Gorilla Journal Journal of Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe No. 35, December 2007

Severe Problems Continuing Hu- Long-term Studies Gorilla Conserva- in the Virunga manitarian Crisis for the Conserva- tion – National Park in Eastern Congo tion of Western Five Questions Gorillas: Mbeli Bai BERGGORILLA & REGENWALD DIREKTHILFE

Authors of this Issue Aaron Nicholas is the Director of CONTENTS the Wildlife Conservation Society’s’s Ta-Ta- Dr. Augustin Kanyunyi Basabose kamanda-Mone Landscape Project, D. R. Congo 3 has worked in the conservation of great with the core focus of conserving the Inventory of the Fauna in the Low apes in Central Africa for more than Cross River gorilla in Cameroon. Altitude Part of Kahuzi-Biega 3 10 years. He joined the IGCP in 2006 Radar Birhashirwa Nishuli is the News from the Lwiro Chimpanzees 3 where he is the Conservation Science Head of the Environmental Education The History of the Rugendo Family 4 Offi cer leading the Ranger-based Mon- Unit of the Kahuzi-Biega Park. He has Severe Problems in Virunga Park 5 itoring Program, and also acting as the been working in the park since 1985. New Incident of Gorilla Traffi cking 7 Country Representative in Congo. Patrik Norberg is concluding two Eastern Gorilla Orphans: Update 8 Thomas Breuer has been working Masters degrees in Sweden, one in Continuing Humanitarian Crisis in in Central Africa for around a decade. ecology for which he did specifi c fi eld- Eastern Congo 8 Since 2002 he has been working for work in the Cross River District, and Activities of the IGCP in the Mikeno WCS as the principal investigator one in African Studies that concern Sector 11 of the Mbeli Bai Study. He has also conservation in West Africa. Oil Extraction on the Borders of been leading the local conservation Liz Roodt worked with CARE- Uganda and Congo 13 education program Club Ebobo in the Phalaborwa, a wildlife rehabilitation Uganda 14 villages surrounding the park. centre. Her volunteer work included Nyakagezi Group 14 Prof. Alexander H. Harcourt, of the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanc- More Gorilla Groups Will Be the Dept. of Anthropology, University tuary in Uganda and the Sanaga Yong Habituated in Bwindi 14 of California, Davis, was born in Ken- Chimpanzee Rescue Centre in Cam- Cross River 15 ya, and began a lifetime of studying eroon, before she started in Lwiro, News from the Cross River Park 15 gorillas in Africa in 1971, in Rwanda Democratic Republic of the Congo. Updates from Cameroon 16 and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Dr. Lucy Spelman is the Regional Gorillas 18 More recently he has also been study- Veterinary Manager for the Mountain Mbeli Bai 18 ing gorillas in Nigeria and Uganda. Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP Inc.) Conserving Gorillas – 5 Questions 20 Innocent Mburanumwe is the su- in the D. R. Congo. Western Lowland Gorillas in pervisor of the IGCP’s Ranger Based Dr. Peter D. Walsh is a quantitative Danger 22 Monitoring program, working as a rang- ecologist at the Max Planck Institute News from Paris 24 er for ICCN. for Evolutionary Anthropology. He does Reading 25 Dr. Angela Meder studied the be- both applied work on the distribution, News from the Internet 26 haviour and development of captive abundance, and threats affecting apes Berggorilla & Regenwald lowland gorillas for 10 years. Today she and other large mammals, and basic Direkthilfe 27 works as a book editor. Since 1992 she research on the dynamics of disease in has been part of the Board of Directors wildlife populations. of Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe. Dr. Ymke Warren is the Research Organization Address: Coordinator for the WCS’s Takaman- Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe da-Mone Landscape Project with re- c/o Rolf Brunner Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 sponsibilities that include overseeing Lerchenstr. 5 Editor: Dr. Angela Meder ongoing research in the proposed Kag- 45473 Muelheim, Germany Augustenstr. 122, 70197 Stuttgart, wene Gorilla Sanctuary and fi eld sur- Fax +49-208-7671605 Germany veys in general. E-mail [email protected] Fax +49-711-6159919 Dr. Iris Weiche started her work Website: E-mail [email protected] with primates in 1990. For her disserta- http://www.berggorilla.org Translation and Proofreading: Ann tion she studied female gorillas in zoos. Bank Account: DeVoy, Bettina and Andrew Grieser Since 1994 she has been active for Account number 353 344 315 Johns, Colin Groves B&RD, and from 1997 to 2002 she was Stadtsparkasse Muelheim, Germany Cover: The Zulu gorilla group looking a member of the Board of Directors. Bank code number 362 500 00 at the observation platform during a Currently she is lecturing at the Univer- IBAN DE06 3625 0000 0353 3443 15 visit to the Mbeli Bai clearing sity of Tübingen and involved in zoo re- SWIFT-BIC SPMHDE3E Photo: Thomas Breuer search, especially on gorillas.

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Inventory of the Fauna in Primates Number of nests Number of surveyed sites Gorillas 130 25 the Low Altitude Part of Chimpanzees 97 35 Kahuzi-Biega Other species Number of animals observed Observations In February 2006, the area of the Ka- Buffaloes 3 Tracks huzi-Biega National Park was divided Pigs 32 Tracks up for monitoring purposes. This Duikers 135 Tracks decision of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) has group contains the highest number of research, CRSN kept 2 chimpanzees provided the park with 4 monitored individuals of all the gorilla groups in and 3 gorillas, as well as other small sectors. The station head is responsible the KBNP. Remember that the group mammals, reptiles and birds. for all 4 sectors; the rangers of the had two sets of twins 2 years ago. The ICCN (Institut Congolais pour individual sectors are supervised by the The birth of the new baby gorilla is la Conservation de la Nature) are con- heads of the different ranger posts. a great joy to the KBNP and a morale stantly struggling with the illegal private A fi rst step will be to determine the boost to the rangers, guides and track- possession of wild animals like mon- distribution and abundance of species ers of the park who do not rest day or keys, chimpanzees and gorillas. Their in order to help orient the patrols and night in their efforts to protect those go- confi scation efforts would be obsolete if to determine the most appropriate lo- rillas that are still with us. This increase they had nowhere to relocate these an- cation of ranger posts in the various in gorilla numbers is another testimony imals and they approached the CRSN sectors. to the bravery of the KBNP staff who to accommodate confi scated primates. To initiate this, the Kahuzi-Biega Na- have decided to continue to protect the The research facilities were initially able tional Park collaborated with its partner gorillas even as the situation is dete- to accommodate a few animals but are organisation, the Wildlife Conservation riorating in the country in general, and no longer suffi cient for the amount of Society (WCS), in launching an expe- the eastern part of the country in par- animals currently at the centre. dition to make an inventory in the low ticular. There are currently 28 chimpanzees altitude part of the park in March 2006. While the park authorities were cel- and 29 monkeys (of various species) at The inventory was focused on Luyuyu ebrating the news with the guides and Lwiro Sanctuary. Many of the chimps and Nzovu, both of which fall within the trackers, they took the opportunity to were confi scated by the ICCN in and domain of Nzovu Post, and on Swiza, express their gratitude to the various around Bukavu and neighbouring vil- which is located in the area of Lulingu partner organisations who continue to lages. The ages of the current chimps Post. support the efforts of the KBNP staff in are mixed. We usually receive them as Unfortunately, the inventory could the fi eld, including especially Berggoril- infants and two chimps are now about not be completed due to technical prob- la & Regenwald Direkthilfe. 8 years old. There is another group of lems in the fi eld; a follow-up is there- Radar Birhashirwa Nishuli fore required. We would like to ask our project partners to consider the possi- bility of helping us further in conducting News from the Lwiro a census in the low altitude section of Chimpanzees the KBNP, which could not be surveyed for a long time. Although the presence The CRSN – Centre de Recherche of monitoring staff is still insuffi cient in en Sciences Naturelles – in Lwiro was these sectors, this initiative would be a built by the Belgians in the 1950s as step towards conducting a census in a centre for natural research including these remote corners. mammals, birds, reptiles and fl ora as well as seismic activities. The recent Good News from the Chimanuka wars in the Democratic Republic of Group the Congo have left the centre without On August 30th, 2007, a new baby gorilla many international researchers and the was born into the Chimanuka group. Congolese researchers that remain Now totalling 30 or 31 individuals, this are underfunded. During the years of Balume playing with the chimps

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South Africa (CARE) and in a few care. Carmen, Hildegunn and Rachel other wildlife rehabilitation centres and Simmelmann (a volunteer from Aus- sanctuaries in southern and central tralia), along with the Congolese staff, Africa (SANCCOB and Wildcare in the are speeding ahead with construction Cape, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee for both chimps and monkeys, and are Sanctuary in Uganda, Sanaga Yong also working on reforestation of the Chimpanzee Rescue Centre in Cam- surrounding area. eroon). We realized the great problems Liz Roodt and AWARE that are faced by wildlife sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres in Africa. Often, the smaller organisations are The History of the insuffi ciently funded and, although Rugendo Family between their work is invaluable, they are 1997 and 2007 unable to function effectively. We decided to create an organisation that 1997. Led by a silverback of the same could support various wildlife projects name, the Rugendo group consists of that needed funding and that we had 18 animals, including 2 silverbacks, 5-year-olds, about 7 chimps that are personally been a part of. We identifi ed one blackback, 8 adult females, 2–3 years old, and the new chimps Lwiro as a very needy project because 1 subadult and 6 infants. that have arrived in the past year are it was relatively new and did not have 1998. After an interaction with Ru- between a few months and a year old. backing from the bigger supporters. I gendo’s son Humba, the Rugendo The groups are structured according to started work in Goma where 5 chimps group splits into two. Eight animals age but we are slowly integrating the had been confi scated by JGI-Goma (1 blackback, 4 adult females, and 3 in- younger ones. As we are able to built fi eld staff. Their destination was Lwiro fants) stay with Rugendo, while the oth- larger enclosures, more chimps can be and they were moved there in January er group members join Humba. integrated. 2007. In 1999, the blackback of the group, AWARE Norway, South Africa and AWARE has added a branch, and called Senkwekwe, becomes a silver- Germany as well as the JGI (Jane we are now AWARE-South Africa back. The size of the group increas- Goodall Institute) Uganda and Co-op- (chaired by myself), Germany (chaired es to 10 when the adult female Safi era (a Spanish NGO) are actively fund- by Nicole) and Norway (chaired by gives birth to Katembo on December raising for construction materials, sala- Hildegunn Johannesen – who is cur- 1st, 1999 and to 11 when Neza gives ries for local staff and food and veteri- rently volunteering at Lwiro). We are birth to Bahati on December 6th of the nary supplies for the animals. still a very small non-profi t organisa- same year. For now, we aim to provide the best tion, but our goals are to assist sanc- During the whole of 2000, the group care for confi scated primates with a fo- tuaries that we have been involved in size stays at 11 individuals. cus on increasing their enclosure spac- and to raise environmental awareness In 2001, Rugendo is killed during es in order for them to form healthy in our own countries. Our website is a confrontation between regular army relationships in balanced groups. Bal- www.aware-africa.org. We also have troops of the Democratic Republic of anced feeding, veterinary care and en- a blog site that volunteers update at the Congo and insurgents. The group richment will ensure their physical and http://awareafrica.blogspot.com. Hilde- now has 10 members. mental wellbeing. Future plans for the gunn has just added some of the latest In January 2002, Safi disappears, primates at the Lwiro Sanctuary include happenings. together with her infant son Katem- a release project into the adjacent Ka- Carmen Vidal (Co-opera) has start- bo. The emigration of the adult female huzi-Biega National Park. This, howev- ed some serious work since she ar- Kidole after an interaction with the er, can only be done when their safety rived at Lwiro in September 2006. She Mapuwa group on August 6th leaves back in the forests can be ensured. has been able to put in new roofi ng the group with 7 members. and enclose some areas to increase 2003. Infant Bahati of the female About our Work the spaces for the chimps. She has Neza is stoned to death in a maize AWARE was founded by myself and also been able to carry out the neces- fi eld by residents of Bikenge on Janu- Nicole Geller in 2005. We had worked sary veterinary procedures to ensure ary 21st. Adult female Safari gives birth together at a baboon sanctuary in the chimps and monkeys get the best to Bavukahe on December 6th. Three

