and can’t wait for next year to do it Tower Bridge and race past City Hall all again!” and Tate Modern. To find out more about the Bill was joined by illusionist Great Gorilla Run and to sign up Uri Geller in welcoming the runners for the 2015 event, please visit back across the finish line, where www.greatgorillarun.org Bill Oddie and Uri Geller get the Great Gorilla Run started Stanley takes up role of President Emeritus Stanley Johnson has officially taken up Now, despite being busier habitat and they need all the financial the role of the Gorilla Organization’s than ever, Stanley has accepted a help we can give them, especially first-ever President Emeritus. new position of President Emeritus, during these turbulent times.” The author, explorer, bringing both boundless enthusiasm As President Emeritus, Stanley campaigner and some-time politician and invaluable experience to the role. will also play an instrumental role served as Chairman between 2009 “My main concern is raising in lobbying on behalf of gorillas and 2012, during which time he funds for gorilla conservation,” he and raising valuable support for the climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and explains. “My colleagues on the Gorilla Organization’s grassroots raised large sums of money for ground in Africa work incredibly conservation and development conservation projects in Africa. Stanley, a President for life hard to protect the gorillas and their projects in Central Africa.
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New partnership to halt loss of gorilla habitat
The trees of the Kahuzi Biega Thanks to the Goma team’s National Park provide the strong track record in working with endangered eastern lowland local communities to successfully gorillas living within its boundaries reforest large areas of land, the Gorilla food and shelter. Organization has been named the However, it’s not just great preferred partner of an ambitious new apes that have always been dependent project being funded by the Africa on the rich forests of this part of DR Development Bank (ADB). Congo. For centuries, the trees have Through the initiative, more also provided humans with food, fuel than two million seedlings will be and shelter. planted with the aim of reforesting Over the past few decades, some 1,000 hectares of land. the number of people settling In addition to working with the within walking distance of the park ADB, the Gorilla Organization team has soared. Internal migration of will also be working alongside people refugees has caused the regional living in the Kalehe, Kabare and population to expand significantly, Walungu territories, with grassroots while crippling levels of poverty cooperation crucial to the long-term mean many people have little choice success of the project. but to trespass into the forests in Gorillas rely on the Congo’s lush forests for food and shelter search of natural resources. Massive potential for project According to Henry Cirhuza, “This is why this type of project has is testament to the high regard the Gorilla habitat shrinking Programmes Manager at the Goma always won the support of local Gorilla Organization is held in this Despite the best efforts of the Resource Centre, this forward- communities. Now, we can not only part of Africa. With the ink still drying authorities, the forests have been thinking new partnership has the start to restore significant parts of the on this new agreement, Henry and his shrinking at an alarming rate, placing potential to make a big difference precious forest, giving gorillas some team are hopeful that they may soon the gorillas in grave danger. To to both local communities and their vital breathing space, but by planting get even more opportunities to build counter this, the Gorilla Organization gorilla neighbours. fast-growing trees that can be used for on their community-led approach to has already planted tens of thousands “The areas around Kahuzi firewood and timber, we can reduce changing people’s lives for the better of trees along the park’s boundaries, Biega are very densely populated, so reliance on the trees found on the and building a brighter future for placing a vital buffer between gorillas the need for wood to burn and timber other side of the park boundary.” the Congo’s critically-endangered and humans. for construction is huge,” he explains. The partnership with the ADB lowland and mountain gorillas. Community conservation credited for rise in gorilla numbers
Giving local communities a gorillas,” he recalls. “This means, again, the community-based ideals central role to play in conservation the communities were hardly upon which the Gorilla Organization is the most-effective means of involved at all, not even to share was founded are seen as the key to safeguarding Africa’s critically- their thoughts on how native forests ongoing success. endangered gorillas: that’s the and wildlife could be protected. In particular, education Gorilla Organization philosophy “Now, saving gorillas has and outreach projects aimed at and that’s also the conclusion of really become a real community inspiring a new generation of gorilla a new report from the Rwanda endeavour,” Emmanuel adds. guardians are now a central part of Development Board (RDB). conservation efforts, another thing Released to coincide with People support themselves that was not always the case. the tenth annual Kwita Izina baby “Conservation, research and “As a native of this area, I gorilla naming ceremony, the veterinary jobs are open to all, remember that when I was young, official statistics show that the and many more people support talking about gorillas and volcanoes total number of mountain gorillas themselves and their families was seen as quite risky,” Emmanuel found in the country has risen by an through tourism, including through adds. “Talking about some parts of encouraging 26.3 per cent over the the revenue sharing scheme in nature was seen as tempting bad past decade. Gorilla numbers rising which five per cent of money made luck, so it’s incredibly important from selling gorilla trekking permits that attitudes have changed so much Cooperation not coercion National Park, along with the support to tourists goes to support the socio- and so quickly.” Notably, it’s not merely tougher of the international community”. economic development of some of Sadly, even with numbers law enforcement in and around the It’s not always been this way, our country’s poorest towns and up by 26%, Rwanda’s mountain gorilla habitat that’s credited as the however. Emmanuel Bugingo, the villages.” gorillas are still in peril, with habitat main reason for this remarkable Gorilla Organization’s Programme Not for nothing was the loss and poaching the main threats turnaround. Rather, according to Manager in Rwanda, has been at the 2014 Kwitza Izina festival given to their survival. However, with Rwanda’s Head of Tourism and forefront of this changing approach the theme of ‘Empowering and conservationists and the authorities Conservation, the main driver of to conservation since 2002. Growing’. As well as looking back now agreed on the best way to change over recent years has been “When I started in this job, and celebrating the successes of the address these threats, the great apes increased “community ownership coercive measures were seen as the past decade, this summer’s RDB have been brought back from the of projects around the Volcanoes best – and only – way of protecting report also looked to the future, and brink of extinction, for now at least.
