2018 • Issue 49 the gorilla organization Gorilla rangers killed as Mountain gorilla fresh crisis grips Congo population The Virunga National Park in eastern DC Congo is a natural paradise. hits 1,004! Tragically, for those who dedicate their lives to keeping its wildlife, Mountain gorillas are shy, including its famous mountain reclusive and move large distances gorillas, safe, it has now become every day. But, thanks to the skills a living hell. Large parts of the of experienced rangers and the reserve are controlled by armed latest technology, it’s possible militia and the ‘thin green line’ of to count them down to the very rangers standing between them and last lone silverback. And the the critically-endangered gorillas is latest census brought some very getting more fragile by the day. good news: there are now 1,004 Between April and May, seven mountain gorillas in the world. staff working for the Virunga Given the world population National Park died in three separate dropped to below 250 in the incidents which made news 1980s, when Dian Fossey was headlines around the world. Firstly, working in the field, this is a true a single ranger was killed amid conservation success story and demonstrations against a new hydro- Fighting has spread into the forest home of mountain gorillas proof that a joined-up approach electric plant. While this project has to conservation produces results. been hailed as a way of providing deeply shocking and a huge blow Goma. “The rate at which rangers are “Just four years ago, we local communities with clean for conservation efforts,” says being attacked has risen dramatically released our ‘Gorilla Charter’, energy, critics argue that only richer Jillian Miller, Director of the over the past few months. I often see pledging to do everything we could households will benefit. Given that Gorilla Organization. “Henry, rioting in the streets of Goma and the to get mountain gorilla numbers most people living within a day’s our programme manager in the unrest is spreading out of the city to up to the 1,000 mark,” says Jillian walk of the National Park have little country, sends regular reports that the National Park, including in the Miller, Director of the Gorilla fuel for their own personal use, highlight just how lawless the area zones where the gorillas live.” Organization. “I’m delighted to tensions have been high ever since around Goma – where we have our The Gorilla Organization’s say that this goal has now been work on the plant; ultimately this Resource Centre – and the section projects in DR Congo are ongoing realised. We now know there are cost the life of a gorilla guardian. of the National Park closest to Lake despite the challenging times. at least 1,004 mountain gorillas Edward have become. I fear we will Flights between Walikale and living in the wild today, and they Ranger deaths rising see more rangers lose their lives Goma are now regularly cancelled are slowly but surely moving back In the second incident, five rangers as they risk everything to keep the due to the insecurity. This makes it from the brink of extinction.” and their driver were killed after gorillas safe from harm.” harder – and more dangerous – for being ambushed by rebels in staff to travel to the field projects or the park’s northern sector. As with A big step backwards to check up on the gorillas. But as nearly all the 175 rangers killed in the When the Virunga National Park Henry notes: “We’ve never backed line of duty since the Virunga National opened to visitors in 2014, hopes down before and we won’t now. This Park was established in 1925, all those were high that tourism could drive is when the gorillas need our help who died on the bloodiest day the sustainable development in the the most and cannot let them down!” reserve has known were young men, region. As well as providing jobs, a most with wives and children. But, in proportion of the money generated the most recent attack, a 25-year-old through ‘gorilla tourist visas’ would How you can help? female ranger was killed as she tried go to local communities, providing See how you can make a to protect two British tourists visiting them with a source of income and difference in the fight to save the park to see its famous gorillas. reducing their reliance on the natural DR Congo’s mountain gorillas Together these events have led to resources found in the gorilla habitat. at http://www.gorillas.org/ tourism being suspended indefinitely. “This feels like a big step congo-crisis/ “These latest attacks are backwards,” Henry explains from