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weeks later, Neza gives birth again, in- the Rugendo group were found dead creasing group size to 6 individuals. after rangers had heard shots in the 2004. Group size is decreased by evening of the 21st July. On the 24th, subadult Bilali emigrating after an inter- the silverback male of the group was action with Munyaga on October 26th. also found dead. Two of the females During the course of 2005, several had infants; one of them, Ndeze, was members move in and out of the group recovered from her brother for hand- after numerous interactions with oth- rearing, but the rangers fear that the er gorilla groups. On April 10th, the ju- other one, who is only 2 years old, is venile Matembera immigrates into the also dead. group after an interaction with Hum- 16th August: Rangers found the re- ba. On May 30th, the subadult female mains of the female Macibiri, who had Mburanumwe immigrates into the also been killed during the massacre. group, again after an interaction with Her 1.5-year-old infant Ntaribi is still the Humba group. During this interac- missing, but as it was still suckling, it is tion, the juvenile Matembera is re-inte- very probable that it is dead too. grated into the Humba family. On July 9th, another interaction with the Kabi- Noel, one of the surviving members The Charcoal Business rizi group takes place and the female of the Rugendo group As the region around the Virunga Macibiri immigrates into the Rugendo Photo: WildlifeDirect Volcanoes is very densely populated group. Just one month after this inter- and no forest is left outside the national action, on August 9th, the immigration and Macibiri with her infant Ntaribi. At park, fi rewood is always rare. Making of the subadult Mukunda follows yet 5 months of age, infant Ndeze was too charcoal from the mountain forest another interaction between the Rug- young to survive on her own after she trees in the Mikeno Sector is a multi- endo and the Humba groups, increas- lost her mother Safari during the mas- million-dollar business – and a severe ing the size of the Rugendo group to sacre. The Mountain Gorilla Veterinary threat to the national park (including 10 members. Project (MGVP) therefore took her in to the gorillas). 2006. On January 26th, the adult fe- care for her (page 8). 28th August: Rangers try to crack male Macibiri gives birth to Ntaribi, in- Now led by the blackback Mukunda, down on those who are making char- creasing group size to 11. the Rugendo group currently numbers coal in the park. Despite being a diffi - On February 26th, 2007, Safari only 5 members. cult trade to hide – the smoke indicates gives birth to infant Ndeze. Up until Augustin K. Basabose, IGCP, with where there is an oven making char- July, the group numbers 12 members. information from Innocent Mbura- coal – many people are able to profi t On July 22nd, 2007, 6 gorillas are mas- numwe, ICCN from the instability and continue with sacred: the 2 adult females Neza and charcoal production. The rangers de- Safari, one subadult female, Mbura- stroy the ovens. numwe, the silverback Senkwekwe Severe Problems in Many of the women involved with Virunga National Park charcoal in the park are the wives of

In recent issues of the Gorilla Journal, we mentioned WildlifeDirect’s Goril la Protection blog (www.wildlifedirect.org/ gorillaprotection). Here is a summary of the reports on this blog during the last few months, showing the critical situation of the gorillas in the Congolese part of the Virunga Volcanoes.

Killing of Gorillas The dead Rugendo group members 26th July 2007: In the Mikeno Sector of Remains of the female Macibiri Photo: Altor, IGCP Goma the Virunga National Park 3 females of Photo: WildlifeDirect

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was killed. Heavy fi ghting can be heard near the Bikenge Patrol Post between the FARDC (Congolese army) and the men of General Laurent Nkunda (see page 9 f.). 5th September: Fighting continues in the gorilla sector near the patrol posts of Bikenge and Jomba between the regular army and the rebels. There are still no rangers in the sector be- cause of this bad security situation, so the gorillas are unprotected. 7th September: The Congolese mili- tary are now at Bikenge and the rebels are at Jomba. Heavy fi ghting in the go- rilla sector, with many bombs between Bukima and Bikenge. When the guards try to go out to locate the gorillas, they come under attack by armed men, so none of them is able remain in the go- rilla sector. 11th September: Rebels and the Congolese army are still present The blackback Kongomani also survived the massacre throughout the sector. A ceasefi re is Photo: WildlifeDirect in place in the gorilla sector. It is in place for a few days, and then the Congolese military who pick up the 13th December: Rangers estimated rebels have to agreed to go through scraps of charcoal so that they can that in September 50 people entered the “brassage” process. This basical- cook for their families. The military are the southern sector of the park to make ly means that they become integrated not paid by the government, so their charcoal; that number is now estimated into the regular army. The army is trying families do what they can to get by. to be at around 500. Donations to pro- to integrate all rebel and militia groups The majority of men making charcoal vide fi rewood to the refugees are need- so that the country can move forward – in the park come from Rwanda. There ed urgently. without much success. it is illegal to make charcoal, so many 12th September: The trackers that Rwandans enter Congo to make it here Rebel Attacks were sent to Bukima and Bikenge yes- instead. They take advantage of the 3rd September: Bikenge Patrol Post terday were prevented from entering fact that the Congolese military are not is attacked by rebels and looted. The the park to fi nd the gorillas by the army, paid, and pay the military protection camp of Patrol Post Jomba is also which currently controls the area af- money to enter the park. Large trucks attacked by rebels; they take weapons, ter the clashes with the rebels. Jomba come out of the park, full of charcoal, radios, mobile phones and solar panels. is still under the control of Nkunda’s and it is assumed that there are power- The guards and their families are rebels. ful networks in place. evacuated from these two patrol posts 13th September: A group of rangers The men are arrested and taken to as well as from the Bukima Patrol Post. at the patrol post of Jomba have start- the main station at Rumangabo. They The rebels destroy all communication ed tracking the Mapuwa group. The are questioned and, after being repri- antennas for radios and mobile phones rebels, who still control this area, re- manded as well as fi ned, they are tak- and then move their position towards turned 2 guns and 2 GPS’ to the rang- en back to the Rwandan border. The the gorilla sector. ers to enable them to start their work. rangers have received many threats, During the night the Ranger Ad- The rebels bring 10 tourists to vis- and one of them was attacked by the vance Force were attacked by rebels it the Mapuwa family, although only military, because of the progress that at Bikenge, in the gorilla sector. They 8 people should visit at any one time. they have made. all managed to escape and no one The tourists come through Bunagana

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by about 40 members of the army, with 22th October: The situation has New Incident of Gorilla their families. They have ripped out the calmed a little. The national army have Traffi cking ceiling of the two patrol post buildings. returned to their base with reinforce- In Jomba, the Rugendo family, ments. The rebels have been pushed On 25th September 2007, Mapuwa family and a solitary male are back into the gorilla sector. rangers of the Virunga Park led still being tracked daily by the rangers 24th October: Fighting has intensi- an operation against a suspect- who are being allowed to do their job. fi ed east of Rumangabo toward the go- ed gang of gorilla traf fi ck ers, and All the gorillas of the two families are rilla sector and around it. Rangers are arrested two sus pects. During the well and in good health, which at this still at Rumangabo, but constantly wor- operation, they discovered a dead juncture is a bit of good news. ried that the military base east of the female mountain gorilla, 3 or 4 5th October: Rangers from Jomba park station will get hit. years old. She had been caught in are fl eeing to Rumangabo. The se- The Mountain Gorillas and the other the Mikeno Sector of the Virunga curity situation is even more unsta- wildlife in the Mikeno Sector of the park National Park; the suspects had ble, and some of the men there, who are totally and utterly unprotected. tried to sell her for US$ 8,000, were following Rugendo, Mapuwa and but she died from an unknown the male Ruzirabwoba, have escaped Attacks in the Central Sector of the cause. The rangers believe the through Ishasha (Uganda). The infor- Park youngster could be from one of mation they had collected regarding In the savannah part of the Virunga the habituated groups. The gang the gorillas that they had been tracking National Park, Mai-Mai rebels have had offered two gorilla infants for was taken from them by the rebels. sale, so it is possible that they 7th October: The rebels have re-tak- had caught another gorilla at the en the entire Mikeno Sector and the National border Territory border

same time. mountain gorillas of Congo are unpro- Virunga The dead gorilla, called “Mufa- tected and unmonitored. The park di- National Park bure” by the rangers, was buried rector and the rangers can hear heavy Lake besides the other slaughtered go- shelling at Bukima from where they are Beni rillas the next day. at Rumangabo, and have taken the de- Beni Mutsora Summarized from the blog www. cision to evacuate all valuable equip- Ruwenzori

wildlifedirect.org/gorillaprotection ment to Goma. Butembo 11th October: There is fi ghting go- DEMOCRATIC i ing on near Bukima between the rebels REPUBLIC which is just north of the gorilla sector and the army. Apparently the rebels are OF THE CONGO Burusi Semlik on the Ugandan border. They would losing. The army re-takes the Bukima Mt. Tshiaberimu Ishango have paid up to US$ 500 each to the Patrol Post area. So now the frontline Lubero Muramba rebels. This sort of uncontrolled visit between the army and the rebels is at Lake Lubero to the mountain gorillas is totally unac- Bikenge. Edward ceptable. 20th October: Fighting has started Lulimbi 20th September: The rebels have again at Bukima. Rangers evacuate made Jomba their operational base. their families as a result, and ICCN Vitshumbi Ishasha They also brought cattle to Bikenge, is also going to evacuate more equip- Walikale the other patrol post. This means that ment from Rumangabo. Rwindi they intend to stay for a while. The The rebels advanced down to Rug- Kabaraza army still controls Bukima and does not ari. This is the community that lies on Rutshuru UGANDA let rangers anywhere near the patrol the main road next to the gorilla sec- Rutshuru post. They have dug up all the rang- tor, west of Bukima. It means that the Tongo Masisi ers’ crops near the patrol post and de- road between Goma and Rumangabo Rumangabo Jomba Bunagana Bikenge stroyed the fi elds. park station is not secure. This is one Masisi Bukima 25th September: Jean-Marie Serun- of Goma’s main arteries. The national Mikeno Sector Sake dori goes to the Bukima Patrol Post army at the military camp 4 km east of Mugunga with members of the UN peacekeeping Rumangabo have fl ed, fearing attack Goma RWANDA Gisenyi mission, MONUC. The post is occupied by the rebels. Kalehe Lake Kivu

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been destroying the wildlife for several gorillas in the Democratic Republic of years – for example, they almost the Congo. As a result of two of these exterminated the hippo population at incidents, infants Ndakasi and Ndeze the end of 2006. As the ICCN tried now fi nd themselves without their to prevent them from doing this, they mothers and are being cared for by frequently attacked the rangers. The the partnership of the Mountain Gorilla Mai-Mai in Muramba belong to the Veterinary Project (MGVP), the Dian Jackson group. They have promised Fossey Gorilla Fund International, and to help villagers poach freely and the ICCN in Goma. cultivate within the park, which is of At 5 and 7 months old respectively, course against the law. They are also the young gorillas have adapted well promising to put pressure on ICCN to to their new situation and receive 24 move the boundaries of the park, to the hour care from their surrogate mothers, Ndeze with her keeper André villagers’ advantage. a dedicated team of caregivers pro- Bauma. She was born in the 19th May: Mai-Mai rebels attack the viding physical and psychological sup- Rugendo group. When her mother Burusi Patrol Post, leaving one park port. This team includes André Bauma, Safari was killed at the end of July ranger dead and four critically wound- an experienced ICCN mountain gorilla 2007, her elder brother cared for ed, and kidnapping Offi cer Monya. tracker who has reared several of the her until she was taken from him to This patrol post is the sub-station and confi scated Grauer’s gorillas current- be hand-reared. also the entry point for the Tshiaberimu ly cared for at the confi scated east- Photo: MGVP.org 2007 area. ICCN have deployed two troops ern gorilla interim quarantine facility in of the Advance Force to track the at- Rwanda. es 6 Grauer’s gorillas, Ntabwoba, Pin- tackers, as well as contacting the mili- Given their ages, both Ndakasi and ga, Serafuli, Dunia, Tumaini, and Itebe- tary authorities based at Butembo. Ndeze are dependent on milk for nu- ro, and two mountain gorillas, Maisha 31th August: The Kabaraza Patrol trition, therefore returning them to the and Kaboko. Post, 30 km north of Rutshuru, was wild at this point is not possible and Lucy Spelman attacked by rebels. One park ranger decisions about their future have yet More about the orphans on Lucy was killed and a camp worker seriously to be made. Therefore, round-the-clock Spelman’s blog: wounded with a gunshot in the neck. care of these infants will continue, with http://discovery.blogs.com/quest The ranger, Rugira Sebuja Faustin, the goal of ensuring that they grow up had heard strange noises coming from healthy and as behaviourally normal as some of the rangers’ houses. When possible. Continuing Humanitarian he went to investigate he was shot in Currently, the confi scated eastern Crisis in Eastern Congo the stomach and then died from his gorilla interim quarantine facility hous- wounds. Houses were looted. Over the The population of eastern Democratic last few days tensions have increased Republic of the Congo has been in this area and there are worries that suffering incredibly from war for more the situation could deteriorate further. than a decade. Hopes were high that 27th October: A ranger was killed the elections would bring peace to and another was wounded. The rang- the region – but the hopes have been ers were on patrol and were ambushed dashed. The people are desparate. At by the Mai-Mai rebels, who are fair- the beginning of November more than ly dominant in this area just north of 30 people, including several MONUC Rutshuru. peacekeepers, were wounded during a demonstration by hundreds of civilians displaced by fi ghting in North Kivu. Eastern Gorilla Orphans: Ndakasi (also called Kabila) was The reason for the people’s frustra- Update born in the Kabirizi group. Her tion is the insecurity that has threat- mother Rubiga was shot in June ened their lives for years. Just a few This year has seen several tragic 2007. examples of the atrocities reported by events involving the deaths of mountain Photo: MGVP.org 2007 MONUC in the course of July 2007:

