Jul 28 2007
The Day the Rugendo Family was Massacred
I have been thinking about these images, because we have all found them so upsetting, but as in the past, it is better that people see what is really happening. I will try to recount the events as best I can and I am sorry that the images are so disturbing.
I was in Goma on the night of 22nd. Emmanuel of WildlifeDirect, was in Bukima with members of my team, and Scott and Brent of Newsweek. They heard shots at around 8pm. The next day, a patrol went in from the Bikenge patrol post and quickly found the bodies of three females. It was crushing to hear the news. It is the worsed thing that can happen, when a whole group is attacked, and when so many are killed. The females were Neeza, Safari and Mburanumwe. Safari became famous in the newspapers when she had her baby, Ndeze, back in February. Unasi also had an infant. Mburanumwe was a young subadult female, who was pregnant. It is a massive blow to our efforts to protect the gorillas.
Taking Mburanumwe, a young female, out of the forest. She was pregnant and had been badly burned by her killers
It was pouring down with rain when the Bukima team arrived. Mburanumwe had, for some reason that we couldn’t understand, been badly burned. I think it must have been done to offend us, but I don’t know. It’s difficult to get into the minds of people who can do a crime as terrible as this. It was still late and pouring with rain so the search was called off and the team returned to Bukima.
The following day, people poured in from the surrounding villages. It was moving to see that our sorrow was shared by so many. They had come to help.
The team split into two groups, with one team of rangers going into the forest with trackers to try to find the remaining gorillas, and the other to carry the dead gorillas back to Bukima and then on to Rumangabo for burial. They searched for other bodies, and within half an hour found the lifeless body of Senkwekwe, the silverback of the group. This was a moment of great pain for all of us.
Senkwekwe, the silverback, is brought out of the forest to be transported to Bukima
Our four gorillas were tied to stretchers, and then the long march began. A large number of people had to carry Senkekwekwe, because of his enormous size. It was a long long walk that lasted for over three hours.
Eventually the procession arrived in Bukima, and the Senkwekwe and his group were take by vehicle to be laid to rest \at the graveyard in Rumangabo.
Daily news from the conservation frontline by Innocent and Diddy, and other Congolese rangers risking their lives to save mountain gorillas of the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Paulin,
Is it possible that the one responsible for this is that general whose uncle’s boat was destroyed by your men? Sometimes the smallest thing causes inhumane people to react with much vengence. I would hate to think this tragedy may be over the fact that a boat was not returned.
Chris, we’re all asking ourselves a thousand questions. The boat that was confiscated was at Ishango, which is about 150 kilometres away, on the northern shore of Lake Edward. Also the Mai Mai would never go to the area where the mountain gorillas are. It’s definitely not a possibility, but the idea that it was a vindictive killing can’t be ruled out. There is an enquiry happening and there will be an international enquiry by UNESCO as well.
Do you we know the fate of the other gorillas in the Rugendo family? What will happen without their silverback? The whole thing is so senseless and sad.
Paulin & ranger teams,
There are just no words possible.
You are right to post these photos.
Bless all those who helped you in the gruesome & heart wrenching task of moving the bodies.
It’s hard to look at these pictures, but we owe it to the gorillas to look. They break my heart.
s.
I am mad as hell. These attacks against these gentle creatures and violence against children and women are my boiling points. I agree that this may be some kind of sick, vengeful act. There is no reason for this. What will happen to Rugendo’s group who is now weakened without one of the Silverbacks? I’m signing up, it’s time to get active in the blogosphere and beyond.
Paulin, I just read Elie Mundima’s blog (in French!) and learned that seven gorillas have been killed, including members of the Kabirizi family. When did this happen?
s.
Sheryl, I believe that 7 includes the 3 from Kabirizi family on the attack of the 8th June (only one body was found, the others are presumed dead), and the four from the Rugendo family that were killed on 22 July.
Thanks, Emmanuel. I realized that after I woke up and had some coffee.
I’m just reading the Newsweek cover story. That is going to reach an incredible number of people here and hopefully spur some action. What impresses me are the number of people from the villages who came out to help the rangers. You couldn’t get five people in my neighborhood to help you find a missing cat. To see all those people helping is something else.
s.
Mon cher Paulin
Je suis choqué de voir ces terribles images du massacre des gorilles sur votre blog. Je vous souhaite plein courage. Je ne doute pas que nous puissions mettre un terme à le massacre car ce n’est pas le premier défi auquel nous avons déjà fait face.
