Tshiaberimu

Category: Gorillas, Rangers, Tshiaberimu, Virunga National Park | Date: Sep 11 2008 | By: tshiaberimu

Hello this is Jean Claude. A few weeks ago the trackers and rangers at Mount Tshiaberimu took part in a four day training course at the Kalibina summit at Tshiabirimu. The training was facilitated by Dr. Gladys and Stephen Rubanga of Conservation Through Public Health under the financial support of ZSL and the Gorilla Organization.

The training covered both theory and practical skills and looked at clinical signs, the collection of data on the health of gorillas, processing data, the laboratory, the autopsy and veterinary treatment. The training was planned following the death of two gorillas earlier in the year.

During the training Dr. Gladys presented the team with antibiotics very kindly donated by Judy Brey from California and equipment offered by ZSL. These drugs and equipment will be kept at Mount Tshiberimu in case of an emergency – if another gorilla gets ill the team will be able to make a decision about whether to intervene and if it is decided that they should they now have all the necessary equipment that the need.

The photos below were taken during the training.

Here the trackers and rangers gather round at the beginning of the training

Here is Gladys and the CTPH team with the antibiotics and equipment

The training continues in the forest

4 responses so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 11 2008 | By: tshiaberimu

This is Jean Claude. Last month the ADG (Director General) of ICCN appointed me conservator for the sector of Tshiabirimu, while continuing my role of Project Manager. I was very honored to accept this position, and very grateful that my efforts and endurance during the difficult periods at Mount Tshiaberimu had been recognised.

I would like to sincerely thank the ADG and all members of the management committee of the ICCN and the director of the Gorilla Organization for putting their trust in me.

It is not an easy task but with the support of everyone I will fulfill my role as very best that I can. Thank you.

3 responses so far

Category: Gorillas, Tshiaberimu, Virunga National Park | Date: Sep 02 2008 | By: tshiaberimu

This is Jean Claude. It is with great pain that I have to announce the death of Musangania, a 5 year old gorilla from the Lusenge Family. Musangania was found dead near the camp of Burusi at 9 am on Saturday morning by the head of the monitoring team.

This came as a complete shock to everyone at Mount Tshiaberimu. Since the death of two adult females in February and May this year we have been monitoring the health of the remaining gorillas extremely closely. In addition to daily health monitoring, MGVP vets visited the Lusenge family three weeks ago, and just last week CTPH vets visited the family also. Both vets’ reports confirmed that the family was healthy and well, and we had absolutely no cause for concern.

So when Musangania’s body was found with an inflated belly, traces of blood in the mouth, lesions on the lips and foamy saliva coming from the mouth - I felt sick to my stomach.

It was an extremely sad moment to find Musangania dead. He was such a young and lively gorilla and had been seen the previous day playing up in a tree, at a height of 9 meters, with his companion Mukokya and his father Nzanzu.

Musangania’s body was carried by rangers to the Gorilla Organization’s base at Kyondo. The body was refrigerated overnight and on Sunday an autopsy was carried out by MGVP, CTPH, the Gorilla Organization and ICCN.

The autopsy revealed that Musangania died from a brain hemorrhage and deformation to the front, right side of the head. We are still waiting for the results of samples taken during the autopsy, but based on the post mortem, the recent health monitoring and the sightings of Musangania up the tree the day before - we believe that the gorilla fell from the tree, whilst playing, and hit his head badly on the way down.

This is a devastating moment for everyone here. A gorilla falling from a tree is rare, but unavoidable. Though with the very small population of Mount Tshiaberimu gorillas, it is a very big loss.

Here is a picture of young Musangania’s body, the burial service, and Nzanzu, Musangania’s father.

13 responses so far