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– It was alleged that elements of the received serious bullet wounds as Responsible Parties Bravo Brigade arbitrarily executed a result of an attack carried out on The rebel movements that are the main fi ve male civilians from Kisharo vil- his private residence by Mai-Mai el- source of insecurity and human rights lage, Rutshuru Territory. ements. violations operate broadly all over the – Four villagers in Kisigari locality – Three FDLR/Rasta elements at- region because of the complex alliances – between Goma and Rutshuru – tacked the village of Nyabishaka, promoted by the military regimes that were reportedly killed by FDLR looted several houses, and also ab- dominate the political landscape. troops in separate incidents. ducted two women. The FARDC is the national army. – A FARDC soldier allegedly raped a Apart from them, four main groups are Hutu woman and then chopped her Innumerable brutal crimes like these responsible for the continued insecurity to death, together with her three- have been reported for years. A special in South Kivu: the FDLR and the Ras- month old baby, in Rutshuru Terri- problem has been that the frequency of tas; insurgents or “dissidents”; armed tory. sexual abuse is extremely high. Statis- Banyamulenge fi ghters who refused to – A medical doctor was allegedly shot tics are diffi cult to obtain. Between June join the national army; and elements of dead by armed men in uniform in 2006 and May 2007, 12,867 survivors the Mai-Mai, a former Congolese militia Muranga, Goma. of sexual violence were identifi ed by group that has largely been absorbed – Five soldiers from the 2nd Integrated UNICEF in eastern Congo; 4,222 of into government forces. Brigade in Butembo, North Kivu, en- them were children (3,740 girls and The president of the FDLR, Dr. Ig- tered a local bar and extorted mon- 482 boys). In some villages, two thirds nace Murwanashyaka, who is based ey from the patrons. One of the fi ve, of all women are thought to have been in Germany, said that former Congo- it is alleged, shot a young man who raped, but until recently remaining lese president Laurent Kabila supplied refused to hand over his motorbike. silent was all that stood between the his group with arms. He is accused by – It is alleged that men wearing women and complete disgrace in the Rwanda of being one of the persons FARDC and PNC uniforms, accom- eyes of their families and communities. responsible for the 1994 genocide. It panied by some armed civilians, The stigma which is associated with is estimated that the FDLR has 9,000 raped a 16-year-old girl and a wom- having been raped is particularly strong fi ghters. They collect taxes and have an in the Keshero neighbourhood of in the Congo, especially for women instituted a reign of terror on the Con- Goma. According to the victims, the who become pregnant as a result of the golese population in areas they con- assailants also took mobile phones, rape; the additional stigma of carrying trol. around US$ 1,500, jewellery and the enemy’s child makes it more likely General Laurent Nkunda, a Tutsi food. that they will be abandoned by their who was born in Rutshuru, sees him- – The Katwiguru refugee camp, in the families. In addition, many victims will self as the protector of his co-ethnics, territory of Rutshuru, was allegedly never see a doctor, out of shame. especially the Banyamulenge, whom looted by armed men in FARDC uni- According to MSF, all armed groups he wants to protect from “extermina- form. have been involved in the widespread tion”. Nkunda has an estimated force – In Bukavu a civilian was shot dead sexual violence. A Newsweek report in of 4,000 men based primarily in Masi- by three PNC offi cers. According to November 2006 estimated that 250,000 si, North Kivu, and has refused to inte- reliable sources, the three PNC offi c- women were raped in that confl ict, and grate his men into the regular army; he ers were robbing a private residence thousands of them were injured se- claims political leadership of his own when the victim surprised them. verely. Often the perpetrators make movement, the CNDP, and has set up a – Ten armed men in uniform, believed sure that they do not kill the victim but parallel administration in Masisi, install- to be FDLR combatants, attacked infl ict as much damage as possible. It ing his supporters in administrative, po- Bulwe in Walungu Territory and ab- is estimated that, by the end of 2007, lice, and intelligence services. Rwanda ducted four women. The following the total number of rape cases requir- allegedly supplies him with ammuni- day, the FARDC with the support of ing surgery will reach 450, compared tion and fi ghters. Nkunda accuses the MONUC found two of the women, with 250 in 2006. Given that many of FARDC of supporting the FDLR in their one of whom was dead and the oth- the perpetrators are HIV positive, HIV/ fi ght against him. er one seriously wounded. AIDS is rapidly becoming a concern for Then there are local Congolese fac- – The localities of Bwuma and Kiwazi victims. In the fi rst fortnight of Septem- tions or armed groups, such as the were burnt, it is alleged by the FDLR. ber, MSF recorded a 100% increase in Rasta and Mai-Mai, whose composi- An employee of the local Red Cross the incidence of rape. tion is unclear. Residents say the Ras-

9 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 D. R. CONGO

ta are a combination of Kinyarwanda- FADRC in Masisi and the Virunga Na- are not secure in the camps either. Of- speaking bandits and Congolese with tional Park. fi cials running three of the six displaced no political agenda, their only objective persons camps at Mugunga, 15 km being to rob and plunder the civilian People Forced to Leave their Home from Goma, reported that women are population. The FARDC troops, especially the raped in the camps or outside when Government policy towards the Bravo Brigade deployed in Rutshuru they go to fetch water or wood, alleg- FDLR has followed a confusing and Territory, commonly attack and abuse edly by the FARDC. People fl eeing the contradictory course, with the army civilians, saying that the civilians are fi ghting in Sake, west of Goma, set up sometimes supporting, sometimes at- FDLR supporters. The FDLR then these camps in Mugunga, next to the tacking this group composed largely conducts reprisals against the people. Virunga National Park; one of them, the of Rwandan combatants. The FDLR is Thousands of people fl ee their vil- Lac Vert Camp, is partly located within supposedly committed to overthrowing lages when the army or rebels attack the park. the current government of Rwanda, but them, and try to fi nd protection in ref- An NGO reported that in eastern in recent years its members have at- ugee camps – according to UN esti- Congo there were “several thousand” tacked Congolese civilians more than mates at least 437,000 civilians have children in the army, in rebel groups they have engaged the Rwandan mili- been displaced in North Kivu in one and in foreign armed groups. All parties tary. year since the end of 2006. But they to the confl ict in North Kivu have used The shifting confi gurations of the confl ict in the past year have seen all forces variously fi ghting each other: Who Is Involved? FDLR: Forces Démocratiques de Nkunda’s forces fi ghting the Congo- Liberation du Rwanda (Democratic lese army, the FDLR fi ghting the Con- Banyamulenge: Congolese Tutsi Forces for the Liberation of Rwan- golese army, and Nkunda’s forces (un- pastoralists of Rwandan origin living da), Rwandan Hutu rebel group der Congolese army authority in “mixed in the highlands of South Kivu. formed in 2000 that emerged from brigades” as well as separately) fi ght- Brassage: The process of integrat- the FAR and members of the Inte- ing the FDLR. The Mai-Mai fi ghters un- ing former belligerent troops into rahamwe who fl ed Rwanda after the der Kabamba have carried out opera- a new national army (FARDC) by genocide. Today, most FDLR com- tions with the FDLR against Nkunda. breaking up groups formed along batants play no role in the genocide. In January 2007, the Congolese ethnic, political and regional lines, Some are too young and others are government tried to integrate rebel and dispersing them throughout the Congolese who joined the groups. troops into the national army to form country. Interahamwe: An extremist Rwan- mixed brigades; one of them is the CNDP: Congrès National pour la dan Hutu militia group that was re- Bravo Brigade. It is claimed that hun- Défense du Peuple (National Con- sponsible for the bulk of the 1994 dreds of those once under Nkunda’s gress for the Defense of the Peo- genocide. command left the units to which they ple). Political movement of the dissi- Mai-Mai: Local militia, mostly in had been assigned under mixage and dent general Laurent Nkunda (who eastern Congo. rejoined Nkunda’s forces. Due to the broke ranks with the Congolese MONUC: Mission de l’Organisa- failure of attempts to integrate Nkun- army in December 2003), unveiled tion des Nations Unies en Républi- da’s troops into the army permanent- in July 2006. que Démocratique du Congo (UN ly, the crisis has become much worse FAR: Forces Armées du Rwanda. Mission in the Democratic Republic since May 2007. After the most recent Former Rwandan army (under Hab- of the Congo), UN peacekeeping call for “brassage”, by October of 2007, yarimana), which fl ed to Congo after force. 750 of Nkunda’s men had surrendered; the 1994 genocide. MSF: Médecins Sans Frontières of these, 500 had been transferred to FARDC: Forces Armées de la (Doctors without Borders), interna- camps for the merger process. Further- République Démocratique du Con- tional organisation of doctors for more, 800 Mai-Mai fi ghters from the go (Armed Forces of the Demo- emergency medical aid. Jackson Group also turned themselves cratic Republic of the Congo), the PNC: Police Nationale Congolaise in and were gathered at Lubero. name used for the Congolese na- (national police force). Renewed fi ghting fl ared up on 25th tional army since the beginning of Rastas: Dissident FDLR faction August, 2007, between the troops of the transition. General Nkunda and both FDLR and

10 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 D. R. CONGO

children, but since the beginning of the gion and to those forces known to fl a- Activities of the IGCP in most recent fi ghts the number of re- grantly abuse human rights in eastern the Mikeno Sector cruitments has risen dramatically. The Congo. They are transported across children are recruited in refugee camps the borders or arrive in airplanes and The International Gorilla Conservation and schools; the FDLR also sweeps are allegedly paid with minerals, ani- Programme (IGCP) works closely with villages and takes all the children with mal products like ivory, and timber from the governments of the Democratic them. Forced recruitment of adults is eastern Congo. It is diffi cult to fi nd out Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and widespread too; frequently, young men details of this trade, and it is dangerous Uganda in conserving the mountain who resist or escape are subsequently to propagate confi dential information in gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) executed. general. Journalists have been arrest- in the afro-montane forests of the ed, threatened, tortured and even mur- Virunga Massif and the Bwindi Forest. Business dered if they published critical reports. In particular, the IGCP collaborates Much of the fi ghting is driven by the Infl uential persons are earning enor- with the protected area authorities desire to control natural resources, and mous sums of money with lucrative il- responsible for the conservation of many Congolese believe control of the legal businesses, and are willing to pre- the fauna and fl ora of the region, i.e. lucrative regional trade networks is the vent others from disturbing their activi- the Congolese Institute for Nature real reason for the war. A study by the ties by any means at their disposal. Conservation (ICCN) in the Congo; Goma-based Pole Institute puts offi cial Summary of information from various the Rwandan Offi ce of Tourism and exports – mostly tin, tungsten and sources by Angela Meder. Reports and National Parks (ORTPN) in Rwanda quinine – from Goma in 2006 at US$ documents with details on the situation and the Uganda Wildlife Authority 32 million, while imports totalled US$ in eastern Congo are available from the (UWA) in Uganda. 108 million. Rich countries in America following organizations, among others: and Europe have been directing this Global Witness, Human Rights Watch, Ranger-Based Monitoring trade too, as the UN Security Council International Crisis Group, Médecins In 1996, the IGCP initiated the Ranger- documented in 2001 to 2003. Sans Frontières, MONUC, OCHA, Based Monitoring (RBM) program Weapons and munitions have con- Pole Institute, Refugees International, in collaboration with national park tinued to fl ow into the Great Lakes Re- United Nations Security Council. authorities. This program focuses on