Thank you for posting these pictures. It’s important for people to understand exactly what is going on and exactly why conservation and supporting your work is so important. Thank you for putting together the information kit. I am an anthropology student, and plan on sharing this with as many people as I can when I get back to school.
I just hate people who do things such as this…steph
[…] Rugendo Family Massacre. I can’t tell you how much this wounds my heart. Even more so that it is not the first […]
I am sorry.
I’m totally blown away - somehow I missed this horrible news and just now saw it. I am so sorry for this loss. We will get this up on our website and on the Ranger MySpace ASAP.
I am at a loss for words - my heart is with you all.
Please let Elie and the other Rangers know they are in our thoughts and prayers.
With much sorrow,
Vanessa
Happy Hollow Zoo
For a french magazine, I would like to publish theses pictures .. please contact me : iconosav01@sciences-et-avenir.com
Sincerely
Your gorillas made the cover of Newsweek! I saw it on the internet! Word is getting out! I am at a loss of words to describe how shocked I was when I read about what happened. My prayers are with you and all the rangers. Have there been any sightings of the remaining members of the family? Also, I tried emailing the address listed to get instructions on how to help and my message was returned to me as “Undeliverable.”
I am sickened by this horrible event..words cannot describe what I am feeling!! I am hopeful that some good will come from all this senslesness
I am sad. I cryed. I am mad. I support your efforts. You and the other rangers are very strong men. The gorillas thank you too. Find the killers and burn them too. I have posted this on my MY SPACE PAGE for all to see. All must see.
[…] Il y a des soirs ou on rentre du labo, on allume son portable, et on reçoit un mail d’un (bon) ami. En se disant que ça sera un mail comme d’habitude, un truc anodin entre amis. Qu’il allait me donner des nouvelles de sa nouvelle vie à Harvard. Qu’on finirait par parler boutique. Et puis en fait, non. Ce dont parlait ce mail? Allez voir ici. […]
What a sad journey the villagers had to make…these great apes of their forests…thank you for removing their bodies and giving them the respect they deserve and a proper burial…these are sick, vindictive people doing this horrible crime. I hope they are found..Africa’s people and creatures have suffered so much…I hope others will take action to help..especially the U.S. we have problems of our own but enough money to help! Thank you for all you do!
THESE IMAGES HAVE GRIPPED ME WITH SO MUCH SADNESS…I FEEL SO POWERLESS TO HELP. IT ALSO CAUSES ME GREAT ANGER. WHY DO MEN DO SUCH EVIL THINGS? THE DEAD SILVERBACKHAS BROUGHT ME TO TEARS. I AM FRUSTRATED THAT I LIVE IN POVERTY,FOR I WOULD SEND DONATIONS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS GREAT CAUSE.I WOULD BE THERE WITH YOU PROTECTING THE GORILLA FAMILIES FROM THESE MURDERERS IF I COULD. EVEN IF IT MEANT MY LIFE. THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY WAY I COULD POSSIBLY CONTRIBUTE AT THIS TIME. I WILL HOWEVER DO MY BEST TO SPREAD THE WORD. AND I WILL SEND YOU AN INVITE FROM MYSPACE.COM SO THAT I MAY DISPLAY YOU IN MY TOP FRIENDS FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.I MAY BE FINANCIALLY POOR…BUT MY NETWORK OF FRIENDS ARE NOT. I HONOR AND RESPECT YOU AND YOUR RANGERS FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND I GRIEVE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES PROTECTING THESE BEAUTIFUL,AWESOME CREATURES. THE MEN WHO MURDERED THESE 4 BEINGS…YOU KNOW,THAT THEY WILL SUFFER GREATLY FOR THIS ATROCITY. SUFFER,THEY WILL.
This tragady is horriable. I have been brought to tears seeing these magnificent animals harmed for no reason at all. The thought process of whom ever did this makes me wonder what our world is coming to. Why do men (hunters) think that it is ok to harm such a beautiful animal. I am a true beleiver in what goes around comes around and this will come back on whom ever commited this act four times. I am a huge animal lover and charish all animals of the wild. To harm something that can’t defend them selves is in-human. These people are NOT human and are HEARTLESS!