www.gorillas.org 1 ...INTERNATIONAL NEWS...INTERNATIONAL NEWS...INTERNATIONAL NEWS... Mr Gorilla rides again How do you top knuckle-crawling the entire 26-mile route of the London Marathon (and becoming a media superstar and raising £40,000 in the process)? Well, if you’re Mr Gorilla, you just get on your bike! The indomitable Tom Harrison, the man behind the black fur mask, hand-cycled the 660 miles from John O’Groats in the very north of Scotland down to Land’s End, the southern-most tip of England. Along the way, the London policeman gave interviews to press, radio and TV crews, raising awareness of the ongoing plight of the gorillas. For Police officer Tom Harrison has been clocking up the miles for gorillas his incredible effort, Mr Gorilla raised a further £3,000 to support Until then, he wants other wildlife- Gorilla themed tea party, arranging Thank you! conservation work in Africa. lovers to follow his lead: “I would a cake sale at work or running a Mr Gorilla has still to decide urge supporters to take on any marathon. After all, nothing comes In February, we asked you how on his next fundraising adventure. challenge, whether that is having a from doing nothing!” much you would be willing to give to help gorillas in the wild. And the response was simply Team Gorilla overwhelming. The month’s with their London appeal was purposefully Marathon medals hard-hitting, showing gorillas Marathon in distress and stressing that every minute a snare is left undiscovered on the forest floor a gorilla is at risk of serious gorillas injury or even death. “The appeal raised an Team Gorilla endured record- incredible £35,386,” says Anna breaking heat to make it across Somerset. “Once again, we are the finish line of the 2018 London delighted to see how much our Marathon. Three runners flied the supporters care about gorillas, flag for gorillas over the course and how generous they are of 26.2 miles, helping bring the ready to be to fund the fight to message of gorilla conservation keep them from extinction. to a global audience of millions. Thank you!” They also raised over £4,500 Also going the distance was for the Gorilla Organization’s Fiona Mills. She recalls: “The fact conservation and development that I’d received such amazing projects in Africa. He adds: “I was, however, spurred support from all my donors is what Though an experienced distance on by the fantastic donations I had kept me going, as was knowing runner, Robert Cummings said received, and in the knowledge that it that this would make a difference. the April event was “one of the was helping continue the great work I simply had to cross that line for toughest marathons I have done.” that the Gorilla Organization does.” those amazing gorillas.” Great Gorilla Run 2018 After a decade in the City, the “This gives us a great chance Great Gorilla Run is moving to to inspire a new generation of Amazon Smile London’s West End, and you gorilla guardians, while holding on can be a part of it! Registration to what’s always made the Great Want to help make a gorilla smile? is now open for the iconic Gorilla Run so popular,” says Then sign into smile.amazon.co.uk and event, which will take place Events Manager Chris Perrin. on Sunday 23 September. It “Registration is open to both teams nominate the Gorilla Organization as will be held in partnership and individual runners and there your chosen charity! A small proportion with Kings College London, will be trophies awarded on the of anything you buy will go to support with hundreds of students to day, including for Best Dressed be joined by “silverbacks” Gorilla ...so sign up and get gorilla conservation projects. It’s super in full gorilla suits as they creative!” easy to use and can be done through run through the heart of the your existing Amazon account. British capital. www.greatgorillarun.org 2 ...INTERNATIONAL NEWS...INTERNATIONAL NEWS...INTERNATIONAL NEWS... A year in Walikale The Walikale Community Forest lies deep in the Albertine Rift in eastern DR Congo. It’s not only incredibly remote, in many places it’s largely lawless. The forests are dense and often unmapped and the terrain tough to navigate. Nevertheless, the Gorilla Organization’s Walikale Gorilla and Forest Conservation Project has been making significant progress over the past 12 months, testament to the hard work of the team working under Project Manager André Byamungu.
