Tshiaberimu

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

Hello, this is Jean Claude. On 18 September, as we traveled from Mulango Patrol Post to Burusi Patrol Post, we received a phone call alerting us to the presence of a lion in the Nguli valley towards Vihyo village.

The local population at Nguli had heard the roar of the lion and in the morning awoke to find that 13 goats had been killed. The community called the head of the Mount Tshiaberimu patrol post and also contacted the army to register the case.

Following the call I contacted ICCN’s Director Mushenzi, to ask for advice and he agreed with our suggestion to chase the lion away by firing shots in to the air.

We had to inform the whole population before we took action to ensure that they were not alarmed by the gunshots and to avoid panic.

Unfortunately this operation did not work as the lion resisted.

The next day one man Mr Kamuda was injured as the lion bit him in the leg. He was treated at the local health centre. In addition four of Mr Dokoro’s goats were found dead and three belonging to Mr Shiriki were also killed - totaling 20 all together.

The following day we again tried to drive out the animal with the help of the army. On the fourth gunshot the lion jumped on a soldier, but as the solider fell to the ground he retaliated and shot the lion. The lion became enraged but eventually, after the seventh shot, the lion succumbed and was carried away by the local people.

We did our best to move the lion safely without killing it, and it is sad that the animal lost its life. We are working hard with the communities in this area to improve their livelihoods and reduce encroachment on the forest so that they are able to protect the forest and the animals living there.