For the second day now…I am still deeply saddened and incredibly angry. I sit in a state of surreal disbelief. My one passion in life are the beautiful beings that God so Graciously, with his trust and faith has given us. I feel so discouraged and helpless. We humans have overstepped our last boundary and it may be too late…I have been posting and forwarding info and pictures for hours on end now on MySpace and wherever else I can. I did notice that the number of your MySpace friends is growing rapidly, which is a God given sign that the word is spreading. At times like this…I am profoundly ashamed to be a part of this (in)human(e) race. We are truley the only beings that posess the ability to not only feel such malice, but to act upon it is deplorable. God bless everyone that is involved, those beings from which we humans descended, so desperatly need you! The pictures speak of true atrocity, and need to be seen…Thank you for all of your heartfelt efforts! May the killers perish in hell…I normally would not say such a thing, but I have seen just about all I can take…
Lisa
Lisa, I know how you feel..I have been so disgruntled about the world and all the bad things that happen..it is so depressing everyday..but when man destroys beautiful creatures like this it’s even more upsetting because it did not have to happen! Bad things happen every day to people and animals but this does just top the limit…..it’s nice to know that there are other people who feel the same..maybe somehow something good will come of this..hard to believe right now! I don’t know what to think..I try to be positive and then some idiot does a random of act of horror to ruin it all! I am just glad enough people are trying to care!
This is very upsetting. It is a very sad to know that there people out there that would harm helpless animals. If and when they are caught they should be punished in the same fashion in which they murdered these poor creatures. This act leaves a big scar in my heart. I sincerely hope that this will raise enough awareness that something like this will not occur again.
This horrible act of cruelty and violence is an indictment against man. I have been depressed since the article was printed in Newsweek and the photo printed on the front page of aforementioned magazine. I hope this motivates people to want to save these magnificent creatures. This is not just about conservation, this is about saving animals. Conserve trees, land, water and other inanimate things. Gorillas are feeling, intelligent creatures. It is about animal advocacy and saving other animals not just human ones.
Yesterday I saw and read about these horrific murders!!!! I’m 57 years old and never in my life have I been so sad and cried so hard. I have lost family members of my own, I know what loss feels like and this is the same as losing my own. I am disgusted and torn appart. I am ashamed to be a human being right now. I just want to go help in some way. But I am a poor person myself with no money left over after all the bills are paid. I will send this to all my friends. God bless for your work you do, my love and prayers are with you as well as the beautiful creatures of the wild.
I’m in a state of shock. Reading these blogs and feeling exactly the same way. How can a poor, California mother of two HELP save these and all beautiful creatures? To know that a beautiful baby gorilla had such a horrifying experience and then be left clinging to it’s dead mother is too much for me to take. To think about what these majestic, gentle creatures had to endure is even more difficult. NOTHING is worth such cruelty. God bless you Rangers for being there to protect these special beings.
I visited the Rugendo family on 21 july 2007, the day before they were killed. I find it hard to believe someone could do that. Shame for the human being.I posted a video tribute to the Rugendo family in youtube. You can see it at this link:
http://www.lanzadera.com/rugendo
I will never forget them
[…] was for a 3-month period - for Director Mushenzi to manage the emergency program as a result of the July massacre. The Mikeno sector has now been out of Ranger control for exactly 3 weeks. So this in itself has […]
[…] the southern sector of Virunga National Park. She joins the members of the Rugendo family that were massacred in July: Senkwekwe, Neza, Safari and Mburanumwe. She also joins Nsekuye, executed in […]
I hope the article in the Smithsonian leads to more people becoming involved in fighting for this cause. It was very well done and left quite an impact on me. (I have been depressed ever since reading it!) I am so sorry for all that the rangers, staff and villagers have had to experience in the last several months. I am praying for(and will continue to pray for)the safety of all of you and the gorillas, too. I am comforted that the word is getting out and that you have a tight knit, supportive community to get you through this time of grief. Don’t give up.
[…] team have come for a few days to Goma to cover the plight of the Mountain Gorillas following the July massacre and the current fighting that is preventing the Rangers from protecting this imperiled […]
[…] After the interviews yesterday that we did with CBS and Anderson Cooper, we cannot help but reminisce about the Rugendo family and the day of the massacre in July. […]
IM PISED FF THA U CN EVEN SHOW THA SORTA STUF ON THE INTERNET BUT IT DID HELP ME WIF MY ART WORK BGUT IM STILL PISSD OFF BOUT IT
[…] the Rangers) - to carry out the judicial proceedings against those suspected of involvement in the July massacre of the Rugendo family and the trafficking of the infant female Mountain Gorilla in September that […]
these pictures really changed me to a sad feeling we really have to do somethig right away to stop that.caracas, venezuela
I am so sorry for what is happening to these beautiful creatures, it brings tears to my eyes and also anger towards the people that are responsible for these horrific acts, I wich so much I could be of more help I will give a donation but only wish it could be more.
