issue 44 autumn/winter 2013 the gorilla organization Good news for gorillas as Letter from the poachers change their ways Virungas Rubuguri is a small town on the Fighting and general unrest is, sadly, southern tip of Bwindi Impenetrable just the way of life here in eastern Forest, Uganda. For generations, the DR Congo. Since I last wrote, the men of this community would enter insecurity had eased only to start up the forests to hunt for bushmeat, once again. with sons learning poaching from But, like everyone else here, their fathers and, in turn, passing we conservationists have learned on their knowledge to the next to carry on working. If everything generation in a vicious cycle. stopped when there was fighting, While they only ever set traps nothing would ever be done! to catch small mammals to feed So, despite the troubles, themselves and their families, all it’s been a busy too often mountain gorillas would and productive become entangled in the crude traps, time here in the sometimes with fatal consequences. Virungas. “We never went to school, we For starters, were always too busy working in the we welcomed forest,” explains a former poacher Gorillas will remain in peril as long as poachers enter the forests in our Chairman Ian who wants to remain anonymous. search of food Redmond over the “Yes, there were risks – we could summer. He visited be arrested, or even shot – but we their experience and knowledge of being taught how to grow a range our resource centre in needed to eat and to provide for our the forests, they were employed to of crops, with special classes in Goma, as well as meeting families and this was the only way. clear paths for tourists to visit the weeding, watering, seed-sowing up with my friends and Now, however, thanks to five habituated gorilla groups living and the proper spreading of organic colleagues in Rwanda and Uganda. the Rubuguri Reformed Poachers in the Nkuringo sector of Bwindi. manure. The students are also being We then welcomed our trustee Paul Association, these men do have an However, opportunities in tourism equipped with tools such as hoes, Baldwin and his wife, who were keen alternative. The Association was are limited, meaning not all reformed rakes and watering cans and several to see our varied projects first-hand, founded back in 2010, as an initiative poachers could be found work as are benefitting from informal and to see the gorillas, of course. of the Uganda Wildlife Authority. To trackers or porters. literacy training to ensure they are Such visits aren’t just a chance start with, the men were found work “The men have all expressed able to negotiate a good price for for us to meet with friends old and in the tourism sector. Making use of remorse for their past,” says Sam their produce with local businesses. new. They’re also vital if we’re to Nsingwire, the Gorilla Organization’s Despite the challenges of successfully coordinate our efforts Programmes Manager in Uganda. recent high temperatures and across the Virungas and move “But they maintain it was poverty rainfall shortages, the budding forward, whatever challenges are that drove them into the forests and farmers are already putting their thrown at us. they are sad to say that, if they cannot new skills to good use and have Remember, since gorillas make an alternative living, poverty successfully harvested vegetables know no boundaries, cross-border may drive at least some of them back such as cabbages, carrots, onions, cooperation is essential. So, though to poaching.” tomatoes and peppers, all of which fighting may be a way of life here With this in mind, the Gorilla they can sell to local schools, in Goma, we won’t let this stop us Organization has started funding a restaurants and hotels as well as from playing our part in saving our new sustainable agriculture project, use to feed themselves and their cousins, the gorillas, from extinction. giving dozens of former poachers families. From once being a hotbed the skills and resources they need to of poaching, Rubuguri is now a make a living outside of the gorilla town reborn, potentially offering a A former poacher takes pride in habitat. Under the eye of expert much-needed lifeline for Bwindi’s growing his own food trainer Regina Sanyu, the men are endangered mountain gorillas. Goma, DR Congo www.gorillas.org 1 ...INTERNATIONAL NEWS...INTERNATIONAL NEWS...INTERNATIONAL NEWS... A pop-up shop for gorillas The Gorilla Organization celebrated extinction. Visitors are also invited the opening of a pop-up shop and to adopt a mountain gorilla, Iwacu, campaigns centre in the heart of or to treat themselves or a friend to London’s West End this summer. a wide range of ethical merchandise, Located just off the world- including