Waiting for Peace

Since the beginning of September ready collecting funds in order to make the rangers have been unable to sure that the work can begin as soon protect the mountain gorillas in as possible. the southern sector of the Virunga National Park – rebels are keeping We want to make sure that the them from patrolling the park. Our destruction that the war has caused donations for rations and clothing will be repaired quickly. Please The rangers of the Mikeno for the rangers are in Congo, support our efforts to do this! Sector have been waiting for and can be used as soon as the months to resume their patrols. situation may improve. The patrol posts are still being It is obvious that the ranger occupied by rebels. posts occupied by Nkunda’s troops Bank Account: will have to be renovated com- Account number 353 344 315 Address for cheques: pletely as soon as the rebels leave. Stadtsparkasse Muelheim/Ruhr Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkt- Donations will then be needed for Germany hilfe their construction and renovation. Bank code number 362 500 00 c/o Rolf Brunner Although it is not yet clear when IBAN DE06 3625 0000 0353 3443 15 Lerchenstr. 5 this work can be started, we are al- SWIFT-BIC SPMHDE3E 45473 Muelheim, Germany

11 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 D. R. CONGO

Group National Park Dec. 2006 Jan.–Aug. 2007 Aug. 2007 Total number Dead/disappeared Born Total number Kwitonda (in Rwanda VNP 17 17 since Nov. 05) Mapuwa ViNP 15 3 disappeared 12 Lulengo ViNP 2 2 disappeared 0 ? Ruzirabwoba ViNP 1 1 Humba ViNP 9 9 Kabirizi ViNP 32 1/1 (+1 orphan) 1 30 Munyaga ViNP 7 2 transferred 1 6 Rugendo ViNP 12 6 massacred on July 22nd ? 5 (+ 1 orphan) Pili Pili ViNP 4 3 transferred to Mareru 1 Karateka ViNP 1 1 Buhanga ViNP 1 1 Mareru ViNP 1 3 individuals transferred from Pili Pili 4

Composition of the Mikeno gorilla groups between December 2006 and August 2007 Up until December 31st, 2006, 85 habituated gorillas were followed regularly in the Mikeno Sector of the Virunga National Park (ViNP). In August 2007, only 70 animals were followed by monitoring teams in this sector. These gorillas are divided into 6 groups plus 4 lone animals. They were recently supplemented by a new infant that was born to Bilali in the Munyaga group during the night of August 20th to 21st. The Kwitonda group has stayed in the Volcanoes National Park (VNP) in Rwanda since November 2005 and currently includes 17 members; thanks to cross-border collaboration, the rangers of the Mikeno Sector have already visited the Kwitonda group several times, accompanied by VNP rangers. During the night of April 24th, 2007, twins were born to Mugeni. Unfortunately, only one of them survived into the following day, and the second twin also died due to disease on May 20th. routine monitoring conducted on a daily convinced that collaboration between The RBM program allows the iden- basis by park staff. protected areas will increase the ef- tifi cation of indicators that will facilitate The RBM program encompasses a fi ciency of each individual protected the follow-up and evaluation of conser- standard system of data collection in area. This will make a substantial con- vation activities. protected areas; the possession of re- tribution to the protection of the parks In addition, the RBM program helps liable data enables the protected area of the Virunga Massif and Bwindi, re- to identify priorities for scientifi c re- authorities to develop plans and im- sulting in an increase in the mountain search, through the accumulation of plement conservation activities with gorilla populations. Due to the success accessible data stored in the regional greater effi ciency and better collabo- of joint efforts in combating poaching in information systems set up by IGCP. ration from all stakeholders. Moreover, the protected areas, the park adminis- these data will actively infl uence deci- trations continue to organize joint pa- Training sion-making relating to protected area trols with the support of the IGCP, unit- The RBM program includes a training management, will help to defi ne a set ing the staff of the two adjacent protect- course for monitoring super visors of ecological regional tasks, and will ed areas in the prevention or mitigation and fi eld staff. The course covers all identify the threat level affecting both of confl icts arising between people aspects of monitoring and the use ecosystems. and the fauna and fl ora of the Virunga of fi eld equipment – such as GPS, IGCP supports both the ranger pa- and Bwindi ecosystems. Thanks to the compasses and orientation maps – trols who are responsble for monitor- RBM program, threats to biodiversity but also includes census techniques, ing, and the administrators who ana- and the achievement of conservation gorilla identifi cation, and so on. lyse and interpret the data in line with objectives are easily identifi ed within The data collected through the RBM the park’s management plan. IGCP is these two blocks of forest. program need to be analysed and in-

12 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 D. R. CONGO

terpreted to ensure appropriate use in ing place in and around the parks they cover and human use of areas in the protected area management. There- are managing. vicinity of the two forest blocks. Various fore training is also delivered in the use organizations already use these remote of important computer programs such Collation of Reference Documents monitoring methods in the region of as Access, ArcView, and Excel. The RBM program is a dynamic the Albertine Rift (particularly WWF, In fact, IGCP involvement guaran- initiative. In Mikeno, as in the other WCS, USAID, UNEP and WCMC). tees comprehensive training for the protected areas that include gorilla Links to these organizations have units in charge of control and monitor- habitats, IGCP is developing a range of been established in order to avoid ing in the various protected areas ena- reference documents including gorilla repetition of activities and to allow new bling them to analyze the data that they identity cards, an index of nasal prints, initiatives to profi t from the programs have collected, and ensuring that the and various maps and topographical and expertise already in place. authorities of the protected areas have lists, and is providing logistical and Augustin K. Basabose, IGCP a regional vision of the processes tak- fi nancial support for the collection of data and their analysis. The RBM program is continually adapted to Oil Extraction on the take into account changes in techno- Borders of Uganda and logy and the equipment available to Congo facilitate the better management of protected areas. Oil deposits have been prospected in the Albertine Rift some years ago, and in Income-generating Activities for the 2007 exploration started in Uganda. The Communities around Mikeno Government signed a memorandum of Information collated from socio-eco- understanding with the Irish Tullow Oil nomic surveys conducted by IGCP, Company to start oil production in the WCS, and CARE is used as a districts of Hoima and Buliisa, in the comparative database for the evalua- Lake Albert Basin, in 2009. This is the tion of the changes in resource use and company which operates most of the effi ciency of conservation interventions. oil and gas exploration fi elds near Lake In order to respond to the needs of Albert. A proposed refi nery will produce the residents of Mikeno, IGCP in diesel, kerosene and “heavy fuel oils” collaboration with ICCN is supporting for electric power generation. The other several development initiatives (small companies licensed to produce oil are income-generating activities) to im- Heritage Oil and Gas Limited (Canada) prove the living standards of the local for the Pakwach Basin and the Semliki population and, consequently, to de- Basin, Tower Resources for the Rhino crease the pressure on the park’s Camp Basin, and Dominion Petroleum resources. for an area east and south of Lake Edward. Monitoring the Level of Change The Ugandan Government and the Underway in Gorilla Habitats communities are eagerly awaiting the IGCP collaborates closely with fi rst production. At the end of April, Tul- the European Space Agency and low Oil had already opened 276 km UNESCO in the development and of roads and installed water boreholes use of remote sensing and other in major villages. The oil executives satellite-based techniques in order to said that they had also started build- monitor the gorilla habitats. Thanks to ing schools and health centres, and this collaboration, the information is that they are planning to continue to Pictures from the ranger-based continually incorporated into an RIS fi ght poverty in the communities, for ex- monitoring activities led by (Regional Information System). The ample by constructing maternity cen- Augustin K. Basabose use of satellite images permits the tres. Certainly, the population is opti- Photos: Augustin K. Basabose monitoring of changes in vegetation mistic that the oil business will further

13 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 UGANDA

improve welfare. Heritage Oil and Gas mists warn of the danger that resour- There are several reasons why the announced that “the nation will reap ce exploitation will destroy agriculture habituation of more groups is regard- 70% of the revenue” from oil exploita- and most non-mining sectors. In the ed as problematic. One problem that tion. In June, that company donated scramble for oil (20% of the remaining has often been discussed is the trans- a vehicle to UWA that will be used to reserves are now in Africa), it is likely mission of diseases. In some cases, it monitor the Murchison Falls Park. that human rights and democratisation has been proven already that diseases Compared to other oil producing will be neglected. were transmitted from humans to goril- countries, Uganda’s resources are Experts also warn of ecological and las. The more gorillas are habituated, rather limited. In October, Tullow Oil social disasters if the oil drilling com- the more this danger increases. confi rmed new reserves and an- panies do not put measures in place to Another problem is the effect of ha- nounced that Uganda could now pro- safeguard the environment. The Alber- bituation on the gorillas’ behaviour. As duce more than 30,000 barrels of oil tine Rift is regarded as one of the most several studies have shown, their be- per day. The discovery of more reser- ecologically sensitive areas with seve- haviour is changed by the contact with ves could still increase this number. Ni- ral national parks (some of them World visitors. The larger a group, the greater geria, which has the largest oil reser- Heritage Sites), including Ruwenzori, is the effect. Each of the habituated go- ves in Africa, produces 2.2 million bar- Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Semliki and rilla groups is already visited by 8 tour- rels per day. Bwindi National Parks on the Ugandan ists per day, which is considered a criti- The oil fi elds are close to the Congo- side and the Virunga National Park on cal number – fewer would be safer. It lese border and extend to Congo (whe- the Congolese side. Pollution and de- is not yet clear what effects the altered re Tullow Oil has licenses too). Owner- struction of the natural vegetation will behaviour will have on the gorilla pop- ship disputes are almost inevitable and devastate their biodiversity. ulation in the long term. Moreover, ha- have already started. At the beginning Summarized from various articles in bituated gorillas do not stay away from of August, Uganda accused Congole- the Ugandan newspapers New Vision humans like wild gorillas do – for exam- se government troops of attacking He- and The Monitor ple, they raid crops in the fi elds of the ritage Oil installations on Lake Albert. local population, and this results in con- According to the Ugandan army UPDF, fl icts that have already led to the killing Congolese soldiers attacked a fl oating More Gorilla Groups Will of at least one mountain gorilla. barge and killed an expatriate geolo- Be Habituated in Bwindi gist. Another attack about 100 km north of the Bundibugyo District shores elici- Despite the serious concerns of many Nyakagezi Group still ted an exchange of fi re involving pri- experts, the Uganda Wildlife Authority Crossing the Border vate guards and UPDF soldiers. In the (UWA) is planning to habituate 2 more days that followed, Kinshasa accused gorilla groups in Bwindi Impenetrable At the beginning of July 2007, the Heritage Oil of carrying out illegal oil National Park. This will bring the total Nyakagezi group returned from prospecting in the Congolese part of number of habituated groups there to Rwanda to the Mgahinga Gorilla Lake Albert. The Congolese and the 6. National Park – but as usual, it only Ugandan army were heavily deployed UWA will then earn even more reve- stayed for a limited time. At the end on the border after the incident. nue from gorilla tourism, which current- of March the family had crossed the In September it was agreed that oil ly contributes up to 70% of UWA’s re- border into Rwanda with a total of fi elds that straddle the common bor- venue. UWA has been partially funded 11 members, but by the time it came der should be jointly explored and ex- by the World Bank during recent years back the number had shrunk to only ploited, and the costs and proceeds and will now have to fi nd alternatives 7. This is the only habituated group shared proportionately. The Ugandan for this funding – and the expansion of in Mgahinga, so gorilla visits in this President had already signed such an gorilla tourism is the most promising park depend on their presence, and agreement with Mobutu in 1990. possibility. proceeds from tourist visits to them are Let us hope that the Ugandan peo- The groups that will be habituated shared between Uganda and Rwanda. ple will really profi t from oil exploita- range near Ruhija (this group is alrea- After a short stay in Uganda, the tion – unlike the people of other oil- dy partially habituated) and Rusha- group returned to Rwanda, but since producing African countries, where ga. UWA estimates that it will take two then they have crossed the border corruption fl ourishes and the popula- years before they can be visited by several times. tion remains poor. Moreover, econo- tourists.

