Journal Journal of Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe No. 24, June 2002

On the Trail of the Great Poachers Kill Two Good News for Man who Trafficking in Mountain the Cross River Discovered the Kahuzi-Biega Gorillas? Mountain Gorilla BERGGORILLA & REGENWALD DIREKTHILFE

CONTENTS Authors of this Issue worked with WWF Cameroon com- pleting a gorilla survey in the Taka- Democratic Republic of 3 Augustin Kanyunyi Basabose is manda Forest Reserve. Great Ape Trafficking in Kahuzi- working for the CRSN at Lwiro. Since Uwe Kribus studied medicine in Biega National Park 3 1994, he has been researching the Leipzig and is a specialist in dermatol- A New Ape Orphanage Project 5 ecology of gorillas and ogy; since 1988 he has been a mem- Nyiragongo Eruption 5 in Kahuzi-Biega. In 1996, he took part ber of the Berggorilla & Regenwald Ongoing Pillage of Resources 6 in the gorilla census in the original part Direkthilfe and for two years he was a Conservation of Mt. Tshiaberimu of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. In member of the Board of Directors. Re- (= Mt. Kyavirimu) 6 2000, he took part in the latest census cently he donated medicine for the Crisis on the Itombwe Plateau 7 in the same area. Parc National des Virunga. Uganda 8 Dr. Andreas von Beringe studied Dr. Angela Meder observed the Smuggling Network Destroyed 8 economics. After having worked in the behaviour and development of captive Interahamwe Present in Uganda 8 management of various companies for lowland gorillas for 10 years. A major Park Borders Are Altered 8 18 years, he founded his own com- aim of her studies was the improve- Rwanda 9 pany, SAF AG in 1996. He is CEO of ment of the management, rearing and On the Trail of the Man who this company based in Switzerland. housing of gorillas in zoos. Today she Discovered the Mountain Gorilla 9 Jacqueline Groves began work- works as a book editor. Since 1992 Poachers Kill Mountain Gorillas ing with primates in 1991 with Pan- she has been part of the Board of and Steal a Baby 11 drillus in Nigeria. In 1995 she returned Directors of Berggorilla & Regenwald Gorillas 12 to co-ordinate the Pandrillus’ Came- Direkthilfe. Good News for the Cross River roon project, the Limbe Wildlife Centre Chantal Shalukoma has been Gorillas? 12 focusing on the rehabilitation of or- working for the Kahuzi-Biega National Bushmeat Campaign 13 phaned . Since 1997 she has Park since 1992. She is especially Gorillas and Ebola 13 involved in public awareness cam- Illegal Gorilla Exports from Nigeria 13 paigns for nature conservation. Western Gorillas: Recommenda- Gorilla Journal 24, June 2002 Iris Weiche is a biologist and ge- tions for their Conservation 14 Editor: Angela Meder ographer. She started her work with Who's Who? 15 Augustenstr. 122, 70197 Stuttgart, primates, in the wild and in zoos, in Reading 17 Germany 1990. At the moment she is finishing Gorilla Gazette 18 Fax +49-711-6159919 her doctoral dissertation on female New on the Internet 18 E-mail [email protected] gorillas in zoos. Since 1994 she has Visiting the "Documenta" in Translation and Proofreading: Anna been active for the Berggorilla & Re- Kassel? 18 Covic, Ann DeVoy, Bettina and genwald Direkthilfe, and from May Berggorilla & Regenwald Andrew Grieser Johns, Colin Groves, 1997 to March 2002 she was a mem- Direkthilfe 19 Raymond Morrison ber of the Board of Directors. Finances 19 Design: Edwin Artho, Angela Meder Meeting 19 Production: Gentner-Verlag, Stuttgart Cover: Mountain gorilla shot by Organization Address: Robert von Beringe Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe Photo: Courtesy Andreas von Beringe c/o Rolf Brunner Lerchenstr. 5 The latest Gorilla Journal issue is 45473 Muelheim, Germany The printing of this Gorilla Journal available on the internet too (click on Fax +49-208-7671605 issue was partly funded by IFAW. "Gorilla Journal" in the menu on the E-mail [email protected] Last year we constructed the website top at http://www.berggorilla.org). Website: for the bushmeat campaign (www. If you prefer to download it instead of http://www.berggorilla.org bushmeat-campaign.net) which receiving a printed copy, please send Bank Account: was financed by IFAW; we used these an e-mail to Angela Meder. You will Account number 353 344 315 funds for the prroduction of the English then be informed by e-mail as soon as Stadtsparkasse Muelheim Gorilla Journal 24. the new issue is on the website. Bank code number 362 500 00

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Great Ape Trafficking children and sometimes end up in the around the Kahuzi-Biega cooking pot. The Kahuzi-Biega National Park is National Park subject to the looting of its natural The commerce in bushmeat is seen resources in a general way and is also as the primary threat to the short-term being emptied of its wildlife. Since the survival of the African great apes. This control of the ICCN extends to only is a valid assertion in view of what is 10% of the park, the park managers happening in the protected areas and are unaware of what is happening in their vicinity in the Democratic Re- the huge sections located in the low- public of Congo. The sale of bush- land regions. meat, and trafficking in various spe- cies and wildlife products and by-prod- Brief Description of the Park ucts, are sufficient proof. With the Communication Service commerce in bushmeat we can only For some years there has been a imagine the number of great ape off- communication service about the de- spring that become orphans, and it struction of the park’s natural re- constitutes an indicator of the di- sources. This branch of the anti- minution of the forest and decreases poaching campaign outside of the pro- in animal populations. This trafficking tected area started to become has other serious consequences in systemized in 1999. The objective is that it leads to unbalanced eco- to discourage, by surveillance allied Silverback male in Kahuzi-Biega systems. with an environmental communica- Photos: A. Kanyunyi Basabose tions network, the poaching network The Problem that exists upstream and down- authority to act within 50 km outside Bukavu, the provincial capital of South stream. That is to say from the poach- the park limits. Several Governmental Kivu in eastern Congo, has become a ers to the controllers and through all services, including the National Po- tragic place for wild animals, par- the intermediaries. lice, Army, Justice Department, Envi- ticularly the great apes. This started in The poachers often reside in the ronmental and Security Services, the 1996 as the result of the various wars villages bordering the park, which is ONGDS, as well as the politico-ad- and repetitive disorders in the Kahuzi- why these activities occur in the vicin- ministrative authorities, collaborate Biega National Park region. Indica- ity of the park. The affected areas are with the Kahuzi-Biega National Park tions of this are visible in the town expanding because they were previ- in the collection of information. Thus, itself and in the immediate vicinity of ously inaccessible for security rea- all of the park personnel are involved in the park – various species of animals, sons, and they have been more and the collection of information, even especially live monkeys, and carni- more disturbed. Decree No 75/023, though there is a small team that is vores such as baby leopards and issued on July 22, 1975 gave us the formally assigned the task. This team cheetahs. Trophies from elephants, has been under my supervision since gorillas and other primates, in the form 1999. The limited experience acquired of ivory, skulls, pelts, teeth, finger- has enabled us to develop a strategy nails, bones, and other things are to dismantle the poaching networks in abundantly and clandestinely found the vicinity of the park. Nevertheless, throughout the town. The trafficking in some gaps persist on the technical live animals concerns especially the level as the result of the inadequate larger primates, gorillas and chimpan- training of the park personnel directly zees, and extends beyond the coun- involved in this activity. try’s borders. Trafficking in other pri- mates takes place within the country, Investigation and Discussion either from one province to another or Results within a single province. The animals Gorilla group in the Kahuzi-Biega Investigations of the trafficking and de- are kept in enclosures to amuse the National Park tention of wild animals have been lim-