The project is an ongoing Lost forever operation, funded by trusts and With eastern lowland gorillas the generosity of individual now classed as critically- donors, with the aim of counting endangered, just one step from and then protecting a previously- being lost forever, the emphasis undocumented population of now is on safeguarding these eastern lowland gorillas. The 351 apes from the many and first part of the mission is almostvaried dangers they face. Here, The vast Walikale forest is lush and highly biodiverse – but in many complete. The 39-strong team at community collaboration is key. places its also unmapped and lawless Walikale, including 33 rangers, The team regularly visit villages have been tirelessly patrolling and communities to conduct According to Henry Cirhuza, reached around 250 students in the park to search for evidence outreach sessions. Community who heads up the Gorilla 2017, bringing the message of of gorillas. They count day and leaders, including village chiefs, Organization’s projects in the conservation to a new generation. night nests, using GPS to ensure are reminded of the importance of country, such an approach is Despite its remote location, the they don’t count the same site using the resources of the forest already proving effective. “We Walikale area isn’t completely cut twice. On the back of hundreds of in a rational and sustainable way. respect the local customs, but still, off from the rest of the country. patrols, it’s now believed that 351 They are also given advice on how we keep a watchful eye on hunting, With DR Congo seemingly slipping gorillas, divided up into 45 family to take only what they need from trapping and honey harvesting in back into a state of civil war, rebels groups, are living here. What’s the forests without harming not just the forest. Since we recruit from the and warlords now control some more, careful observation has also gorillas but other species protected local communities, we have built sections of the forest. Eastern provided valuable data on the age by Congolese and international law, good links with the people and they Congo is largely without authority and sex of many of the gorillas in including chimpanzees, leopards are starting to see how protecting and instability is spreading from the Walikale forests. and the giant pangolin. the gorillas and their forest habitat the cities into the countryside. benefits them as well.” The health “There is no quick solution to clinics that the project supports this,” says Henry. “However, the The Walikale project in numbers help build up levels of trust staff here have come to be seen as with the communities, while the a stabilising force and many value education and outreach programme our support as they struggle to meet the challenges they face.”
Postcard from the field Here in eastern DR Congo, there are many places where the state authorities are absent.
The Walikale forest, where we run our 24 33 260 1,602 expanding Walikale Gorilla and Forest community rangers ranger snares Conservation Project, is one such place. Here, outreach employed patrols removed local customs and laws are more important
than state laws. sessions carried out from the That’s why we tread carefully. held forest floor Instead of arresting poachers or cracking down harshly on i nstances of habitat destruction, our staf f bring cases before village chiefs. The community leaders are reminded of what is expected after the forest and the gorillas olivingf them, there an dare th emade benefit clears of looking I’m pleased to . say this approach is working. André, the leader the Walikale project recently submitted his report to me. He notedof that “the community values our respect for its traditional legal
customs in the forest.” This doesn’t mean that we won’t be tough on anyone who harms the goril 4,000 33,000 351 las. But rather, it shows that, however difficult the circumstances get, the people directly hectares made safe newly identified to its founding principles: only by working Gorilla Organization must stick with local communities impacted for wildlife gorillas living in instead of against them can we build a better future for both people
by our 45 families and their gorilla neighbours. healthcare Henry Cirhuza projects