14 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 CROSS RIVER

News from the Cross – Except for Okwangwo all commu- happen, the situation concerning go- nities have seasonal visits by goril- rillas may change radically. For the River National Park las during the dry season when food enclave villages (Okwangwo, Okwa 1 The Wildlife Conservation Society and water resources are less abun- & 2) the urgent question is whether (WCS) is presently conducting a study dant in higher elevations. the communities should be relocated or of the villages in Cross River National – A much greater problem during all whether they will continue to struggle for Park’s Okwangwo Division enclaves seasons is the damage done by a more practical living in their present and the immediate vicinity, to fi nd small mammals. location. If these villages’ activities out where and when gorillas disturb – Among larger mammals wild pigs continue to increase, the national park human farming. For a comparison, (red river hog) are responsible for will be cut in half and, essentially, cease I visited the northern outreach of Afi more damage than any primate. to function effectively. Mountain and a community forest The possibility of having a protect- belonging to Kakwagom Irruan, where The levels of education and awareness ed area with several groups of gorillas crop raiding incidents by gorillas have in the area are rising and there seems ranging freely within it is a real hope for been recorded recently during dry to be no immediate threat that primate the future! seasons. Demand for farmland due to hunting will become socially accepted increasing population pressure is high again in the near future. Still, among Conclusions Concerning Crop-raid- here, and plantations extend far up the the communities there is a good deal ing Gorillas mountain. of worry concerning matters such as After trekking from Butatong to Obudu My team and I walked from Butatong transportation and the availability of Cattle Ranch in September, I continued to Obudu Cattle Ranch in 10 days and medical treatment. Cash crops were with my team in early October to the in each village we assembled the com- introduced by different NGOs, but it Bumaji villages, where the situation in munities and held discussions about is very diffi cult to convert them into many respects is similar to that of the the damage infl icted by both small and money since there is no road for enclave (Okwangwo, Okwa 1 & 2) and large mammals in the local plantations. vehicles, and alternative forms of Balegete villages; destruction of crops What we have found so far is: livelihood are needed. If this does not is mainly due to every day damage by small mammals and red river hogs. Bumaji Gorillas are irregular dry season visitors but have a lot of harmful consequences Anape Butatong Boshi for individual farmers because of their Extension destruction of banana and plantain Afi Mountain Obudu Cattle Akwaya plants, when they do appear. Wildlife Ranch Sanctuary Okwangwo Okwa II CAMEROON In Bumaji two incidents of recent Mbe Okwa I (last 5 years) killings of gorillas were Mountains acknowledged during discussions with Mbulu Forest Cross River Takamanda farmers in the community. The local Afi River National Park Forest Reserve residents are generally inadequate- Forest Reserve (Okwangwo ly educated on gorilla/primate behav- Division) Basho iour and the killings have supposedly Okon Obonyi Makone Kagwene happened because farmers (or women Mountain collecting bush mango) felt physical- Takpe Takamanda ly threatened. Obviously such killings NIGERIA may occur for economical motives, or Mo ya n Muna e for food/protein, even if this was not Oyl actually admitted during interviews. I Manyu (Cross) Rive did not attempt to fi nd out more about Mone Forest Reserve these incidents since it could evoke un- necessary tension, and it was not the r primary aim of my research. Compared to areas visited earlier, Mamfe the Bumaji villages apparently have a

15 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 CROSS RIVER

of gorilla presence in October. I spent 2 Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary and the full days with two park rangers and two proposed Takamanda National Park. guides from the village of Yagwebe, re- The proposed Kagwene Gorilla sulting in 36 gorilla nests being identi- Sanctuary has been a base for long fi ed. Considering the amount of time term gorilla research since 2003, and spent surveying, it was a marginal dif- our team of locally recruited staff con- ference: 18 nests per day in October tinue to both study and protect the ge- compared to 15.8 nests in March. No netically important gorillas of Kagwene primates was seen or heard by anyone from our research camp perched on a in our team during our 2 days hiking in/ grassy ridge high in the forest. In recent out and 2 days surveying. months we have upgraded the research My report concerning gorilla dam- camp to provide basic but comfortable Survey team, Mache: Patrik age on crops will indicate what kind of accommodation for our research staff Norberg with park rangers Ernest habitual range the species presently as well as for Ministry eco-guards, who and Samson Akabo and local occupies. The national park was spa- should be posted to the sanctuary once guides Raymond and Peter Oshika tially constructed in a hasty manner by it has been offi cially created. As an ad- from the village of Yagwebe using old colonial forest reserves with- ditional incentive to our government out taking time to include all ecologi- colleagues to complete the creation rather negative relationship to the na- cal aspects. A review of borders in the process, we have also completed con- tional park; their main concern is the Okwangwo Divison is urgently required struction of an administrative offi ce for exclusion of 7 villages (Bakufi ko, Bak- for the Cross River gorillas to receive the Conservator in the nearby village of ie, Bagabo, Uno, Bago, Bamariko and their desperately needed sanctuary. Njikwa with funds from the US Fish and Bumfua) from being support-zone vil- Patrik Norberg Wildlife Service in collaboration with lages, a concept which is supposed Fauna and Flora International. to include all villages within 5 km of The nearby proposed Takamanda the national park border. According to Updates on Cross River National Park is another important part park ranger Samson Akabo, the sup- Gorilla Conservation in of the Cross River gorilla conservation port-zone villages scheme (a concept Cameroon jigsaw as it harbours a further 2 of the left over from the creation of the na- 7 known Cameroonian Cross River go- tional park that no longer receives ma- A number of practical actions in support rilla sites, in addition to one site where jor funding) is still functioning and oc- of the conservation of the critically gorillas range across the border be- casional money is handed out, through endangered Cross River gorilla have tween Cross River National Park (in the national park, to villages included in taken place in recent months and Nigeria) and Takamanda. In the course the scheme for road maintenance and we are all preparing for a very active of the last 12 months we have led the scholarships. It is also from support- dry season during which we hope process of creation for this proposed zone villages that most national park to achieve some of the important park in collaboration with the Minis- personnel are employed. The exclu- recommendations of the recently try of Forestry and Wildlife, a complex sion of these particular Bumaji villages published Regional Action Plan for task involving numerous village and apparently induces less respect for the the Cross River gorilla (which can be regional level consultative meetings. national park and nature conservation, downloaded from the Takamanda- This work is being co-fi nanced by KfW and it may be a major threat to present Mone Landscape Project page in the (Kredit anstalt für Wiederaufbau – the non-hunting policies and future biologi- Cameroon section of WCS’s website German Development Bank). As part cal abundance. – http://www.wcs.org/media/fi le/Cross of reviewing various biological base- I concluded my visit in Bumaji with RiverGorillaActionPlan.pdf). lines (such as those previously report- a survey of gorilla evidence in the up- Progress can be summarised under ed in Gorilla Journals 18 and 22) for per Mache area, with the intention of the following headings: Takamanda, all known Cross River go- comparing to data collected by WCS in rilla groups in the area have been re- March 2007 that found 79 gorilla nests Protected Area Creation visited and, although it is diffi cult to in 5 days. The March report further Two sites of particular importance to the compare numbers of these elusive ani- mentioned that (according to local resi- Cross River gorilla are currently under mals over time, we can say that goril- dents) there should be more evidence creation in Cameroon: the proposed las are still ranging in the same areas

16 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 CROSS RIVER

as they were when fi rst visited almost Conservation Education Cross River gorilla conferences on the 10 years ago and no recent reports of A crucial part of our program, which ground. Management Plans for Taka- poaching have been received. often dovetails with our protected areas manda and Cross River National Park creation focus, are our conservation are soon to be written and provide an Landscape Management education activities. Last year, we opportunity for conservation strategies The wider process of Cross River goril- initiated work in 43 remote villages to be harmonized. Of particular im- la conservation must obviously take surrounding the proposed Takamanda portance are those endangered and place across the whole Cross River National Park, and in early 2008 we threatened species that range across landscape, spanning an area of roughly will be extending this program to the the border between the two areas 12,000 km2 shared between Nigeria communities surrounding the proposed including the forest elephant, Cross and Cameroon. Work by Richard Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary. Activities River gorilla and almost certainly the Bergl and Linda Vigilant (see Gorilla are conducted by our “outreach team” drill and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes Journal 34) has presented an important in both schools and general community vellerosus). In early 2008, with funding preview into how gorillas from different settings and, with the support of or- from the USFWS US Fish and Wildlife sites are related to one another and ganisations such as the Margot Marsh Service and the WWF Africa Great has even helped provide evidence of Biodiversity Foundation, Columbus Apes Programme, the fi rst joint Cross migration between different sites. The Zoo, the Great Apes Trust of Iowa, Zoo River gorilla survey and patrol will be need to conserve potential corridor Boise and KfW, we have been able undertaken by eco-guards from both areas linking Cross River gorilla sites to develop a number of materials that sides of the border, paving the way for and core protected areas is clearly are tailored to the local settings and much greater collaboration at all levels crucial in the long term and it is one of conservation challenges. of park management in the future. our most pressing priorities. Aaron Nicholas and Ymke Warren Trans-boundary Coordination For further information or to contact us Research The creation of the proposed Takaman- to know more please visit http://www. In the coming dry season, with funding da National Park provides a practical wcs.org/international/Africa/Cameroon support from the US Fish and Wildlife way of initiating the kind of actions and follow the links for the Takaman- Service and Arcus Foundation, we proposed in previous International da-Mone Landscape Project. intend to survey large tracts of potential gorilla habitat in SW and NW Provinces in Cameroon in an effort to complete our picture of Cross River gorilla distribution. Surveys will be preceded by ques- tionnaire surveys in villages in likely ar- eas to assess the likelihood of nearby gorilla presence. Survey teams, head- ed by our experienced gorilla research- ers, will then systematically survey like- ly forest areas, often focusing on the remote, steep hillsides that the gorillas seem to prefer. If a fresh gorilla sign is located, genetic samples will be col- lected in an effort to further understand the relatedness of individuals between different sites. It says something about the diffi culty of assessing numbers of Cross River gorillas accurately when we still talk of undertaking this kind of work after 10 years of working in the region! Inauguration of the administrative offi ce for the proposed Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary Photo: Aaron Nicholas