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ited to the highland sector of the park. and it was the bones, skulls, and long periods in the villages, under poor The identification phase of the areas pieces of raw and cooked meat that conditions (inappropriate diet, human involved and the wild animals being served as evidence. The park com- contact, absence of shelter and care). held continues up to the present time. munication service is still providing Fortunately, the CRSN is specialized Nevertheless, as far as the featured data on the networks trafficking in to care for these animals. Research animals of the Kahuzi-Biega National baby gorillas, but these networks are personnel prepare diagnostics based Park are concerned, and those under so strong, complex, and protected on laboratory examinations, followed the protection of the Washington Con- that the recovery of the young animals by medical treatment and proper diet. vention (CITES) that was ratified by is impossible. Park and center personnel keep the Democratic Republic of Congo, As to chimpanzees, they are heav- records for the great apes. The files these are being recovered in a peace- ily traded and their marketing is guar- contain information concerning the ori- ful manner or with the assistance of anteed. Since 1999, 16 live chim- gin of the animal, and details pertain- the law enforcement authorities. Of panzee trafficking networks have been ing to its capture, detention, labora- course, these actions are always ac- uncovered in the park. Eight animals tory results, and so on… Data con- companied by environmental informa- have been identified and six recov- cerning parasites, pulmonary and tion meetings. ered. Only one animal, which was dental information is also included. Insofar as the trafficking in gorillas deemed compatible, was left in one of Overall, it may be said that the ani- is concerned, seven networks have the enclosures. Since these animals mals are healthy as a result of the been exposed by park teams since are totally under the protection of favorable conditions under which they 1999. Apart from the baby gorilla CITES, they are temporarily being are being maintained. Bitorwa, who was recovered and died kept at the CRSN in Lwiro, until a shortly afterwards, others were killed more permanent solution can be Looking to the Future found. Two of the six chimpanzees The strategy of this activity at the recovered by the Kahuzi-Biega Na- Kahuzi-Biega National Park is being tional Park died shortly thereafter. Jef enhanced by seeking a blending with Dupain reports that at Eboumetoum the activity of the center. Only fi- (Dja/Cameroon) a whole nancial feasibility remains a problem. costs between 25,000 CFA and a Under present conditions at the quarter costs 5,000 CFA. In the town park, only the Lwiro Center is ap- of Bukavu, a whole, smoked chimpan- zee costs between US$ 5 and US$ 10, depending on whether it is sold in the market or delivered to a home. According to persons detained for traf- ficking, a live chimpanzee intended for trade costs much more.

Present Situation of the Chim- panzees Held at Lwiro Four chimpanzees are currently being held at Lwiro where accommodation and security facilities are available. Within the Biology Department of this research center there is a great ape This tape was produced for service that contains appropriate hu- public awareness by the GTZ man resources, equipment, and infra- project at the Kahuzi-Biega structure. Park. It contains Rumba When the chimpanzees are re- music with texts about the covered by the park services they are Two chimpanzee orphans kept at park and its resources often in poor health. They are rendered the Lwiro Center fragile as the result of being held for Photo: A. Kanyunyi Basabose

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A New Ape Orphanage Nyiragongo Eruption Project On 17 January 2002, the volcano The unrest following the war in the Nyiragongo in eastern Congo erupted. eastern Democratic Republic of It is situated within the southern sec- Congo (former Zaire) has led to the tor of the Virunga National Park and is slaughter of a large number of gorillas one of the western Virunga Volca- in the montane forest sector of Ka- noes. While the eastern Virunga Vol- huzi-Biega. The recent gorilla census canoes, where the mountain gorillas completed in 2000 revealed that half of live, have been inactive for a long time, the gorilla population had been killed the western volcanoes are still active for meat. Only 130 individuals were and erupt regularly. Close-up of a chimpanzee in the counted during the census. Poachers When Nyiragongo erupted, the lava orphanage in Bukavu illegally keep many gorilla flowed to Goma in a single stream and Photo: A. Kanyunyi Basabose and chimpanzee babies. finally covered about a fifth of the town. The park, in collaboration with It was estimated that more than 100 propriate for receiving these animals. Augustin Kanyunyi Basabose, re- people died and about 350,000 lost Unless we hear to the contrary from searcher at the CRSN Lwiro and head their homes and property. At least the conservationists who read this, of the laboratory of Primatology, De- 16,000 homes were destroyed. As the the CRSN with its specialists, labora- partment of Biology, has launched a volcano erupted during the harvest, tories, and a small forest will continue campaign to search for and confiscate much the food that was grown on the to assist in restoring the animal to a all the ape babies kept by poachers rich soils was lost too. It is not only good physical and biological con- and is planning to conduct an orphan- Goma which depends on that food but dition, to reassure it and readapt it to age project at Lwiro. We have already also other regions of eastern Congo. life in the forest so that it may be received three chimpanzee babies The UN and relief organizations pro- returned to the national park. In addi- (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii). A vided humanitarian support. Within tion, if it is not an animal that is sus- baby gorilla in a very bad health suc- less than two weeks, contributions to ceptible of being contaminated by cumbed after we had tried our best to aid volcano victims in Goma had man, it can be returned directly to its rescue him. reached US$ 26 million, the UN re- natural habitat. The orphanage project started with ported. The contributions were initially For scientific research purposes, the three chimpanzee babies at Lwiro aimed at meeting the most basic environmental training and study, where Augustin Kanyunyi Basabose needs of the affected population. some animals need to stay at the and his colleagues are looking after Lwiro Center in a sort of foster care, them. Our aim is to keep the babies until they are old enough to live freely orphanage or zoo setting. Persons of DEMOCRAT. good faith, who understand our cause, in the forest without specific care. The REPUBLIC OF Rutshuru UGANDA can assist the Kahuzi-Biega National park accepted to reintroduce them in CONGO Tongo Park and the Lwiro Center in achieving their natural habitat when needed. this objective. The Research Center We received a small donation from Rumangabo Jomba Nyamulagira and the CRSN remain the institution GTZ/PNKB-Bukavu for the daily living Bukima qualified to provide information on the cost including food, care and medi- Nyiragongo RWANDA biological state, ethology and other cine, but it is not enough to fund the Eastern Goma fundamental aspects of these animals project. We are now looking for sup- Virunga Volcanoes in captivity. port to continue with our orphanage Lake Kivu Gisenyi All this does not prevent the park project. Our hope is that an interna- from continuing to appeal urgently to tional NGO dealing with animal con- The volcanoes Nyiragongo and the international scientific community servation and especially great apes Nyamulagira in the Parc National to act to slow the trafficking of pro- will support us in this task to restore des Virunga. Mountain gorillas tected wild animals throughout the hope to those threatened animals. live in the Eastern Virunga world. Augustin Kanyunyi Basabose Volcanoes (see map on page 11) Chantal Shalukoma [email protected] Map: Angela Meder

