Tshiaberimu

Category: Gorillas, Research, Tshiaberimu, Uncategorized, Virunga National Park | Date: Jul 31 2008 | By: tshiaberimu

Hello this is Jean Claude. During the last few days we have carried out a gorilla health monitoring visit at Tshiaberimu. Dr Jacques Iyanya and Dr Eddy Kambale from the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) led the mission and were joined by Dr Mavisi, a local vet who has been working with the project for some time, and Mr Odilon, our research coordinator.

Three habituated gorilla groups were observed - Lusenge, Kipura and Kanindo - from the patrol posts of Burusi, Kalibina and Kikyo, respectively.

During the health monitoring visit, three individuals were checked from Lusenge group (Nzanzu, Musangania and Mukokya), four individuals from the Kipura group and two from the Kanindo family. Faecal samples from each night nest were taken and close observations of the individuals health and behavior were recorded. It is very rainy here now at the moment but thankfully the rain started after the fecal samples were collected.

I am very happy to tell you that no apparent health problems were recorded for any of the observed individuals - great news!

In addition to the vet’s visit, ICCN trained rangers are collecting health data daily for some habituated gorilla group. They are using the MGVP IMPACT system (IMPACT = Internet-Support Management Program to Assist Conservation Technologie) This system gives the rangers guidelines to observe the gorillas health and helps them to identify any health problems.

Please see some pictures below taken during the gorilla health monitoring visit. I am sorry that some of them some of them are not very clear.
Thanks for all your support and I will write again soon.

6 responses so far

Category: Communities, Tshiaberimu, Uncategorized, Virunga National Park | Date: Jul 30 2008 | By: tshiaberimu

Hello this is Jean Claude. Working with the local communities living around Mount Tshiaberimu is an extremely important part of our work to protect the gorillas and the forest. We help to build the capacity of the local people so that they can live in harmony with the forest and protect the habitat for the gorillas.

I frequently visit local villages to keep them informed of our conservation work and raise awareness for the protection of the forest. Last week I visited the village of Kasundi not far from the ranger patrol post at Burusi and on this occasion I was able to deliver 30 iron roofing sheets to help the village construct a health clinic.

The population of Kasundi is very much involved with the protection of the forest and appreciative of the conservation work that we are doing. When we arrived last week with the new roofing sheets the population welcomed us with dances to thank us for our work.

I will write again soon with an update on the health of the gorillas.

2 responses so far

Category: Gorillas, Rangers, Tshiaberimu, Virunga National Park | Date: Jul 24 2008 | By: tshiaberimu

This is a message from Rebecca, a 23 year old ranger who has recently arrived at Tshiaberimu from ICCN’s local headquarters in Mutsora.

I am Rebecca. I have a love of nature. I decided to become a park guard as I saw how the ‘rebellion’ was widely destroying the Virungas National Park. I have just finished my ranger training and when I heard about Tshiaberimu my boss thought I would do well and be able to help in this sector.

But unfortunately, shortly after I arrived at Tshiaberimu, two female gorillas died. It was a very sad time for me at the beginning of my career.

I am determined to fully immerse myself with conservation and to take part in all the patrols to protect the gorillas. I hope to show other women that the gorillas are our close relatives; our cousins and we must help to protect them. When I see how the female gorilla Kitawite cares for her baby Musomboli, I remember how my mother cares for me.

The job is not easy as I am the first girl to stay in the northern sector of the Virungas and particularly at Tshaiberimu. I do not yet earn any wages but with the support of the project I have everything that I need.

I think that I will be among one of the first and few female conservationists.

5 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 07 2008 | By: tshiaberimu

This is Jean Claude. I would like to personally thank everyone who has contributed both morally and financially to the search for an urgent solution to save the population of gorillas at Mount Tshiaberimu. I would especially like to thank Wanda, Christine, Muriel, Antonia, Cathy, Teresa and Judy for their financial contributions, which have been very gratefully received.

Thanks for all your interest in saving Tshiaberimu gorillas. I will write with more news from here soon.

2 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 07 2008 | By: tshiaberimu

Hello, this is Jean Claude. I have a message for you from Mr Odilon, who is in charge of research at Mt Tshiaberimu. This is what Odilon says:

Following the death of our two female gorillas I spent all of my time in the forest, monitoring the gorillas health to make sure they are all well. For me, there has been nothing to distract me as I am a single man. I have always likened myself to Kanindo, the lone male gorilla at Mount Tshiaberimu who is restless and sometimes comes out of the forest to spend time on the farms.

Now Kanindo has found himself a mate. He has married the adult female Mwengesyali and now he seems so much calmer and happier!

I am also no longer single. Following the distressing time we have been through here at Mount Tshiaberimu I thought it was time for me to share my life with someone and on 28 June I got engaged! Jean Claude and all my friends, family and colleagues joined me for the dowry exchange in my village on the edge of Tshaiberimu. It was a great celebration bringing together the communities, the park and the gorillas.

3 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 04 2008 | By: tshiaberimu

Hello this is Jean Claude. After the gorilla naming ceremony in Rwanda I crossed back in to DRC at the Goma boarder. Here I met with my colleagues from the Gorilla Organization before leaving the following day with the Director Virunga National Park for ICCN, Norbert Mushenzi, to travel back to Tshiaberimu by road. It is a long journey of many miles, and unfortunately this time our vehicle could not make it - at Rwindi the vehicle broke down. Thankfully Henry Cirhuza, the Gorilla Organization’s Congolese programme manager was able to help us out, and drove to meet us so that we were able to complete our journey.

We were on our way to meet Madame Felicite Kalume, the provincial minister for the environment and tourism in North Kivu province. Madame Kalume, accompanied by the governor and deputies, was on a mission to Kyondo, a small town about 5km from Mount Tshiaberimu to assess the state of security in the area and to make sure that the gorillas were safe.

Once we all arrived we had three meetings with Madame Kalume and the Mwamis (chiefs) of the local area. The meetings went well and the Minister convinced the chiefs of the positive implication of the conservation activities taking place along the west coast of Lake Edward, which borders on to the slopes of Tshiaberimu. The meetings closed as we were invited to celebrate the 46th birthday of Mwami Stuka.

No responses yet

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 02 2008 | By: tshiaberimu

After the nightmare following the death of our two gorillas at Mount Tshaiberimu, I had a moment of comfort. I was invited by the Office of Rwandan Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN) to take part in the annual gorilla naming ceremony in Rwanda. For me this was not only a moment of celebration for the gorillas, but also an opportunity to exchange experiences and sufferings with other members of the conservation community.

The gorilla naming ceremony is now an annual event in Rwanda, which brings gorilla conservation to the attention of an international audience. It is a great celebration and this year a conservation conference took place in the run up to the gorilla naming ceremony. During the conference I met many researchers who pledged to help us at Mount Tshiaberimu following the hard times that we have experienced, and I met personally with Mike Cranfield from Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP) who is helping us so much following our gorilla deaths.

I would like to thank everyone who has given me this opportunity for relaxation and to meet other people working hard for gorilla conservation.

3 responses so far