I am going to sen this picture and story to oprah winfrey and maybe she will feel empathy towards the beautiful gorillas and help out.
I think you and your rangers are very special people with big beautiful hearts and I wish you all the luck.
Isn’t it ironic that when humans commit disgusting deeds of cruelty they are sometimes referred to as ‘animals’ or ‘beasts’.
My heartfelt gratitude goes out to all tose wonderful people who recovered the massacred gorillas,carried them back over very difficult terrain and gave them a dignified burial ….and so proclaimed this atrocity to the wider world.
[…] cargaron los cuatro cuerpos hasta la aldea de Bukima en lo que se convirtió en una auténtica procesión funeraria. La amenaza contra la supervivencia de los gorilas de montaña es inmensa. Su hábitat natural […]
[…] in February. Ndeze, the Mountain Gorilla daughter of Safari who is now orphaned in Goma after the Rugendo massacre, is named after […]
Every single one of us who is moved by what is happening there needs to dig deeply into their pockets to send support to these brave and selfless people who protect the gorillas so that they can continue their work against great adversity. Also, we all need to spread the word!!! That is the only hope!
Siento tanto lo que les ocurre a estos nuestros hermanos. A veces cuando veo fotos terribles de las catátrofes que ultimamente hemos sufrido los humanos pero que no hemos elegido me pregunto que respuestas tenemos para las matanzas y sufrimientos que infligimos a nuestros hermanos primates.
Me duele mucho ver estas imágenes y sentirme impotente y culpable.
There are no words for such a selfish cruel act. The murder of these wonderful animals stares all humane people in the face, demanding help and protection from future atrocities.
The depravity of man no longer surprises me. I wish I had words of comfort or hope. I know that those gorillas had more humanity inside them than most humans. The truth is that money trumps everything is this world. We will reap what we sow in the end.
thiz iz afull ..wat pelul do to those wired luking munkies…:( thatiz afull…
[…] is the same law under which we are working to bring to justice those responsible for the July massacre, and the death of the baby gorilla in September. There is a blog post about this […]
[…] is the brother of Senkwekwe, the Silverback executed in July. Mapuwa and Ruzirabwoba are also his brothers. Humba was born into the Rugendo family and […]
People are so sick I wish most of them would just go away and let those of us who wish to live in peace without the slaughter of poor innocent animals. This speaks well of their mentallity.
cialis|cheapest cialis|generic cialis|buy cialis online|cialis generic|cheap cialis|cialis drug|cialis to buy new zealand|cialis uk suppliers|cialis forum|cialis for order|buy cialis online now|buying generic cialis|buy cialis|cialis professional|what is the generic name for cialis|cialis cost|cialis dosage|cialis injury attorney columbus|cialis attorney columbus|cialis online|cialis injury attorney ohio|cialis uk|how does cialis work|cialis lawyer ohio|cheap generic cialis|cialis side effects|cialis injury lawyer ohio
black satin dress, her scarf of rich foreign lace, and her pearl stories seduction first time lesbian gifts, had endowed this, her darling, with a grand dames bounty kuyftjupzqk
cVzksJ f81tpvn7894323ndrx
why those who were killing,if that is for money,just let them to know its not right way,there were so many ways,i reqest gorilla protection committie to prepare boards about this and make the people part of this conservation project,i hope that there will b good hope for those gentle and magnificent creatures by the care and effort from kind people.
It is so tragic. Being a teacher, I became totally awestruck when I saw a documentary on the ABC about a year ago. I immediately connected with the beauty and the humanity these animals show. At the same time, I was totally horrified at the mindless, brutal murder of these animals. I have brought animal/environment conservation into my classroom, and it is so pleasing to see young people so passionate about what is right for these magnificent species. When will these people stop??? I worry that these beautiful creature won’t be around for my students to see in 20 years. We need to stop seeing everything in this world as belonging to humans, and stand back and appreciate what we have, before it is gone.
[…] in the DRC, one of the areas where mountain gorilla population has been increasing (save for the Gorilla Murders and other tragedies), former WildlifeDirect CEO, Dr Emanuel de Merode has been appointed to head […]