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the Volcano, A Slow Motion Holocaust (http://www.refintl.org/cgi-bin/ri/ Conservation of Mt. bulletin?bc=00363) Tshiaberimu (= Mt. Summary of various press releases Kyavirimu) Although there are some efforts Ongoing Pillage of to ensure the conservation of the Resources forests and the gorillas on this mountain within the Virunga Na- In May, the UN reported on the con- tional Park, it is very difficult. As Holger Schickor hands over a new sequences of the continued exploita- local people still do not entirely computer to Claude Sikubwabo. tion of natural resources in the Demo- support the national park, the cratic Republic of the Congo. Accord- most important effort is to con- Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo was ing to their report, it has a ruinous vince them and cooperate with not hurt, but he had to flee and lost his effect on the civilian population. them. computer in one of the houses buried The UN panel of experts said that This is the aim of the local under the lava. In the meantime, a new the different foreign armies and armed organization CADAK. This NGO one donated by a supporter of Berg- groups – both foreign and Congolese – has been planning a public gorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe was employ various strategies to divert rev- awareness campaign with pro- handed over to him. As e-mail access enues for personal gain or to pay for- fessional trainers. Under this providers were also hit by the eruption, eign armies – either to maintain their project, among other things, communication with North Kivu was support against rival groups or to fi- posters to promote the protec- cut for a long time. nance continuing, existing military op- tion of the mountain will be Over three months after Mt. Nyira- erations. Their immediate effect has printed and distributed widely. gongo erupted, people still were con- been "the further collapse of most lo- Berggorilla & Regenwald Di- tinuing to return to Goma. Many had cal economies and the deepening im- rekthilfe has financed the print- been living in Rwanda for a few months poverishment of most Congolese fami- ing of these posters. The other and had nowhere to go. Their homes lies", according to the report. steps of the public awareness had been destroyed during the erup- Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll of project, however, are still waiting tion and some were using tree this continuing exploitation is wide- for funding. branches and leaves to erect tem- spread, especially in the eastern porary shelters. Many people in Goma Democratic Republic of Congo. "Local also lost their jobs after the eruption populations, including children, are and schools were unable to resume being conscripted and used as forced classes until nearly a month after the labour in the extraction of resources volcano had erupted. In the meantime, by some military forces in different relief organizations have continued to regions," the report said. Other tac- build schools and houses. tics, such as the destruction of infra- According to World Vision, five structure for agricultural production, months after the eruption, small stalls are allegedly used by different armed selling sweets, cigarettes, and vehicle parties to force people to participate in fuel were popping up across the lava, extraction work, leading in part to in- and business owners were raising creased food insecurity. their buildings of twisted metal and Oxfam, one of the few humanitarian concrete to begin again. Unemploy- agencies managing programs in Con- ment has escalated, producing a go, released a report accusing Ugan- massive drop in wages and non-es- da of continued plunder of Congo's sential business. The volcano eruption resources: Poverty in the midst of hit a region that has already been wealth (http://www.oxfam.org.uk/ suffering for years. More about this policy/papers/drc/povertywealth. you will find in the RI report Beyond htm). It was published after the vol-

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canic eruptions near Goma and was handed over to the French and British Foreign Ministers. The report indicates that up to 2.5 million Congolese have died in less than 4 years from 1998 to 2002, many of them as a result of malnutrition and preventable disease, and that 65% of the estimated 35 million Congolese are undernourished. Summary of a UN press release

Crisis on the Itombwe Plateau

The Itombwe moutains, a vast area with large forests, are the home of several gorilla populations. The area is not protected. Although there have been several attempts to create re- serves for the gorillas and the excep- tional fauna and flora of this region, these plans have always been thwarted by the wars. The Itombwe area has been a center of the conflict. Nobody knows whether gorillas have been killed there since the war started.

Parc National Lake Kivu de Kahuzi-Biega RWANDA Bukavu Ulindi Mwenga Mt. Mohi BURUNDI In July, fighting raged between tle over extensive areas. Food needs Kamituga (3,475 m) mainly Rwandan army troops and were becoming critical because the Uvira Bujumbura Banyamulenge forces on the Mi- latest harvest had been massively de- nembwe/Itombwe Plateau. The town pleted by the food requirements of the Elila of Minembwe has the only airstrip in combatants. Banyamulenge were the region and is therefore strategi- also being harassed and having their Itombwe cally important. Up to 100 villages movements restricted in Uvira and Forest Fizi were deserted during the fights and Bukavu. In Burundi, the government D. R. CONGO some 40,000 people displaced. Some has ordered the Banyamulenge into Lake Tanganyika of them fled into the mountains. relocation camps in the northeast. "Large numbers" of the displaced per- However, the refugees are resisting The approximate extension of the sons were facing the cold season on the move, saying they will become Itombwe Forest and the gorilla the plateau without shelter, blankets targets for hostile Hutu forces in the distribution areas on the Itombwe or warm clothing. new camp, which is close to the bor- Mountains (dark) The fighting has prevented the ders of Rwanda and Tanzania. Map: Angela Meder Banyamulenge from grazing their cat- Summary of an IRIN report

7 Gorilla Journal 24, June 2002 UGANDA

Smuggling Network The chimp smuggling network had Some Interahamwe had already Destroyed already been smashed five years ago „slipped“ into Uganda in the past – into but now seems to be in danger of the Mgahinga Park from Congo. The In May, UWA, together with the Ugan- resurrecting. The Congolese smuggler Ugandan government-owned news- dan Police and conservationists dis- should have been kept in jail until his paper New Vision reported that there mantled chimpanzee smugglers in an trial was over. If he had to be given were no camps in Uganda training In- operation conducted in Kampala. bail, it should have matched at least terahamwe fighters against the Rwan- They arrested four suspects and re- the value of the chimpanzee. dan Government. But Rwandan army covered two chimpanzees which were Summary of New Vision articles spokesman Jean-Bosco Kazura said smuggled into Uganda from Congo. that there was evidence for Intera- Two men were arrested in Mengo- hamwe presence in Kisoro District. Kisenyi as they were bargaining with Interahamwe Present in Summary of an IRIN report two people who were posing as buy- Uganda ers. The sellers demanded US$ 4,000 for a three-year-old chimpanzee. After In May, news agencies reported that Park Borders Are interrogation, the suspects named a members of Rwanda’s Hutu militia Altered woman colleague in Kisenyi who was group Interahamwe were active in later arrested with her husband. Uganda. The Joint Verification and In- According to New Vision (Kampala), A week earlier, this couple had re- vestigation Team set up by Rwanda the Ugandan Parliament decided in ceived US$ 500 from Debbie Cox, JGI, and Uganda probed the activities of March to alter the boundaries of six to supply two chimps, a leopard and Rwandan dissidents and found some national parks: Mt. Elgon, Lake parrots. She recovered a chimpanzee Interahamwe activity in the Mgahinga Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Im- less than one year old and promised National Park area. According to the penetrable, Mgahinga Gorilla and that she would pay for all the animals. document there were "unconfirmed re- Rwenzori Mountain National Parks. Unfortunately, the ape had been ports of Interahamwe presence in the The reason is that over 65,000 en- starved and died a day after being dense forest of Bwindi". Clashes had croachers would have to be evicted if rescued. UWA officers suspect that also broken out in February between this resolution was not passed. the smugglers had kept the chimpan- the Interahamwe and the Ugandan According to Richard Lamprey zee in Kampala. army, following the discovery of In- (Protected Area Assessment) there Another recovered chimpanzee had terahamwe camps and leaflets con- will be no significant change in the been kept by Charles Lwanga, a taining propaganda against Rwandan area of Mgahinga and Bwindi Park. Uganda Peoples Defence soldier who President Paul Kagame. had been keeping the animal at his residence for the last six months. When it was confiscated and handed over to JGI, it was about one year old and severely malnourished. Not all the arrested smugglers were punished appropriately. One of the four Congolese arrested for trafficking in chimpanzees was released by Bu- ganda Road magistrate’s court on a trivial bail. The Ugandan press cri- ticized this severely. The Congolese were allegedly working with foreign diplomats and licenced wildlife ex- porters to smuggle the chimpanzees to Europe where they are sold as labo- ratory animals. Some rich people in the Middle East also want apes as pets. Drawing: Chisato Abe