3 The Gorilla Organization 110 Gloucester Avenue London NW1 8HX Gorillas in the House Tel: 020 7916 4974 On a summer evening in mid-June, the Walikale Gorilla and Forest [email protected] the Gorilla Organization was at the Conservation Project, where research www.gorillas.org Reg. Charity No. 1117131 House of Commons for a special suggests an additional 351 eastern reception. Hosted by dedicated lowland gorillas could be living. Trustees: environmentalist Zac Goldsmith “The esteemed guests were delighted Ian Redmond OBE, Chairman MP, the event was aimed at both to hear how, despite the challenges Paul Baldwin celebrating the ongoing increase we face every day, our field projects Bishu Chakraborty in mountain gorilla numbers keep making a real difference and, Steve Crossman while showcasing the Gorilla in Walikale, we have a chance to Richard Deverell Organization’s field projects. be behind one of the most notable Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka In particular, Director conservation success stories of recent Martin Payne Jillian Miller shared news from years,” Jillian says. Lord Spencer J Phillips Danielle Porteous Professor Stuart Semple Belinda Wakeling In Memoriam: Ruth Keesling Executive Director: Jillian Miller Patrons: Richard Adams, Michael Backes, Prof. Richard Dawkins FRS, Leonardo “The Grandmother of Gorillas” DiCaprio, Daryl Hannah, Dr Nathan Myhrvold, The Hon. Mrs When Ruth Keesling saw mountain the Morris Animal Foundation. In her own fate. She was murdered in Claire Ward gorillas for the first time, there were 1948, Ruth joined the board of the December of 1985. But this only just 248 of the great apes left in the foundation, using the family wealth to made Ruth more determined than Digit News world. When she died in April of this fund research into illnesses afflicting ever. She established the Mountain Editor: Jillian Miller year aged 88, the mountain gorilla both domestic and wild animals. Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP), Deputy Editor: David Hewitt population stood at 880, with hopes a pioneering organisation that brings high that the total will soon hit 1,000. A promise she intended to keep in-field veterinary care gorillas in the Contributors: David Hewitt, “There’s no doubt that Ruth It wasn’t until 1984, however, wild. Ruth also looked after Dian’s Samuel Werikhe, Chris Perrin played a huge role in this conservation that Ruth developed an interest in legacy, serving as the president of Photographs: Samuel Werikhe, success story,” says Jillian Miller, gorillas. On a trip to South Africa, the Digit Fund – which would soon Conservation Watch, Paul Baldwin, Executive Director of the Gorilla she met Dian Fossey and then invited become the Gorilla Organization – Frank Keesling Organization and long-time friend her to speak at a conference on from 1991 to 1993. of the American philanthropist. “She gorillas at the San Diego Zoo. It was Over the years, she donated DTP: Column Communications Ltd will be terribly missed but leaves here in California that Ruth made her millions of dollars to gorilla Printing: The Production Hub behind a remarkable legacy.” famous promise to the pioneering conservation projects, though the As a young girl in New Jersey, primatologist. According to Ruth’s training of gorilla vets was her Ruth grew up surrounded by animals. son, Frank Kessling, Fossey told her biggest passion. Thanks to her Her father, a respected veterinarian, new friend: “Mountain gorillas are generosity, a School of Veterinary On Labour Day in Mark L. Morris, ran a small going to die, and I am going to die Medicine was established at Uganda, Dr Samson animal hospital. He also developed with them unless I get some help.” Makerere University in Uganda. The Werikhe proudly prescription pet food, creating a There and then, Ruth made a vow to university awarded Ruth an honorary collected an award successful business and then used do whatever she could. doctorate in 2015, in recognition of a portion of the profits to establish Tragically, Dian was right about the role she played in training new from the Kisoro generations of conservationists and District Local gorilla vets. Government in “There’s a little bit of Ruth, recognition of the and not just her money, but her personality and passion in almost Gorilla Organization’s every gorilla charity working today, “valued service” to ourselves included,” says Jillian. the people of “She never forgot the promise she the region. made to Dian all those years ago, and so we should never forget everything she did to keep mountain gorillas from disappearing forever. We owe her an enormous debt of gratitude.” Ruth with her favourite silverback, Shinda, in Uganda Chairman remembers legendary gorilla filmmaker In 1978, David Attenborough, However, his long-time friend and Ian Redmond and cameraman Gorilla Organization Chairman Ian Martin Saunders went deep into the notes, no one film ever quite had the Rwandan jungle and made history. impact of that piece of work. Their encounter with wild mountain “None of us at the time knew we gorillas introduced the great apes to were making television history,” Ian millions, and it remains the most says, “But it is no exaggeration to say popular sequence in the history of that Martin’s film of the gorillas helped the BBC. to change the fate of the species, and After a long and successful that is just one topic out of many he career, Martin died recently, leaving helped bring to the world’s attention.” behind a huge collection of work.
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