17 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 GORILLAS

Long-term Studies for the rican Republic, and the Lobéké Nation- Bayanga al Park in Cameroon, it forms the core Conservation of Western protected zone of the Sangha Trina- Gorillas – Mbeli Bai CENTRAL AFRIC. Parc National tional Conservation Landscape, which REP. de Nouabalé- harbours one of the largest remaining Large mammals, including western Ndoki populations of great apes in Africa. In gorillas, chimpanzees and forest ele- CAMEROON Mbeli Bai addition to western gorillas and forest phants, are important fl agship species elephants, Mbeli Bai is visited by si- because it is often the largest and most Bomassa tatungas, forest buffaloes, black-and- REPUBLIC charismatic threatened species that Sangha white colobus monkeys, and two spe- OF CONGO raise public support for conservation. cies of otter. Additionally they can play substantial In 1993 and 1994 my colleagues roles in rain forest ecology through Ouesso from the Wildlife Conservation Society processes such as seed dispersal. Of (WCS) conducted pilot studies at Mbeli course, large mammals exhibit slow Bai with the aim of fi nding out if western life histories making data acquisition typical group dynamics, life-history pat- gorillas make regular visits, and if they time-consuming, and in addition they terns (e.g. mortality) and other impor- can be individually identifi ed. In Febru- are extremely diffi cult to study in the tant demographic parameters. ary 1995 monitoring of the gorilla popu- rain forest because of the dense Luckily, associated with the in- lation started with the aim of providing vegetation, so their populations have creased conservation activities in West- detailed data on western gorillas’ social to be estimated by indirect methods, ern Equatorial Africa, was the discovery organization, life-history patterns and such as dung and nest counts. of forest clearings, called “bais” in the population dynamics. When conservationists in the 1990s local languages. Bais are focal points Working at a forest clearing is very were looking at maps of Western Equa- in the rain forest, attracting large num- different to following a habituated group torial Africa, they quickly realized that bers of many different mammals be- in the forest. Our research is very pas- in the decades to follow, increased cause of their mineral rich soils, plants sive and consists principally of waiting logging activities would cause major and clay that appear to be of particular for the animals to come to the clearing changes in forest cover in the area. nutritional importance to them. It has where we can observe them with spot- Furthermore, increases in logging ac- already been shown that forest buffa- ting telescopes. Our research demands tivities are often accompanied by in- loes show clumped distribution around a huge amount of patience; after hours creases in illegal activities, the most bais, and that bais are located in the (or even sometimes days) without goril- notable of these being bushmeat hunt- middle of the home ranges of bongo (a las, two different groups may enter the ing. More recently, western gorilla pop- large forest antelope). Large numbers bai simultaneously, demanding our full ulations in Gabon and the Republic of of elephants and gorillas come to these attention and vigilance for data collec- Congo have experienced tremendous clearings, and their consequent visibil- tion. Generally at least two observers declines due to Ebola outbreaks. This ity means that individuals can be iden- sit on the 9 m-high platform at the edge year, western gorillas were classifi ed tifi ed and tracked over time. Bai stud- of the forest clearing during all daylight as critically endangered by the IUCN ies are advantageous as they allow for hours and it generally takes new ob- (page 22) and it is therefore necessary, the collection of demographic data on servers at least 3 months to learn the now more than ever, to assess their many different groups that make regu- identity of the gorillas – over the course vulnerability to these threats. lar visits to the clearing. of a year, the bai is visited by about 130 Currently there are less than a hand- The swampy Mbeli Bai in the south- gorillas belonging to 14 social units, ful of habituated western gorilla groups, west of the Nouabalé-Ndoki Nation- and 13 solitary silverbacks. and it has taken years to get to the al Park is the largest of several for- We do not aim to follow the groups stage where gorillas can be followed est clearings in the region. This park into the forest, as we want to guaran- and observed daily. While data from suffers little from human disturbance, tee that they have an absolutely un- these habituated groups can provide and therefore represents an important disturbed life. Only on rare occasions us detailed information on the daily ac- stronghold for western gorillas and oth- do we enter into the swampy clear- tivities, ranging patterns and social be- er large endangered forest mammals. ing to get gorilla dung samples; these haviours of western gorillas, there is Together with the adjoining Dzanga- are analyzed for parasite load by the still a lack of knowledge on species- Ndoki National Park in the Central Af- Field Veterinary Program of WCS. Ad-

18 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 GORILLAS

ditionally the Mbeli Bai Study is contrib- and can compare our knowledge with Increased encounter rates among uting towards a great ape monitoring the long-term results on mountain go- social units (a consequence of the high and surveillance program in the Noua- rillas from the Karisoke research cen- population density, longer day rang- balé-Ndoki National Park through vis- tre in the Virunga Volcanoes (Rwan- es and potentially greater home range ual health observations and parasito- da). We have been able to show that, overlap), and the presence of many logical analysis. Genetic analysis of the while up to 50% of groups are multi- solitary silverbacks in a population, can gorillas is done at the Max Planck Insti- male in mountain gorillas, western go- also affect the nature of interactions tute for Evolutionary Anthropology. rilla groups contain almost exclusively between silverbacks. It could lead to We are present at the bai for ap- only one fully adult silverback; a large increased levels of male-male aggres- proximately 10 hours every day, which proportion of adult males are solitary, sion, but also to a more peaceful pattern provides us with detailed data to further and this has wide-ranging effects on of interaction because mainly familiar our understanding of the ecological and the variability in male-reproductive suc- males could reside in a population – social factors that determine the goril- cess. a scenario known as a male-network las’ bai visiting patterns. This research As in mountain gorillas, female west- structure. Furthermore, because of the is complemented by monthly monitor- ern gorillas show both natal and sec- absence of multi-male groups, it is not ing of more than 400 fruiting trees in ondary transfer and also involuntary surprising to fi nd higher rates of group the study site (including the Nauclea transfer. Involuntary transfer happens disintegrations for western gorillas. trees around the bai that attract many after group disintegration after the pre- It has been argued that the less sta- gorillas in September/October of each sumed death of the harem holder. Dur- ble nature of food availability and the year). Analyses of the bai visitation and ing such occasions we have observed increased predation risk in western go- grouping patterns of other large mam- females transfer with their unweaned rillas’ environment, and their lesser de- mals, especially elephants, provide im- offspring. Although we have not yet gree of folivory, should have direct ef- portant information on the role of bais made direct observations of infanticide fects on mortality and lead to slower in determining large-scale associations we witnessed two infanticide attempts physical maturation (for example af- and population structure in large forest by silverbacks of other units, and many fecting the age when western gorillas mammals. females were seen without their un- become adult). Currently we are inves- Because of the differences in their weaned offspring after they had trans- tigating if this prediction holds true for environment, such as higher density ferred to other groups. the Mbeli Bai gorilla population – we and diversity of fruit trees and more patchily distributed herbaceous vege- tation, western gorilla ecology and be- haviour is expected to differ from that of their counterparts in the Virungas. Indeed, studies at other sites, using indirect methods or following habitu- ated groups, have demonstrated that western gorillas exhibit a more frugiv- orous diet, longer daily path lengths, increased inter-group encounters and larger group spread. In the past years our picture of west- ern gorilla social structure and socio- ecology has changed tremendously as a result of the insights we have gained from our observations in these forest clearings, and results from Mbeli Bai have contributed substantially to this new understanding. Currently, after 12.5 years of almost continuous monitoring, we have a much clearer picture of western gorillas Female Petunia with her male offspring Asta Photo: Thomas Breuer

19 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 GORILLAS

could already confi rm at our site that to determine the ecological factors that of the Mbeli Bai Study would not have western gorillas are weaned at a later potentially affect western gorilla distri- been possible without the continuous age than mountain gorillas. This infor- bution and density. support provided by our long-term sup- mation is crucial for scenarios of pop- In addition to our conservation-ori- porters, notably the Columbus Zoo and ulation recovery from the threats list- ented research, we also train Congo- Aquarium, Cincinnati Zoo and Botani- ed above, because higher mortality or lese research assistants as well as cal Garden, Sea World & Busch Gar- lower birth rates would lead to lower educators to promote wildlife conser- dens Conservation Fund, Toronto Zoo, annual growth rates. This emphasiz- vation and the Nouabalé-Ndoki Na- WCS and Woodland Park Zoo. I am es the importance of long-term studies tional Park – most effectively through currently writing up my data to obtain to provide baseline demographic and our conservation education program a PhD and I am supported by the Max life history data of undisturbed primate “Club Ebobo” which we have been run- Planck Society. populations. ning since 1998. Our study at the forest The Mbeli Bai Study has also report- clearing offers many local children the ed many spectacular behavioural ob- opportunity to see the mammals, which Conserving Gorillas – servations such as twin births (n = 3), would not be possible in the dense for- Five Questions silverback splash displays, and the fi rst est. observation of tool use in free-ranging A permanent research presence at In thinking about conservation of a gorillas. the bai provides an effective deterrent species, I fi nd that fi ve questions are In addition to baseline population to poaching and an important early- useful. Why conserve, i.e. what threats data, the Mbeli Bai Study has been ex- warning system for population pertur- does the species face? What should panding its research into the surround- bations in what is a highly strategic lo- be conserved, i.e., what populations ing forest and has conducted a study cation. Mbeli Bai was a major elephant should we concentrate on? How many poaching area prior to the creation of animals should be conserved to protect the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in a viable population for perhaps a 1993; since the creation of the park millennium? Where should we protect and the initiation of the Mbeli Bai Study that number? And fi nally, how should that followed, poaching levels in and we manage the conservation? around the bai have declined to zero. In conclusion, we encourage other Why Conserve Gorillas? scientists and conservation managers Like so many other species, gorillas are to consider the valuable and time-ef- threatened by increasing destruction of fective conservation-related research their habitat and its environs. Part of that can be conducted at forest clear- the increase in destruction is caused ings, as well as the positive infl uence by an increasing human population having a presence at these clearings needing more land to support itself. can have on conservation activities. A strong correlation exists between Thomas Breuer human density and deforestation Our sincere thanks go to the Min- rates, including across the nine African istère de l’Économie Forestière et de countries that harbor gorillas – and l’Environnement for permission to work the human population is increasing in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, more rapidly in sub-Saharan Africa and the staff of WCS’s Congo Program and in host countries of gorillas (over for crucial logistical and administrative 2% annually) than anywhere else in support. I am particularly grateful for my the world. Add the world’s increasing predecessors Claudia Olejniczak, Ri- consumption of forest products (a fi ve- The young silverback Coriander chard J. Parnell, and Emma J. Stokes fold increase in the last half century standing bipedally scanning the bai for their contribution to this long-term from gorilla countries), and it is diffi cult for other gorillas – Coriander has project. Many different research assist- to see how any forest is going to remain been known to researchers since ants have helped in collecting data at outside of protected areas. the pilot study in 1993. Mbeli Bai and their help is highly ap- The ravages of the viral infec- Photo: Thomas Breuer preciated. The long-term continuation tion, Ebola, on western gorilla popu-

20 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 GORILLAS

10° 15° 20° 25° 30° The eastern lowland, or Grauer’s, Cross River gorilla Central African Republic gorillas of eastern Democratic Repub- Nigeria 5° lic of the Congo are classifi ed on the Cameroon Red List as Endangered. There might be about 15,000 of them, but the cha- os in eastern Congo must be sorely Río Muni affecting them. The fact that 4 million Uganda people died THERE from killing, muti- 0° lation and starvation in the 5 years to Gabon Democratic Bwindi western Virunga 2004 indicates such a complete civil lowland Republic gorilla breakdown that it seems very possi- gorilla of the Congo Rwanda ble that the gorilla population will soon Congo Grauer's gorilla meet the Critically Endangered criteri- Republic on of an 80% decline in numbers in the 5° next century. Cabinda The Red List is currently recalculat- ing the status of the 700 or so moun- lations has received much attention adults, splintered among a number of tain gorillas. I have argued for some recently (page 22). This disease and sub-populations; it is surrounded by time now that mountain gorillas need the bushmeat trade might have more some of the densest human popula- to be downgraded to Endangered from than halved populations in some are- tions on the continent; and despite in- Critically Endangered. A Critically En- as. The bushmeat trade is exacerbat- creased protection, it seems likely that dangered listing requires an observed, ed by commercial logging. Hard on the the population is decreasing. It used projected, or inferred declining popula- heels of the logging roads, penetrating to be the case that 300 km separat- tion. Neither the Bwindi nor the Virun- deeper into the forests than any other ed this from the next western gorilla ga population of mountain gorillas is form of exploitation, comes small-scale population, but in 2003, reports were declining. Indeed, the Virunga popula- settlement and commercial hunting. published of a population just north of tion has been increasing ever since the Concrete evidence of the susceptibil- the Sanaga River of Cameroon, half 1980s, when was begun the success- ity of gorillas to hunting comes from the way between Cross River and the next ful tourism program, which the Red List extraordinary countrywide foot-survey western population. The forests in states is a threat to the Virunga gorillas. of Gabon conducted 25 years ago by which this Ebo population live are ex- Data to substantiate this increase has Caroline Tutin and Michel Fernandez. tensive, but heavily hunted. long been published, and we now know They estimated a 70% drop in gorilla Western gorillas are still by far the that the Bwindi population is either in- numbers in heavily hunted areas, and most numerous – several tens of thou- creasing or stable. back then the bushmeat trade was not sands – despite heavy casualties from However, the recent (October 2007) as intense and widespread as now. Ebola and the bushmeat trade. Nev- rebel take-over of the entire Congo- ertheless, fears that the population lese sector of the Virunga Volcano pro- What Gorillas to Conserve? will soon experience, or might already tected area of Congo, Rwanda and To avoid taxonomic argument, I write have experienced, the criterion crash Uganda does not bode well for the as if only one species (superspecies) of 80% over three generations (about Virunga population, given so many kill- of gorilla existed, and I refer to the sub- 100 years) have put it into the Criti- ings of gorillas by rebels in the region populations by their common names, cally Endangered category in the 2007 (page 5). The appalling civil situation in not their scientifi c names. Red List. eastern Congo is so long-standing, so Perhaps the fi rst source for anyone To give some perspective on that ignored by the rest of the world, so ap- wondering what species need conserv- status, while a total of about 30,000 parently intractable, that I am going to ing globally is the IUCN Red List of western gorillas might exist in 6 wide- have to change my mind about the fu- Threatened Species. ly separated protected areas, each of ture trends of the Virunga population. According to the Red List for 2007, 5,000 km2 or more, the population of If 4 million people there can die there the Cross River gorillas of Nigeria and the critically endangered kakapo (a in 5 years, why not a few hundred go- Cameroon are Critically Endangered. New Zealand parrot) numbered just rillas? The population numbers less than 250 90 individuals in 2005.