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On the Trail of the Man who Discovered the Mountain Gorilla On October 17, 2002, it will have been exactly 100 years since the German Captain Robert von Beringe came across mountain gorillas on the Virunga Volcanoes. He left but a few biographical traces. In the penultimate decade of the 20th century, two events drew the world’s attention to the fate of the East African mountain gorillas, a sub-spe- cies threatened with extinction. On December 26, 1985, the American re- searcher Dian Fossey was murdered under circumstances that remain mysterious to this date. Dian Fossey Robert von Beringe with African soldiers had devoted almost 20 years of her life to the study and conservation of these ron leader in the second Hussar Regi- post on the coast of the Indian Ocean good-natured, gigantic apes. Three ment of Magdeburg, stationed in this he went against the rioting Watumbi, years later, the film Gorillas in the Mist small town in what is today Saxony- a mountain tribe of the coastal hinter- was shown in the cinemas. It is based Anhalt, and was then a part of the land. As chief of the Usumbura Mili- on Dian Fossey’s book that was pub- Prussian kingdom. Three years later, tary Post (1902–1904), which today is lished in 1983. The film deeply Friedrich Robert’s younger brother Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, he touched and delighted the many peo- Gottlieb was born, also in Aschers- led an even more significant military ple who went to see it. leben. A sister, born in June 1867, campaign. It was described in detail In contrast, the person who actually died at the age of two months. and its importance acknowledged in discovered the mountain gorillas, the the History of the Imperial Colonial German Captain Robert von Beringe, A Career in the Colonial Army Army in German East Africa pub- remains largely unknown. A plaque Following the example of his father, lished in 1911. At the beginning of commemorates him at the entrance of Friedrich Robert von Beringe chose May 1903, von Beringe, who had been the Virunga Conservation Area, where the career of an army officer. From promoted to Captain by then, moved the Democratic Republic of Congo, 1894 to 1906 he belonged to the Hus- out from Usumbura with a force of Rwanda and Uganda meet. Er- sar Regiment No. 1, the "Toten- eight Europeans, 115 askaris (African roneously, the plaque calls him "Os- kopfhusaren" (Death’s Head Hus- soldiers), two machine guns and car" instead of Robert. Only a few sars). During this time, von Beringe about 300 auxiliary warriors, to cam- copies of the reports of his expedi- received the "Totenkopfring" (Death’s paign against the rebelling tribal chief tions in this volcanic region remain in Head Ring) and developed a deep Muezi Kisabo and "force him into sub- museum archives and special lib- friendship with August Mackensen, mission and recognition of German raries. Most of his personal papers later Field Marshall von Mackensen. It rule". Kisabo managed to escape were destroyed in the Second World was von Beringe’s own wish to join the twice, but in July, after a prolonged War bombing raids on Dresden. Imperial Colonial Army for German pursuit, he finally gave himself up. So Friedrich Robert von Beringe was East Africa, which comprised today’s von Beringe’s campaign achieved its born on September 21, 1865, in countries Tanzania, Rwanda and political goal. Aschersleben on the northeastern Burundi. Von Beringe’s success in natural border of the Harz Mountains. He was Having reached the rank of Lieu- history pursuits was not even fleet- the eldest son of Cavalry Captain Karl tenant, he distinguished himself with a ingly mentioned in the History of the Robert von Beringe and his wife successful punitive expedition in Sep- Imperial Colonial Army in German Mathilde Luise. His father was squad- tember 1898. From the Kilwa military East Africa. These interests, which

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led him onto the track of the mountain the summit, accompanied by five gorillas were, after all, rather more askaris and the required porters. They peaceful missions. carried a tent and eight water con- On August 19, 1902, Captain von tainers. Initially they marched through Beringe set off from Usumbura Post bamboo forest with thick undergrowth. heading north in order to visit German Although they tried to use elephant field posts in today’s Burundi and paths wherever possible, they often Rwanda. The goal of the expedition had to cut their way through the veg- was to maintain contact with local etation with machetes. tribal chiefs, consolidate relationships After two hours we reached rock with these chiefs, and to strengthen rubble with blackberry bushes and the power of and their respect for the blueberry plants, German administration. The unit was von Beringe wrote of the continuing small (but equipped with a machine ascent. gun) and included the medical officer With every step, vegetation be- Dr. Engeland, sergeant Ehrhardt, 20 came scarcer, the hill became askaris and a number of porters. steeper and the going got more dif- ficult, until we had to climb over Encounter on the Volcano’s great boulders during the last hour Summit and a quarter. We were on a ridge First, von Beringe paid a visit to Sultan that climbed in a south-westerly di- Msinga of Rwanda. Then he continued rection. Both sides of the ridge fell on his way north in the direction of the away steeply into deep gorges. chain of volcanoes in today’s Volcano At an altitude of 3,100 m, the two National Park. From 16 to 18 October, Germans put up their tent, after they after they had reached the volcanoes, had tried to level the ground with moss Portrait of Captain Robert von von Beringe, Dr. Engeland, some they had gathered. The ridge was so Beringe askaris and porters attempted to narrow that the tent pegs had to be scale Kirunga ya Sabyingo (Mt. Sa- fastened into the slopes. The askaris large individuals. With a great rum- binyo) for the first time. Von Beringe and the porters sheltered in rock bling noise of falling rocks, they estimated the volcano’s altitude to be caves and tried to protect themselves fell into a crater opening towards approximately 3,300 m. against the bitter cold with the help of the northeast. After five hours of On the evening of the first day they fires. strenuous work we managed to get camped on a mountain saddle at And so the scene was set for the one animal up on a rope. about 2,400 m. Local people, who had historic encounter that von Beringe climbed up, provided them with "am- described in the Deutsches Kolonial- A Baffling Discovery ple food", as von Beringe later re- blatt: The retrieved animal was a large, hu- ported in the Deutsches Kolonialblatt From our camp we saw a herd of man-like, male ape with a body length (German Colonial Newspaper). large black apes who were trying to of 1.5 m and a weight of more than On October 17, 1902, Captain von climb the highest point of the vol- 200 pounds. He had no chest hair, but Beringe and Dr. Engeland set off for cano. We succeeded in killing two enormous hands and feet. Unfortunately, I was not able to identify the genus the ape belonged to, the Captain wrote with regret. He thought that it could not be a chimpan- zee because of the animal’s size, and, until then, the gorillas that were known to live in the lowlands had not been found in the area of the East Mt. Sabinyo Photos: Cyril Grüter and Ulrich Karlowski African Great Lakes.