3 The Gorilla Organization 110 Gloucester Avenue Ymke’s legacy lives on London NW1 8HX Tel: 020 7916 4974 [email protected] Four years after her tragic death, Dr Primate Working Group, designed www.gorillas.org Ymke Warren’s presence continues to facilitate African leadership in Reg. Charity No. 1117131 to be felt in the exciting world of the study and conservation of the Trustees: gorilla conservation. continent’s primates. Ian Redmond OBE, Chairman In the wake of her murder “Dr Warren was a strong Sandra Bakker in Cameroon, friends and family supporter of capacity building in Paul Baldwin of the respected primatologist set Africans and she would have been Dr J.E. Clarke up a special fund in her memory very supportive of the working Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka to assist promising young African group,” Denis says “I would like Martin Payne conservationists. to thank all those whose constant Lord Spencer J Phillips The first recipient of this grant, support made this happen, Belinda Wakeling Denis Ndeloh, worked alongside including the team at the Gorilla Executive Director: Jillian Miller Ymke researching Cross River Organization. gorillas. The funding has enabled “It is my wish that this grant Patrons: him to carry on this pioneering work continues to support many more Richard Adams, Michael Backes, and, just recently, participate in the African gorilla researchers and Prof. Richard Dawkins FRS, inaugural meeting of the African Denis busy at work in the forest conservationists.” Leonardo DiCaprio, Daryl Hannah, Dr Nathan Myhrvold, The Hon. Mrs Claire Ward Digit News Goodbye, Editor: Jillian Miller Deputy Editor: David Hewitt Rano Contributors: Tuver Wundi, Emmanuel Bugingo, David Hewitt, Less than five years after the death Paul Heckel of its legendary founding silverback, Photographs: Paul Heckel, Tuver the Titus gorilla group suffered Wundi, Uganda Wildlife Authority another loss, with the passing of alpha male Umushikirano. DTP: Column Communications Ltd The lifeless body of Rano, as Printing: Emmerson Press he was popularly known, was found by rangers carrying out a routine patrol of the Volcanoes National Park. Initial examinations showed no signs of violence and further tests indicate he died from natural causes. Adoptions: Rano was just 21 years old when he died, but in those years he had a dramatic life. “He spent the movie many years wandering the forests The Gorilla Organization’s as a sole silverback,” explains the Silverback Rano is sadly missed but his family is still thriving award-winning adoption Gorilla Organization’s Emmanuel pack gives gorilla-lovers the Bugingo, who visited him on many of the Karisoke volcano, the Titus and who went on to father a record chance to learn more about occasions. “However, after a few group is arguably the most famous number of offspring. the great apes while also years of solitude he returned to take great ape family in the world. The Despite Rano’s death, the playing a role in saving them over his father’s group, fighting off group was established by Titus group, now officially named the from extinction. the rival silverback Kuryama, who himself, the gorilla who, as an Umushikirano group, thrives, with A short film explaining was also his brother.” infant, so famously climbed over an infant born last year bringing just how adopting a single Living on the Eastern slopes broadcaster Sir David Attenborough their current number to nine. infant gorilla can help an entire species can be found Batwa farmers battle against extreme weather online at: www.gorillas.org A lack of arable land to call their alongside. In fact, this season, 125 could be a sign of things to come. own and a shortage of funding have local families have benefited from The Batwa will now plant their crops not stood in the way of Kisoro’s the project, with many even growing earlier in an effort to guard against pioneering Batwa farmers. enough produce to feed themselves the extreme weather that seems to Thanks to the Gorilla and sell the surplus at a local market. be becoming more commonplace Organization’s innovative Batwa Now, however, the budding in this part of Africa. Fingers Training Programme, they’ve agricultural entrepreneurs face crossed they can face this challenge overcome these challenges and more another problem: climate change. with the same determination and to at long last make a living without The dry weather which hit the Kisoro resourcefulness they’ve shown since having to rely on the natural resources district in May was responsible for the BTP initiative was launched found in the gorilla forest they live lower-than-expected harvests and back in 2008.
THANK YOU Cowan, The Estate of the Late Plc, Lindeth Charitable Trust, The Trust, Evan Cornish Foundation, George McNeil, Mrs Sarianne Green Mountain Trust, Dischma Simon Gibson Charitable Trust, The Estate of the Late Janet Durie, Mr A Del Tufo, Mr Chris Charitable Trust, Gemini Chalk Cliff Trust, The Mitchell Holloway, The Estate of the Late Gepp, Mrs Joan Pibouleau, Miss Foundation, Mrs S H Adlam Will Trust, Edward Smart, The Hoare Ms Marie Therese Jones, The Phyllis Peters, Fountain of Youth Trust, R G Hills Charitable Trust, Trust and to all our wonderful Estate of the Late Mrs Elizabeth UK, Props ‘n’ Frocks Ltd, Fyffes Animal Charity Trust, W F Southall volunteers and fundraisers.
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