21 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 GORILLAS

How Many Gorillas Should We of the people in gorilla countries are rilla conservation in eastern Africa are Conserve? subsisting on less than a dollar a day, grounds for hope. A variety of analyses, both biogeo- and have an expectation of healthy life Alexander H. Harcourt graphic and genetic, indicate that, of only about 40 years (compared to This article is based on Part 1 of chap- very roughly, a population of 5000 the majority-world average of about ter 14 of Gorilla Society by myself and large-bodied animals might allow 55 years). Therefore, funding for con- Kelly J. Stewart, University of Chicago persistence for a millennium: 5,000 servation must come largely from Press, 2007. Substantiating data and gorillas need 5,000 km2 of good out side the continent. Given what mi- sources for the contents of this article habitat. One population of 5,000 go- nority-world governments spend on can be found there. Our book benefi t- rillas is not suffi cient, however. The their armed forces and on subsidizing ted enormously from commentary by apparent near-eradication of gorillas by environmental damage, plenty of many friends and colleagues, but par- Ebola over much of one of the largest money is available. ticularly from Martha Robbins. and apparently safest national parks, I have already identifi ed in the pre- Odzala in the Repupblic of Congo, vious section where conservation ef- shows how important it is to have more fort should be concentrated. The pejo- Western Lowland Gorillas than one population fully protected. rative term “paper parks” is often ap- in Danger plied to majority-world protected areas. Where Should Gorillas Be Con- However, not only do we know that Over the last 15 years the Zaire strain of served? protection can be successful in ma- Ebola virus has emerged repeatedly in Conservation does not have enough jority-world countries, but the aver- gorilla and chimpanzee populations in money or people to do all that is age size of protected areas is great- Gabon and Republic of Congo (Congo necessary. Therefore, a sensible rule er in those countries than in minority Brazzaville) causing massive die-offs. of thumb might be to concentrate at world countries. For instance, sub-Sa- Here I briefl y review the impact of Ebola any one time on areas or populations haran Africa’s median protected area on gorilla populations, discuss the in the greatest need of protection, is 205 km2, compared to Europe’s potential for future population impact, and areas or populations on which 6 km2. Moreover, several African coun- and describe ongoing efforts to protect conservation effort would be most tries spend (or spent) on their protected remaining gorillas through vaccination. effi ciently expended. areas a greater proportion of govern- The impact of Ebola on gorillas was Need: While populations of less than ment expenditure than do/did western fi rst recognized after the 1994 and several thousand gorillas are probably countries. 1996 Ebola outbreaks in humans in not safe for millennia, nevertheless, in villages on the fringes of the Minke- order to ensure protection of variety, the Conclusion be forest block in north-central Gabon. westmost and eastmost populations of Stories in the media of the gorilla’s The fi rst human outbreak was caused gorillas (Cross River, mountain) should demise in the wild in the next 25 years by contact with the carcass of an in- surely continue to be protected, small are exaggerated. The gorilla is going fected chimpanzee and, in many in- as the populations are. to be around for much longer than the dependent reports, local villagers de- Effi cient expenditure: Seven pro- Sumatran orangutan. Nevertheless, scribed fi nding carcasses of both go- tected areas in Africa cover 5,000 km2 over the next 100 years, a huge crash rillas and chimpanzees in the forest. or more each, and might each contain, in gorilla numbers outside of reserves Subsequent surveys conducted jointly or might have contained, over 5,000 is bound to occur. by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and gorillas. Six of them are in 4 West Af- At the same time, the dedication, Gabonese Water and Forests Minis- rican nations: Cameroon, Central Afri- even unto death, of some of Africa’s try suggested gorilla mortality rates on can Republic, Republic of Congo, and park guards and other protectors of the order of 95% over an area covering Gabon. The seventh is in eastern Con- wildlife, the willingness of many of Af- 20,000–30,000 km2. go. These seven protected areas are rica’s leaders to establish as national There was then a lull until 2001, separated one from another by scores parks huge swathes of their territory, when human outbreaks fl ared up in the of kilometers. their willingness to expend a greater Mekambo region of northeast Gabon, proportion of their country’s income on again prompting reports of dead ape How Should We Conserve Gorillas? protection of wilderness than do many carcasses in the forest. The outbreaks Africa is extremely poor, and its developed nations, and the remarkable then spread eastward into Congo, ul- people in dire straits. Perhaps half story of the success of mountain go- timately causing massive ape die-offs

22 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 GORILLAS

built towns full of bushmeat customers (salaried logging employees) in these areas. Although gorilla hunting is ille- gal in all range countries, protection ef- forts are chronically understaffed, un- derfunded, and confi ned largely to a few protected areas. Both Ebola and poaching have al- ready had massive impacts on gorilla populations and both represent serious threats to gorillas in the future. Conse- quently, the World Conservation Union IUCN recently upgraded western goril- las to the highest threat status (Criti- cally Endangered) on its Red List of Threatened Species. Unlike most such cases, the change in status was not due to the dwindling of western gorillas to very low numbers. Accurate abun- dance estimates are not available but western gorilla numbers are probably in the tens of thousands. Rather, west- ern gorillas fi t a second criterion of risk, rapid decline: in particular, a decline of 80% in three generations or less. Go- rilla generation time is about 22 years, A male Hypsignathus monstrosus, one of the fruit bat species that may be survey data suggests a decline of at a reservoir host for the Ebola virus Photo: Xavier Pourrut least 60% in the last 25 years, and the causes of decline are continuing. at the Lossi Sanctuary and Odzala Na- de Franceville in Gabon suggests is Therefore, western gorillas easily met tional Park: probably the largest pro- bats. As the bat epidemic has moved the rapid decline criterion tected area population of great apes in across Gabon and Congo, the virus Although many at fi rst felt that the the world. Surveys by the Wildlife Con- has “spilled over” from bats to apes, Ebola situation was hopeless, there servation Society, WWF, the Congo- with subsequent chains of secondary are growing signs that controlling Eb- lese and Gabonese Forest Ministries, transmission amongst apes. Several ola impact on wild gorillas and chim- the European Union’s ECOFAC pro- large protected areas in Congo, Cam- panzees is feasible. Six vaccines have gram, and the University of Barcelona eroon, and the Central African Republic successfully protected laboratory mon- confi rmed not only the extent of impact lie in the putative future spread path. keys against Ebola and would likely on ape populations in Congo, but also In parallel to the Ebola crisis, poach- work on gorillas and chimps in the wild. the massive impact at two Gabonese ing continues to cause serious declines Coordinated by the Max Planck Insti- parks (Mwagne and Ivindo) situated in western gorillas. Most of the impact is tute for Evolutionary Anthropology, a between Mekambo and the 1996 out- not caused by subsistence hunting but consortium of research institutions, break site in central Gabon. Together rather by commercial hunting in which government laboratories, non-govern- these Ebola outbreaks appear to have gorillas and other large mammals are mental organizations, and private bio- killed about one third of the world’s pro- hunted in remote areas and then trans- tech is now working to adapt these hu- tected area population of gorillas. ported large distances to urban mar- man vaccines for use on gorillas and The underlying cause of the out- kets. The emergence of commercial chimpanzees in the wild. The major breaks appears to be a spreading epi- hunting as a major threat to gorillas has stumbling block now is money to fund demic in the reservoir host for Ebola, been fostered by an explosion of mech- the laboratory and fi eldwork necessary which genetic research by the Centre anized logging, which has created road to implement a wild ape vaccination International de Recherches Médicales access to once inaccessible areas and program. For more information on this

23 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 GORILLAS

program and how you can help, go to: that a network of suitable habi- African Republic, Democratic Republic EbolaGorilla.org. The IUCN Red List tats is maintained or re-established of the Congo, Republic of Congo, Nige- of Threatened Species is available at throughout the entire range of all ria and Uganda signed the Resolution www.iucnredlist.org. species and sub-species, and Final Act. The Agreement will remain Peter D. Walsh – coordinate their efforts to eradicate open for signature in Paris for 6 months In October 2007, a report was pub- activities related to poaching, and to from 26 October 2007 to 25 April 2008 lished in the Proceedings of the Nation- take concerted, energetic measures in Paris. The agreement will be legally al Academy of Sciences by researchers to control and monitor them, binding, unlike previous declarations of the CIRMF (Centre International de – reinforce and support capacity build- from the range countries, such as the Recherches Médicales de Franceville) ing measures of the judiciary and GrASP Kinshasa declaration in 2005. who found a new lineage of the Ebola law enforcement agencies, During this meeting, the UN Environ- virus isolated from wild apes in the Ga- – support initiatives to stop the spread ment Programme (UNEP) announced bon/Congo region. It is capable of ge- of Ebola and other infectious diseas- a new initiative for the Virunga National netically merging with other strains to es and to fi nd a cure for Ebola, Park. The aim is to assist the Demo- create new variants. This ability has – investigate problems that are posed cratic Republic of the Congo to bet- important implications for vaccine de- by human activities and endeavour ter manage its economically-impor- velopment; a vaccine that is made up to implement remedial measures, tant nature-based assets. The Con- of weakened viruses could merge with – cooperate in emergency situations, go’s resources have been a source of the wild virus to form new strains, mak- – ensure that humanitarian agencies tensions and confl ict, but they also rep- ing the spread of the virus in humans take into account the environmental resent a major opportunity to fi ght pov- and apes harder to predict and control impact of their relief efforts, erty and push economic growth if they (PNAS 104: 17123–17127). – take all efforts to prevent confl icts be- are intelligently and sustainably man- tween humans and gorillas through aged, according to UNEP’s Director appropriate land-use planning, Achim Steiner. Some of the activities News from Paris – cooperate in the development, har- in the Virunga National Park that the monisation and enforcement of na- agreement includes are the establish- From 22 to 24 October 2007, repre- tional policies and legislative meas- ment of a forum with local people as sentatives of 9 gorilla range states, ures, well as humanitarian, security and en- donor countries, UN bodies, inter- – analyse the training requirements to vironmental actors to develop sustain- governmental, regional and non- identify priority topics and areas for able livelihoods around the park, joint governmental organizations as well training, and cooperate in the devel- patrols of the MONUC with park rang- as scientifi c institutions met in Paris to opment and provision of appropriate ers as soon as the security situation negotiate measures for the conservation training programs, permits and support to UNHCR staff of gorillas under the Convention on – initiate or support research into the and international NGOs to provide sus- Migratory Species of Wild Animals. At biology and ecology of gorillas in- tainable energy sources for internally the meeting, the partners accepted cluding the harmonization of re- displaced people. UNEP will also try to the Agreement on the Conservation of search and monitoring, improve the cooperation between Con- Gorillas and their Habitats, or for short: – develop and maintain programs to go, Rwanda and Uganda to stop the Gorilla Agreement (http://www (http://www.cms..cms. raise awareness and understanding illegal transport of natural resources int/bodies/meetings/regional/gorillas/ of gorilla conservation issues, such as charcoal across the borders. gorilla_meeting.htm). – exchange information and results Various documents and further in- The parties agreed to (in short): from research, monitoring, conser- formation are also available on the vation and education programs, Ngagi Gorilla Agreement Website of – accord strict conservation for goril- – cooperate with a view to assisting the Convention on Migratory Species las, each other, at www.naturalsciences.be/science/ – identify sites and habitats for goril- – encourage awareness-raising about projects/gorilla – maps, tables with pri- las occurring within their territory the importance of protecting goril- ority populations, status reports and and ensure the protection, manage- las. action plans can be downloaded for ment, rehabilitation and restoration each gorilla subspecies, for example, of these sites, Immediately following the close of the from http://www.naturalsciences.be/ – coordinate their efforts to ensure meeting, delegates from the Central science/projects/gorilla/doc.