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Robert von Beringe decided to send stayed a Major until he retired in 1913. his discovery to the Zoological Mu- He lived with his family – he had one seum in Berlin for examination. The son and one daughter – in Dresden ape’s skin and one of his hands were until the beginning of the Second eaten by a hyena on the way back to World War. After having suffered se- Usumbura. With the skull and the part verely from diabetes for years, he died of the skeleton that arrived in Berlin on July 5, 1940, in Stettin, where his intact, Prof. Paul Matschie (1861– daughter Ursula’s parents-in-law lived. 1926), who worked at the museum, Andreas von Beringe was able to classify the animal as a new form of gorilla, which he called For their help with my research I am grateful to my mother, Friedel von Beringe, who met Gorilla beringei after the man who dis- the "very quiet man" as Robert von Beringe’s covered it. Later the mountain gorilla daughter-in-law; to my brother Niklas; to the was considered a subspecies (Gorilla Director of the Armed Forces History Mu- seum in Rastatt, Dr. Joachim Niemeyer; to gorilla beringei), but in the meantime Dr. Harald Pieper, Zoological Museum Kiel. Matschie's name is used again for the eastern gorilla. In 1906, Captain von Beringe re- Poachers Kill Mountain turned to Germany. On October 9, Gorillas and Steal a 1906, the slim and attractive 41-year Baby old married the merchant’s daughter Johanna Caroline Luise Edith Lade- Rwandan police have arrested two mann from Steglitz, whom he had met people in connection with the killing of Mountain gorilla in bamboo forest when he was out horse riding. The two gorillas and the disappearance of Drawing: Chisato Abe church wedding took place in the Kai- a baby gorilla in the country’s first ser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche in Ber- incident of poaching in 17 years. The with bullet wounds and her 2-year-old lin. Robert von Beringe then continued two females of the Suza group, infant missing. The second gorilla, his career in the army. He was in the Muraha and Impanga, were attacked called Ubuzima, was found with the Dragoon Regiment No. 11 of Wedel by poachers on 9 May, 2002, because infant still beside her. For two days (the Pomeranian Regiment) until they had infants nursing that the the 12-month-old must have been at 1912, and thereafter in the Dragoon poachers were seeking to sell. the side of her dead mother. The Regiment Prince Albrecht of Prussia The killing was discovered by rang- poachers probably left her behind be- No. 1 (the Lithuanian Regiment). He ers the next day when routine checks cause they were afraid of the silver- was promoted to Major in 1908 and revealed the body of the first gorilla back male. The baby was treated for de- hydration by the MGVC staff and after UGANDA she had recovered, she was returned Mgahinga Gorilla D. R. CONGO National Park to the Suza group where she was adopted by a blackback male called Muside Gahinga 3,000 m 3,474 m Kwakane. But as she is only one year Parc National Sabinyo Muhavura old and not fed by a lactating female, des Virunga 3,637 m 4,127 m her chances to survive are not very Visoke good. Gorillas depend on their moth- 3,711 m er's milk for at least two years.

Mikeno It seems that there is no trace of 4,437 m Karisoke the older infant that was missing after Karisimbi the mother had been killed. 4,507 m RWANDA Summary of various press releases Parc National Virunga and reports des Volcans Conservation Area

11 Gorilla Journal 24, June 2002 GORILLAS

Good News for the Surveys are currently being un- breeding and loss of genetic variation Cross River Gorillas? dertaken to assess the ranging may imperil isolated groups. behaviour of the gorillas, who at the In order to highlight the tenuous Results from surveys undertaken in present time are known to prefer future that these unique apes face, a 2000 and 2001 have indicated that highland areas and to avoid extensive poster and leaflet campaign focusing there may be up to 180 Cross River areas of lowland forest. This may be on the conservation of the Cross River gorillas remaining on the Cameroon because hunting is higher in lowland gorilla will be distributed to local com- side of the border. In 1999, it was areas than in the highlands. If lowland munities over the next 2 months. It is estimated that up to 100 gorillas were forest corridors cannot be secured hoped that this small-scale education still surviving in the Takamanda Forest and if gorillas are deterred from using initiative will be followed up with further Reserve, located in the South West lowland corridors to reach gorilla conservation education activities. Province of Cameroon, the only area groups in other highland sites, in- Jacqueline Groves in Cameroon then known to support Cross River gorillas. However, as 9 15’ 9 30’ research extended into the adjacent Akwaya Mone Forest Reserve and the Mbulu Forest in 2000, the presence of NIGERIA Umbuli Mende gorillas was discovered in these CAMEROON contiguous forest areas and subse- quent studies were undertaken to Matene estimate their population density. 615’ Although surveys to clarify gorilla Takamanda Southwest distribution are still ongoing and this Atolo Province figure may be subject to change, Forest Mblishe these initial results confirm that the Reserve Ketoya Cross River gorilla population is Basho 1 Obonyi 1 indeed larger than previously believed. Obonyi 3 Mbulu Forest Although this is positive news, un- Obonyi 2 Mago fortunately it does not mean that the Makone Kekpane gorillas are any less at risk of possible extinction. Already classified as

"critically endangered" by the IUCN Takamanda Northwest Province Red Data List (2000), these gorillas Takpe Kekukesim still face an uncertain future as threats Assam 600’ to their habitat and from hunting Aworri continue to further fragment gorilla Kajifor Mone Munaya groups. Oyl Over the past 4 years, conservation efforts undertaken by the local people in collaboration with the Cross River Mone Manyu (Cross) River Gorilla Research Project (Cameroon) Forest and the Ministry of Environment and Reserve Forests (MINEF) project PROFA have markedly reduced gorilla hunting in these areas. However, other threats to the gorillas such as encroachment 545’ into their preferred habitat and the Mamfe construction of a road between two of their known ranges will certainly have an effect in further isolating already Takamanda and Mone Forest Reserve and location of Mbulu Forest existing sub-populations. Orig. map: Daniel Slayback, SSAI/NASA Goddard Space Centre, J. Groves

12 Gorilla Journal 24, June 2002 GORILLAS

Bushmeat Campaign approximately 70,000 Euro, of which Illegal Gorilla Exports 40,000 were earmarked for particular from Nigeria The EAZA bushmeat campaign is now projects. The rest of the money will very active at the political level. Alm- help cover the costs of Jef Dupain's Four young gorillas were sent from ost 2 million further signatures have project in Cameroon, and what Nigeria to Malaysia in January. Offi- been presented after the great hand- remains will probably be divided cially, these apes were born in the ing over ceremony in Brussels, in No- between PASA and the Berggorilla & Ibadan zoo – although no gorilla birth vember 2001, to the petition com- Regenwald Direkthilfe. has ever been reported in captivity in mittee of the EU. A reaction is ex- On 3 May we received a message Nigeria. The recipient of the animals, pected in July. the greatest success that the Basel Zoo is going to give the the Taiping-Zoo in Malaysia planned was achieved in Great Britain, where proceeds of its entire fund-raising to send tigers, sunbears and other the government itself put funds at the campaign, approximately 9,000 Euro, rare animals to Nigeria in exchange for disposal of the battle against the to Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkt- the gorillas. bushmeat crisis. hilfe. This sum, in addition to another It is assumed that the four gorillas Intensified checks at a London air- 4,500 Euro from the EAZA Campaign are bushmeat orphans that were port showed that bushmeat in con- donated by the Zoos of Cologne, Nord- imported to Nigeria from Cameroon. siderable quantities is often smuggled horn, Nuremberg and Karlsruhe, as This is illegal and a violation of CITES in from Ghana. Last winter a con- well as a fund-raising on the occasion which has been signed by Nigeria. fiscated smoked brush-tailed porcu- of Mr. Krieglsteiner's death (a total of The authorities in Johannesburg, the pine from Zurich was handed over for 2,800 Euro), is being provided for first stop of the gorillas on their way identification to the Stuttgart Zoo. urgently needed material for the to Malaysia, should have become The zoo association wants to con- Kahuzi-Biega National Park. One suspicious but did not investigate the tinue its close cooperation with other transport of clothing and equipment correctness of the CITES permits. bushmeat initiatives like GRASP (Ian has already arrived, another one will Nigerian and international conserva- Redmond is a contact person there) be sent later this year. tion and animal welfare groups pro- and the American Bushmeat Crisis Iris Weiche tested and demanded the return of the Task Force. Much lobby work is being four baby gorillas. done by the partner IFAW that also This is not the first case of gorilla sent representatives to certain envi- Gorillas and Ebola smuggling from Nigeria. In September ronmental congresses like the "Bio- 2001 a gorilla baby had been exported diversity Congress" in The Hague in WHO is convinced that contact from Nigeria illegally. In Egypt, the April. with an infected gorilla triggered ape was confiscated. As the vet- There have been only unofficial the latest Ebola outbreak that erinarian at the airport was afraid of talks with African decision-makers at killed 53 people in Gabon; 12 disease transmission and did not the moment; but official action is infected persons survived. In the know what to do (although he could planned in August for the World Sum- neighbouring Republic of Congo, have asked zoo colleagues), he mit for Sustainable Development authorities reported 43 deaths, drowned the baby in chemicals. (Rio+10). This forum is being prepared and at least 12 other cases of At the beginning of July, the Ni- for at the time of writing. With regard the disease. The disease was gerian Minister of Environment, Alhaji to the bushmeat campaign there are traced to a gorilla found in the Muhammadu Kabir Sa’id, according many important aspects, such as north of the country, whose to a press article, "reiterated the health and sustainability, that have to remains tested positive for the Federal Government’s commitment to be discussed at the European and – if Ebola virus. checking the spate of deplorable inter- possible – also the American level. The outbreak struck in a national trade and illtreatment of the The political representatives of the remote area populated by Pyg- nations endangered wildlife. ... He pro- European nations and the embassies mies and other peoples. The mised the accelerated completion of of the African countries are to be suspicions of medical workers the on-going review of wildlife regula- informed more thoroughly about the quickly fell upon primates, which tions towards enhanced enforcement bushmeat problem. The fund-raising, also can contract the virus and and the establishment of a committee though it only made up a small part of die of it. to investigate the current incidence in the campaign, produced a total of order to bring the culprits to book."