cuddly silverback toys, famous Carnaby Street, the ‘Save a T-shirts and organic Rwandan tea Gorilla’ store gives both Londoners gift sets. and tourists the opportunity to learn To mark the opening of the Ian Redmond shares his tales of gorillas more about the plight of gorillas store, Gorilla Organization chairman in the wild and about the valuable Ian Redmond, shared his tales from work being done to save them from the frontline of gorilla conservation, including from his time working with pioneering primatologist Dian Fossey. Joining him were staff from the London office, Great Gorilla Runners past and present and Executive Director, Jillian Miller. Speaking at the launch night, Jillian said: “It’s so great we’ve been able to bring the message of gorilla conservation to the centre of London and it’s inspiring to see just how many people care about these All of the stock on sale at the Carnaby store can also be purchased The pop-up shop magnificent creatures.” online at www.gorillas.org or through the merchandise catalogue Workmates run for primates The room where Dian Fossey spent the night when she came down from her gorilla camp in Rwanda’s mountains is once again open to guests. The famed primatologist stayed at the Muhabura Hotel in Muzanze when it was owned by Otto Rusingizandekwe. Now, it’s owned by his three daughters, Gaudence, Veridiana and Therese and is welcoming tourists trekking Routes’ Jon Howell hands over the cheque to Joyce Kigozi into the forests to see gorillas in the Virungas mist. When the team at Routes, a global team of employees tackling the 10km over of the cheque was Dr Andrew airline networking company, chose urban course to raise money for the Seguya, Executive Director of the Below: the sisters pose Uganda as the destination for their Gorilla Organization’s conservation Uganda Wildlife Authority. with the copy of National 2013 conference, they also decided projects in Uganda. “Our work is only possible Geographic magazine Dian to do what they could to help the because of thoughtful contributions signed for their father. See her country’s critically-endangered £1,179 raised from people like you,” Joyce told the inscription above. mountain gorillas. In all, the effort raised an incredible Routes team. Which is why, on a warm £1,179, with Jon Howell, Tourism “I want to assure you the early summer’s morning, spectators Development Manager at the money will be put to good use to watching the 2013 Bupa Great company, handing over the cheque in save the Gorillas. On behalf of the Manchester Run, were treated to the person to the Gorilla Organization’s Gorilla Organization and its entire surreal sight of a gorilla chasing a Operations Manager in Kisoro, Joyce staff in both London and Africa, we giant banana with legs. Kigozi, when he travelled to Uganda want to thank you so much.” The two strikingly costumed for the Routes Africa forum. runners were part of an 11-strong Also present at the handing 2 ...INTERNATIONAL NEWS...INTERNATIONAL NEWS...INTERNATIONAL NEWS... Hope at last at Tshiaberimu On Mount Tshiaberimu, an isolated once Katsavara dropped his guard, outcrop of the Virunga National Park rangers were able to see the tiny in eastern DR Congo, good news infant, bringing hope that all is not stories are hard to find. Here, people lost for Tshiaberimu’s gorillas. struggle to survive in the face of abject “Katsavara’s group have poverty and chronic insecurity, and been through so much over the fragile population of gorillas has recent years,” says Programme fallen to less than a dozen individuals Manager Jean-Claude Kyungu. over the past few years. “His family has been torn apart by Despite the hardships, the war, and just last year his mate, team working on the Gorilla Kwiterwiterina,vanished when Organization’s project here have rebels invaded. So, a new arrival had reason to be cheerful. Early this really is something to celebrate!” summer, rangers found Katsavara, Following the news, Kyungu’s silverback and leader of just two team were awarded $1,500 worth of gorilla families living here, to be ranger equipment from the German Baby gorillas stay hidden from humans for the first few months: more agitated than usual. Rather NGO Berggorilla Regenwald. Jean-Claude’s team hope to photograph the new arrival soon than slinking off into the forests, Alongside raincoats, boots and he would bare his teeth, scream and waterproof bags, they were equipped charge at the rangers, warning them with a GPS tracking system and a the first picture of the seldom-seen Burusi, on the edge of the mountain. to keep back. new digital camera, both vital for silverback for many months. As Joining the team were a couple of The team were hopeful this monitoring wild gorillas.