24 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 READING

Harcourt, Alexander H. and Kelly J. its gaps, one reason for this being the Craig Stanford Stewart fact that this species usually cannot be Apes of the Impenetrable Forest. Gorilla Society: Confl ict, Compromise, observed for the whole day, but only The Behavioral Ecology of Sympatric and Cooperation Between the Sexes. through certain windows such as when Chimpanzees and Gorillas. Prentice Chicago (University of Chicago Press) the group visits open swamp areas. Hall 2007. 160 pages. Paperback. US$ 2007. 416 pages, 33 halftones, 68 line It makes captivating reading to learn 21.60. ISBN 978-0-132432603. drawings, 9 tables. Hardcover US$ 75, that while in the western species en- ISBN 978-0-226-31602-4. Paperback counters between individuals or gorilla Frans De Waal US$ 30, ISBN 978-0-226-31603-1. groups are often peaceful, among male Chimpanzee Politics: Power and sex Having initially been given the op- mountain gorillas encounters usually among apes. Baltimore (The Johns portunity to study mountain gorillas result in fi ghts, injured combatants and Hopkins University Press) 2007. 276 with Dian Fossey 30 years ago, occasional infanticides. It is assumed pages, 135 illustrations. Paperback, “Sandy” Harcourt and Kelly Stewart that the western gorillas also commit US$ 24.95, ₤ 16.50. ISBN 978-0-8018- are now among the most distinguished infanticide, but perhaps to a lesser de- 8656-0. “gorillologists”. Their book Gorilla gree. Society summarizes the results of fi eld The obligatory chapter on gorilla Alexandra Zimmermann, Matthew research conducted to date on the conservation is also included; it is good Hatchwell, Lesley A. Dickie and two gorilla species and their various to see that the authors show explicitly Chris West (ed.) subspecies. how conservation can benefi t from re- Zoos in the 21th Century. Catalysts The book focuses on the socioecol- search on gorilla socioecology. to conservation? Cambridge (Cam- ogy of gorillas. In the fi rst part,the con- Although the book is based on sci- bridge University Press) 2007. 352 cepts of socioecology are comprehen- entifi c fi ndings, its way of simplifying pages, 63 line diagrams, 2 half-tones. sively explained, such that even read- these fi ndings and, for example, sepa- Hardcover ₤ 75, ISBN 978-0-521- ers unfamiliar with them can follow the rating statistical results from the body 85333-0. Paperback ₤ 35, ISBN 978- explanations in the second part. Har- of the text, makes it easily digestible. 0-521-61858-8. court and Stewart justify the book’s It thus has wide audience appeal: from limitation to one primate species based interested laymen to newcomers to the Chris Margules on the premise that gorillas form a subject, primatologists specialized in Systematic Conservation Planning. model from which conclusions can be other species, and anyone interested Cambridge (Cambridge University drawn for other species. The gorillas’ in a readable overview of gorilla fi eld Press) 2007. 304 pages, 65 line dia- inter- and intra-specifi c variability is an- work to date and theories of gorilla be- grams, 1 half-tone, 10 colour plates, other reason: gorillas lend themselves haviour. 14 tables. Hardcover ₤ 75, ISBN 978- particularly well to the study of what Iris Weiche 0-521-87875-3. Paperback ₤ 35, ISBN causes these differences, differences 978-0-521-70344-4. that might also be present in other pri- Tara S. Stoinski, H. Dieter Steklis, mates. Patrick T. Mehlman (eds.) Congo Basin Forest Partnership Central to the approach is the anal- Conservation in the 21st Century: The Forests of the Congo Basin: ysis of the different social strategies Gorillas as a Case Study (Develop- State of the Forest 2006. 255 pages. existing among gorilla females and ments in Primatology: Progress and males, i.e. females focusing on food, Prospects). Springer 2007. 376 pages, Luca Tacconi (ed.) males on females. Both strategies are hardcover, US$ 125. ISBN 978-0- Illegal logging. Law enforcement, dealt with comprehensively in separate 387707204. livelihoods and the timber trade. chapters. London (Earthscan) 2007. 320 pages. The section defi ning the outlook for Josep Call and Michael Tomasello Hardcover, ₤ 39.95. ISBN 978-1- future research is particularly interest- (eds.) 84407-348-1. ing. For instance, it is pointed out that The gestural communication of apes methodologies need to be comparable. and monkeys. Abingdon (Lawrence T. L. White, W. T. Adams and D. B. Comparisons between the two gorilla Erlbaum Associates) 2007. 264 pages. Neale species and studies of various popula- Paperback US$ 34.95, ISBN 978- Forest Genetics. Wallingford (CABI) tions are still incomplete. Fieldwork on 0805853650. Hardcover US$ 80, ISBN 2007. 704 pages. Hardcover ₤ 100, the western lowland gorilla still exhib- 978-0805862782. US$ 200, Euro 160, ISBN 978-1-84593-

25 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 READING

285-5. Paperback ₤ 50, US$ 100, Euro Stephen Browne PDFs at: http://www.primate-sg.org/ 80, ISBN 978-0-85199-348-5. Aid and infl uence: do donors help BP.logging.htm or hinder? London (Earthscan) 2006. 2) Benjamin Beck et al.: Best Practice K. Reynolds, A. Thomson, M. 192 pages. Paperback ₤ 17.99, Guidelines for the Re-introduction Köhl, M. Shannon, D. Ray and K. US$ 32.50, ISBN 978-1844072026. of Great Apes. Gland, Switzerland Rennolls (eds.) Hardcover ₤ 60, US$ 110, ISBN 978- (IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group) Sustainable Forestry: from moni- 1844072019. 2007. Available for download at: http:// toring and modelling to knowledge www.primate-sg.org/BP.reintro.htm management and policy science. Elijah D. Mushemeza Wallingford (CABI) 2007. 560 pages. The Politics and Empowerment of Oates, John F. et al. (eds.): Regional Hardcover, ₤ 85, US$ 170, Euro 135. Banyarwanda Refugees in Uganda action plan for the conservation of ISBN 978-1-84593-174-2. 1959–2001. Fountain Publishers 2007 the Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli). IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist State of the World’s Forests 2007. Joshua B. Rubongoya Group and Conservation International Rome (FAO) 2007. ISBN 978-92-5- Regime Hegemony in Museveni‘s 2007. ISBN 9781934151020. http:// 105586-1. Uganda: Pax Musevenica. Basingstoke, www.primate-sg.org/PDF/CRG.Action. The report can be downloaded at New York (Palgrave Macmillan) 2007. Plan.pdf http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/ XVI, 283 pages. Hardcover, ₤ 40, US$ a0773e/a0773e00.htm 69,95. ISBN 978-1403976055 Human Rights Watch issued a 92-page report: Renewed Crisis in North Kivu Dorothy L. Cheney and Robert M. Cassandra R. Veney (http://hrw.org/reports/2007/drc1007/). Seyfarth Forced Migration in Eastern Africa: Direct PDF download: http://hrw.org/ Baboon Metaphysics: The Evolution Democratization, structural adjustment reports/2007/drc1007/drc1007web.pdf of a Social Mind. Chicago (University and refugees. Basingstoke, New York (644 KB) Of Chicago Press) 2007. 358 pages. (Palgrave Macmillan) 2007. XIII, 304 Hardcover, US$ 27.50. ISBN 978- pages. Hardcover, ₤ 40, US$ 65. ISBN The website of the Bushmeat Crisis 0226102436. 978-1403976109 Task Force (BCTF), www.bushmeat. org, was relaunched recently. The new Saleem Ali (ed.) Peta Ikambana site combines information previously Peace Parks. MIT Press 2007. 432 Mobutu’s Totalitarian Political Sys- distributed across three public inter- pages, 20 illustrations. Paperback US$ tem: An Afrocentric analysis. London, faces: the main BCTF site, the Bush- 29, ₤ 18.95, ISBN 978-0-262-51198-8. New York (Routledge) 2007. XI, 126 meat Information Management and Hardcover US$ 72, ₤ 46.95, ISBN 978- pages. Hardcover, ₤ 69, US$ 95. ISBN Analysis Project portal (Bushmeat 0-262-01235-5. Also available from 978-0415980289 IMAP) and the BCTF Information IUCN, www.iucn.org CD. The most notable improvement in the site is reorganization of BCTF The Shame of War: sexual violence News from the Internet publications and short reports into against women and girls in confl ict. topical areas important to understanding United Nations, Offi ce for the A new section of the Primate Specialist the bushmeat trade Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; Group website is dedicated to the Best earth print EP-Lib 2007. 137 pages, Practice Guidelines being produced by The The Last Great Ape Organization, paperback, US$ 25. ISBN 92-1- the Section on Great Apes: http://www. LAGA, is a very successful wildlife 132025-9. primate-sg.org/best.practices.htm law enforcement NGO in Cameroon, 1) David Morgan and Crickette Sanz: led by Ofi r Drori. LAGA now has a new Geoffrey Blundell (ed.) Best practice guidelines for reducing website: Origins: the story of the emergence the impact of commercial logging www.LAGA-enforcement.org of humans and humanity in Africa. on great apes in western equatorial Cape Town (Double Storey Books) Africa. IUCN, in collaboration with 2006. 168 pages. Paperback, ₤ 15.95, the Center for Applied Biodiversity ISBN 978-1770130401. Science 2007. ISBN 9782831709918. The guidelines can be downloaded as

26 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 BERGGORILLA & REGENWALD DIREKTHILFE

Donations from selling the plush baby gorilla Mary Zwo to the Zoological-Botanical Gar- We thank every individual, com pany den Wilhelma, Stuttgart, and the Wil- and institution who support ed us helma forwarded this support directly between June and October 2007! to us. We thank the Wilhelma for the We received major contributions arrangement of this donation from the and dona tions from Klaus Baumgar- company Steiff. ten, Bünder Kaufhaus, Colibri-Umwelt- We are very grateful to our donors reisen, Gisela Ebeling (class 7 c), Eli- and thank them for their contributions – sabeth Engel, Marianne Famula, Irm- as well as all the other supporters gard Friedrich, Daniel Hänni, Gabriele whom we could not name here. Holzinger, Lore Marholdt, Karsten Otte, Rwandan rangers with sweaters Kurt Rathfelder, Birgit Reime, Frank they received earlier this year by Seibicke, Cecile Vischer, Heinz Zaruba the Great Ape Trust of Iowa and Johannes Zerhusen. The compa- ny Steiff donated part of the proceeds

Baby gorilla Mary Zwo, born in Münster and now hand-reared in Stuttgart, below with her keeper and her plush counterpart designed by Steiff Photos: W. Rietschel (above), A. Meder (below) The No. 1 gorilla safari company

www.volcanoessafaris.com [email protected] UK · T +44 (0)870 870 8480

Journey 27 Gorilla Journal 35, December 2007 to the Gorillas Africa Adventure Touristik Kurt Niedermeier

Africa Adventure Touristik will be pleased to design individual safari tours to For further information contact: the mountain gorillas, all over Uganda and neighbouring countries. We offer our services all-in-one, design of tours and reservation/booking in Germany, AFRICA ADVENTURE TOURISTIK transportation in Uganda and neighbouring countries, mainly with own Kurt Niedermeier Seeshaupter Str. 17 guides/drivers and own cars. We operated Mgahinga Safari Lodge, situated 81476 Munich/Germany right in the middle of all national parks where mountain gorillas are living, for Phone: +49-89 759 79 626 10 years, and therefore we know the Virunga region very well and have the Fax: +49-89-759-79-627 best connections. We offer tours to the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, E-mail: [email protected] already designed and often tested. Please have a look at our website and/or [email protected] contact us. http://www.aat-gorilla.com

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