13 Gorilla Journal 24, June 2002 GORILLAS

range. Field researchers, conserva- forts to conserve western gorillas, the tion scientists and representatives of world will be a poorer place for our habitat countries, pooled their knowl- children to live in. edge to identify solutions in terms of a pragmatic strategy that if imple- Recommendations mented immediately will really make a 1) Law enforcement capacity is difference. strengthened to allow habitat coun- With immediate investment in law tries to effectively enforce existing enforcement this decline could be re- national laws and international con- versed. Although habitat destruction ventions that protect gorillas. does contribute to the decline, large- 2) A network of ecologically repre- scale commercial poaching threatens sentative protected areas must be to drive western gorillas to extinction. created across the geographical Hunting of gorillas is illegal in all range of western gorillas. range states, but even in national 3) Sustainable funding mechanisms parks gorillas are not safe. Poaching such as Trust Funds are created to has reached crisis levels due to the ensure stable and sufficient rev- rapid expansion of logging, civil unrest enues for management and re- and lack of management capacity. search within protected areas. Present conservation activities have 4) Precise estimates of the numbers not succeeded and the consensus of of western gorillas remaining are Confiscated brush-tailed the expert group at Leipzig is that obtained and a system to monitor porcupine without truly effective law enforcement future population trends put in Photo: Luca Siermann, Wilhelma western gorillas may go extinct in our place. lifetimes. 5) Road access to logging conces- The Minister said this move came Past international investment has sions is strictly controlled to reduce in the wake of series of letters from not sufficiently focused on building law the negative impact of selective log- various conservationists and environ- enforcement capacity. The interna- ging on western gorillas. mentalists as well as from the CITES tional community must immediately 6) Impact studies are conducted for all Secretariat. The Berggorilla & Regen- help range countries enforce existing new infrastructure projects to mini- wald Direkthilfe had also written such national and international laws. In mise the detrimental effects of eco- a letter as soon as the incident was the longer term gorilla conservation nomic development on western go- published. should focus on creating a network of rillas. effectively managed protected areas 7) A system of independent evaluation funded through sustainable mecha- of conservation and research activi- Western Gorillas: nisms such as trust funds. ties is established to improve effec- Recommendations for Focussing on gorillas makes sense tiveness and transparency. their Conservation as gorillas have a range of characteris- 8) A network linking all efforts to con- tics that legitimise their adoption as serve western gorillas is estab- The vast majority of the world’s goril- the emblematic species for conserva- lished to optimise performance. las live in the forests of central west tion in central Africa. Gorillas are char- Africa, not in the mountains of east ismatic flagships, vulnerable to distur- Conclusions Africa. At a recent meeting (May bance, ecologically demanding um- The expert group gathered at Leipzig 2002) in Leipzig, Germany (funded by brella species in that if measures are developed a Conservation Strategy for the Planck Institute for Evolution- taken to protect them, a myriad of western gorillas based on these rec- ary Anthropology and the Great Ape other species that share their habitat ommendations. A fund to protect for- Conservation Fund, US Fish & Wild- will also be protected. Thanks to field ever the habitat of these amazing ani- life Service), reports from the field research over the past two decades, mals would cost only about 3 dollars were unanimous in showing that west- more is known about gorillas than any for each person in the developed ern gorillas are threatened by com- other species and the bottom line is world. mercial poaching throughout their that if we are unable to galvanise ef- http://www.westerngorilla.org

14 Gorilla Journal 24, June 2002 WHO'S WHO?

Who's Who? FAO Food and Agriculture Organization. UN organization for food, agriculture, forestry AWF African Wildlife Foundation. Conserva- and fishery. Based in Rome, Italy. tion organization based in the USA. www.fao.org www.awf.org FFI Fauna und Flora International (originally: Banyamulenge Tutsi who had fled from Rwanda and FFPS). British conservation organization. settled in Kivu, especially in the Masisi www.fauna-flora.org region, and were driven out of their FSC Forest Stewardship Council. Grants certi- homes by the Zairean government fications for sustainable logging practices. BMZ Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche www.fscoax.org Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (Ger- FUT Freundeskreis für Ugandas Tierwelt man Ministry for Economic Cooperation (Friends of Ugandan Wildlife). German and Development). www.bmz.de NGO; supports conservation projects in CADAK Coordination des Activités de Dévelop- Uganda, especially in the national parks pement Autour de Kyavirimu. Congolese GEF Global Environmental Facility. World NGO for the development of the area Bank program for the environment. around Mt. Kyavirimu (or Tshiaberimu), www.worldbank.org/html/gef based in Butembo GRASP Great Ape Survival Project. UNEP pro- CARE Cooperative for Assistance and Relief gram for the conservation of great apes. Everywhere. American aid organization www.unep.org/grasp which is privately maintained; subsidiary GTZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für technische organizations in many countries. Zusammenarbeit (Society for Technical www.care.org Cooperation). Developmental aid organi- CITES Convention for the International Trade in zation of the German government. Endangered Species. Prevents or regu- www.gtz.de lates international trade in endangered HRW Human Rights Watch. NGO that investi- plants and animals as well as products gates and exposes human rights viola- made from them. www.cites.org tions. www.hrw.org CRSN Centre de Recherche en Sciences ICCN Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de Naturelles (Center for Scientific Re- la Nature (Congolese Institute for Nature search). Research center in Lwiro in Conservation). Formerly: IZCN. National eastern Congo park authority in the Democratic Republic DFGF Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (originally: of Congo Digit Fund). Organization founded by IFAW International Fund for Animal Welfare. Dian Fossey. Since its foundation, it has Based in London. www.ifaw.org supported the Karisoke Research Cen- IGCP International Gorilla Conservation Pro- tre in Rwanda, the rangers who patrol the gramme (French: PICG). Successor to area and the monitoring of the gorilla the Mountain Gorilla Project which man- groups habituated for research. Today, aged gorilla tourism in Rwanda. Funded DFGF also is working in Congo. DFGF by FFI, AWF, WWF; based in Nairobi International: www.gorillafund.org; DFGF IMF International Monetary Fund. www.imf.org UK: www.dianfossey.org Interahamwe Hutu militia who prepared their villages for EAZA European Association of Zoos and the genocide in Rwanda in 1994; they Aquaria. www.eaza.net organized most village killings. ECOFAC Conservation et utilisation rationelle des IPPL International Primate Protection League. Ecosystèmes Forestiers en Afrique Organization for the protection of pri- Centrale (Conservation and Rational Uti- mates. www.ippl.org lisation of Forest Ecosystems in Central IPS International Primatological Society. Sci- Africa). An EU program that supports entific society for primate research seven projects in seven African coun- IRIN UN Integrated Regional Information Net- tries. www.ecofac.org works. www.reliefweb.int

15 Gorilla Journal 24, June 2002 WHO'S WHO?

ITFC Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation. Insti- RI Refugees International. www.refintl.org tute of Mbarara University; manages research SSC Species Survival Commission. IUCN com- in the national parks of southwestern Uganda. mission which develops and carries out pro- IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature grams for the conservation of biological di- and Natural Resources (French: UICN). Union versity of more than 800 governmental and non-govern- SSN Species Survival Network. Union of numer- mental organizations. Based in Gland, Switzer- ous NGOs that work together to achieve a land. www.iucn.org better implementation of the legislation for JGI Jane Goodall Institute. Organization for the species conservation conservation of chimpanzees (meanwhile also UNEP United Nations Environment Programme. other wildlife) founded by Jane Goodall. Based www.unep.org in the USA. www.janegoodall.org UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and KfW Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (Credit Institute Cultural Organization. www.unesco.org; for restoration). Central German institution that World Heritage: www.unesco.org/whc provides loans; funded by the federal and land UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for governments. www.kfw.de Refugees. www.unhcr.ch MAF Morris Animal Foundation. American veterinary USAID United States Agency for International De- organization velopment. Developmental aid organization Mai-Mai Guerrilla warriors in the eastern Democratic of the USA Government. www.usaid.gov Republic of Congo UWA Uganda Wildlife Authority. Ugandan author- MGCF The Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund. Initi- ity for wildlife conservation. www.uwa.or.ug ated by Ruth Keesling. www.mgcf.net WCF Wild Chimpanzee Foundation. Based in MGVP Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project. A MAF Leipzig, Germany. www.wildchimps.org project in Rwanda for gorilla health care in the WCS Wildlife Conservation Society (originally: Virunga Volcanoes and the Bwindi Impenetra- WCI). American conservation organization; ble Park. www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org/ based in New York. www.wcs.org Mountain_Gorilla.html WCU Wildlife Clubs of Uganda. Ugandan NGO. MLC Mouvement pour la Libération du Congo (Move- www.africaonline.co.ug/clubs.html ment for the Liberation of Congo). Rebel move- WFP World Food Programme (French: PAM). UN ment in the Democratic Republic of Congo led relief program. www.wfp.org by Jean-Pierre Bemba. Controls the northern WHO World Health Organization. Based in Ge- part of the country. Supported by Uganda neva, Switzerland. www.who.int MONUC UN peacekeeping troops in Congo World Bank Special UN organization which gives loans NGO Non-governmental organization to projects in developing countries. IBRD: ORTPN Office Rwandais du Tourisme et des Parcs International Bank for Reconstruction and Nationaux. Rwandan national park authority Development; IDA: International Develop- Oxfam Oxford Committee for Famine Relief. British ment Association. www.worldbank.org relief organization. www.oxfam.org.uk WSPA World Society for the Protection of Animals. PASA Pan African Sanctuary Alliance. Cooperation of Animal protection network of more than 300 African ape orphanages member societies in over 70 countries. POPOF Pole Pole Foundation. Conservation and devel- www.wspa-international.org opment NGO in Bukavu, supported from Japan WWF World Wide Fund for Nature. International RCD Rassemblement Congolais pour la Democratie conservation organization. Headquarters of (Congolese Rally for Democracy). Rebel move- WWF International: Gland, Switzerland. ment in the Democratic Republic of Congo. www.panda.org. Numerous national organi- RCD-Goma (controls the southeastern part of zations; WWF USA: World Wildlife Foun- the country): supported by Rwanda; RCD-ML dation (coltrols the northeastern part of the country): ZGF Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt von supported by Uganda 1858 e. V. (Zoological Society of Frankfurt). REA Rettet die Elefanten Afrikas e. V. (Save Africa's German conservation organization; based in Elephants). German NGO based in Hamburg Frankfurt Zoo

16 Gorilla Journal 24, June 2002 READING

Jacques Verschuren and wants to correct this with this Ma vie sauver la nature. Sint-Mar- impressive book. It is a legacy for tens-latem (Editions de la Dyle) 2001. younger conservationists. Jacques 529 pages, paperback, Euro 31. ISBN Verschuren recalls his experiences, 90-76526-11-7. The book can be or- usually in short sequential episodes dered at: and thoughts. He describes his "sa- Editions de la Dyle faris", which means exploring nature Pontstraat 80 by walking and camping in the wilder- B-9831 Sint-Martens-Latem ness. This is Verschuren's approach (Deurle), Belgium to conservation – not the theoretical Tel. +32-92810058 considerations and computer analy- Fax +32-92810670. ses that often characterize present day conservation projects. He proudly describes how he saved the Virunga National Park after independence, al- though everybody warned him not to stay in that dangerous situation. Dawn Prince-Hughes wrote her book Apart from his experiences in Af- as a diary of a person who observes rica, Europe and a few other places gorillas in a fictitious zoo. around the world, he has included When I met her in 1989 while we short texts with his personal opinions were both studying gorilla behaviour in on various subjects that are important Seattle, I was impressed by her un- to him (e. g. hunting, tourism...), and usual, very emotional and intuitive way he describes the techniques that he of looking at the gorillas. Probably this used during his work for conservation unusual approach is what is neces- Jacques Verschuren is one of the (e. g. wildlife photography and the sary to write a book like this. Reading genuine pioneers of African wildlife planning of a "safari"). The author it is a pleasure for various people inter- conservation. He was already en- does not claim to analyze the situa- ested in gorillas. Persons who are gaged in surveying and protecting na- tion in Africa objectively and the refer- used to studying gorillas will find sto- ture in Congo during colonial times; ences are restricted to his own publi- ries they may have experienced them- his work and his thoughts were formed cations. selves, and that sound very familiar. during the 1950s and 1960s. He sup- Regarding the future of Congo's na- On the other hand, gorilla friends who ports the approach that conservation tional parks, Jacques Verschuren is do not yet have a good idea of how means no human intervention. very pessimistic and criticizes the gorillas live will find the book very use- This book, a kind of autobiography, present trend to emphasize the needs ful because it is an easy but well- includes many decades of conser- of humans and ignore those of wildlife founded introduction to all aspects of vation experience – mainly in Congo. – and the idea that wildlife has to pay zoo gorilla life. Jacques Verschuren describes his for the right to survive. We can only do Scientists, especially women, are experience with many famous people our best to make sure that his ap- often very careful to avoid emotional like Dian Fossey. Mobutu appointed proach will also survive. comments on their subjects because him the manager of the Congolese Angela Meder they fear that criticism by colleagues national parks and consulted him might damage their respectability. when he wanted to create new parks; Dawn Prince-Hughes Dawn Prince-Hughes does not try to one of them was Maiko, another one Gorillas among Us. A Primate Eth- avoid getting involved. For her the was Salonga. However, Verschuren nographer's Book of Days. Tucson emotional relationship between the acted according to his own judge- (University of Arizona Press) 2001. visitor and the gorillas is an extremely ment, even if this was agains the regu- 139 pages, 14 illustr. Hardcover US$ interesting and rewarding aspect of lations of the IZCN. 40, ISBN 0-8165-2150-6. Paperback her work. Only on such a basis could Apparently he has the impression US$ 17.95, ISBN 0-8165-2151-4. she have written such a book about that his merits for conservation have This is not a scientific book, nor is it such fascinating creatures. not been acknowledged sufficiently a novel – it is something in-between. Angela Meder

17 Gorilla Journal 24, June 2002 READING

Bill Weber and Amy Vedder Gorilla Gazette www.brookfieldzoo.org if you click In the Kingdom of Gorillas: Fragile on "conservation". Species in a Dangerous Land. New The Gorilla Gazette, a newsletter de- In May, researchers and conserva- York (Simon & Schuster) 2001. 384 signed for gorilla keepers and people tionists working with western gorillas pages, hardcover, US$ 27.50. ISBN 0- professionally involved in gorilla con- met in Leipzig, Germany. They de- 743-30006-3 servation and research, will now be cided to start an alliance to fight for published by the Dewar Wildlife Trust/ their survival. On their website http:// David Hulme and Marshall W. Gorilla Haven. www.westerngorilla.org they pre- Murphree For more information about sub- sent themselves and their aims (see African Wildlife & Livelihoods: The scriptions, please contact Jane Dewar also recommendations on page 14). Promise and Performance of Com- ([email protected]). Or see Some new reports on the situation munity Conservation. Westport (Hei- the Gorilla Haven website at http:// in the eastern Democratic Republic of nemann) 2001. 344 pages, paper- www.gorilla-haven.org Congo are available for downloading. back, US$ 26.95. ISBN 0-325- RI published their study Beyond the 07059-8 Volcano, A Slow Motion Holocaust at New on the Internet http://www.refintl.org/cgi-bin/ri/ Sue Boinski and Paul A. Garber In May 2000, a congress was held in bulletin?bc=00363. At http://www. (eds.) Chicago called "The apes: challenges oxfam.org.uk/policy/papers/drc/ On the Move: How and Why Animals for the 21th century". The con- povertywealth.htm the Oxfam Pa- Travel in Groups. Chicago (University tributions to this congress can be per Poverty in the midst of Wealth can of Chicago Press) 2000 downloaded in PDF format from the be downloaded as RTF file. internet. You will find them at http:// Richard Mackay The Atlas of Endangered Species. Threatened plants and animals of the Visiting the "Documenta" in Kassel? world. London (Earthscan) 2002. 128 pages, full colour photographs, maps, Then you are also most welcome to visit a little exhibition called "gorilla figures, tables. Paperback, £ 11.99. handy" – an installation presented by the Kassel artist Gerhild Werner on ISBN 1-85383-874-8. the bushmeat crisis and coltan industry. It focuses on the relationship between mobile phones in the developed countries and gorilla hunting in A. B. Assensoh and Yvette M. the Democratic Republic of Congo. Alex-Assensoh "gorilla handy" can be seen and heard within the art project "TRA.FO African History and Politics. Ideo- 2002" in a transformer house, a preserved monument at the Lutherplatz in logical and Military Incursions, the city centre of Kassel. The installation will be shown from 14 August to 1900–Present. St. Martin's Press the beginning of September. 2001/2002. 284 pages. Hardcover, Opening day: 13 August 2002, 7.30 pm US$ 55, £ 35. ISBN 0-312-23893-2. Paperback, US$ 24.95. ISBN 0-312- 24039-2.

John K. Raison, A.G. Brown, David Flinn (eds.) Criteria and Indicators for Sustain- able Forest Management. Oxford (Oxford University Press) 2001. Hard- cover, 464 pages, US$ 120. ISBN: 0851993923.

18 Gorilla Journal 24, June 2002 BERGGORILLA & REGENWALD DIREKTHILFE

Finances Verlag Stuttgart) took charge of the reproduction and composition costs Income 2001 for the Gorilla Journal. We are grateful Subscriptions 20,908.49 DM for the confidence of these and of all Donations 51,826.19 DM the other supporters. Refund from meeting 179.17 DM Sales 4,569.45 DM Meeting Total 77,483.30 DM At the first weekend in March, the Expenses 2001 members' meeting of the Berggorilla & Some of our longest-standing Administration 848.25 DM Regenwald Direkthilfe took place in members: Rolf Brunner, Heinz Expenses Directors 3,379.60 DM Bochum. 32 members took part, and Zaruba, Manfred Hartwig, Uwe Gorilla Journal 11,704.06 DM in addition many friends, interested Kribus Subscriptions 461.05 DM persons and guests of the organiza- Photo: Iris Weiche Items/postage for sale 1,353.80 DM tion. They all wanted to learn every- Refund credit 8,000.00 DM thing about the present situation in the the treasurer and the Board of Direc- Pay/top-ups Uganda 5,985.53 DM Central African countries and about tors were accepted by the members. Equipment 7,118.60 DM special gorilla conservation projects. A new Board was elected: Andreas Office Uganda 1,670.00 DM Important subjects were, among Fretz, Angela Meder and Carola Travel expenses 4,538.47 DM others, the situation and activities in Vogelsberg. Rolf Brunner was re- Bushmeat projects 5,000.00 DM the Democratic Republic of Congo, elected as treasurer. The former Project support 10,620.52 DM Nigeria, Cameroon, Rwanda and Board members Karl-Heinz Kohnen Total 60,679.88 DM Uganda as well as the international and Iris Weiche left the Board. They bushmeat problem. After an in- had supported the organization for We thank everybody who supported teresting program during the day with many years with their knowledge and us from 1 November 2001 to 20 May talks by Karsten Otte, Cherry Kabulo energy and were responsible for its 2002. Major contributions and dona- Gbushu and Johannes Refisch, the success. Although they are no longer tions were received from Klaus evening included lively conversation at members of the Board, they continue Baumgarten, Walburga Dönges, Hel- the bar and videos. to support the Berggorilla & Regen- ga Eberharter, Horst Engel, On the second day, the organiza- wald Direkthilfe and give us the benefit Erhardt, Jörg Famula, Hundeleben tion reported on its structure, the sup- of their experience. They received an GmbH, Ursula Karlowski, Edelgart port of members and friends, as well ovation for their invaluable contribu- Kipka, Hartmann Knorr, Herbert Koel, as the future plans. The official mem- tions to gorilla conservation. Ruth Kreutz, Paula Leuer, Angela bers' meeting followed. The reports of Uwe Kribus Meder, Günther Peter, A. Ruoff, An- dreas Vaeth, Gabriele Witte, Elisa- beth Zaruba and Helmut and Susanne Zeitler. We also received donations of vari- ous equipment; Cornelia Klimmer convinced one of her colleagues to send us a few knapsacks, and Marianne Famula, Siemens Mün- chen, sent us a notebook computer donated by a colleague. This note- book was handed over to Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo in July and will replace the one he lost when Mt. Nyiragongo erupted. The company STRABAG donated money for gum- The new Board of Directors: Andreas Fretz, Carola Vogelsberg, boots. Erwin Fidelis Reisch (Gentner treasurer Rolf Brunner, Angela Meder Photo: Iris Weiche

19 Gorilla Journal 24, June 2002 A NEW SAFARI ALTERNATIVE Mgahinga Safari Lodge is a new luxury lodge, perched at the tip of a peninsula For further information contact: jutting into the waters of Lake Mutanda, in southwestern Uganda. The lodge is the ideal Niedermeier Verwaltungs- und setting from which to track the mountain gorilla in nearby Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; Touristik GmbH venture deep into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest; search for savannah antelope in Lake Kurt Niedermeier, Seeshaupter Str. 17 Mburo National Park; or visit Lake Bunyonyi – renowned as the ‘lake of little birds and D-81476 Muenchen/Germany sweet water fish’. Tel: +49-89 759 79 626 The lodge complex consists of a main building – which houses the reception, Fax: +49-89-759-79-627 restaurant, lounge and bar – and six spacious, twin-bedded tents. All equipment at the lodge is of the highest European standard. The tents are en suite, with hot showers and E-mail: [email protected] flush toilets, and have continental quilts and pillows. Soft drinks and laundry service are provided. The restaurant serves a high standard of continental and traditional cuisine accompanied by a selection of local and international wines and spirits.

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