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Oct 08 2007

Situation still tense in Gorilla Sector

Published by admin at 7:03 am under Mountain Gorillas, Threats

This is Samantha at WildlifeDirect.

I have just spoken to Rangers at Rumangabo. This is the situation. At this precise moment they cannot hear shelling or gunfire in the Gorilla Sector, but the army are pushing back the rebels and strengthening their position and fighting is expected to start again shortly. The army has managed to retake the patrol post of Bukima.

Rangers are worried about potential attacks by rebels on the road north of Rumangabo, as this is what they have heard may happen. There are many military personnel at the army base near Rumangabo and they are getting supplies from Goma.

This is all I can tell you without compromising security.

No news obviously about Mountain Gorillas. I will update you later on in the day.

Samantha


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24 Responses to “Situation still tense in Gorilla Sector”

  1. # Sheryl, Washington, DCon 08 Oct 2007 at 7:28 am

    Thanks, Sam, for the update. I hope everyone stays safe.

    Voting for the Defenders of the Planet category on CNN Heroes ends at noon today (I think). http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/cnn.heroes/index.html

    Vote, vote, vote!

    s.

  2. # Sheryl, Washington, DCon 08 Oct 2007 at 7:36 am

    Reuters filed this report about an hour ago: “KINSHASA, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Congolese renegade general Laurent Nkunda said on Monday he was abandoning a month-old ceasefire in eastern North Kivu province because of what he said were repeated government army attacks against his forces.

    After fierce fighting in the east in late August and early September, the United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) announced a limited truce on Sept. 6 between the rebel Tutsi leader and the Congolese army.

    But fresh clashes between the two sides broke out on Thursday and over the weekend, and U.N. military sources said fighting was continuing on Monday in several parts of North Kivu province.

    “There is no ceasefire. … The government continues to attack us. … We have told ourselves we will no longer stand with our arms crossed while people are dying. We must react. We are soldiers,” Nkunda told Reuters by telephone.

    “MONUC thinks there is a ceasefire, but we’ve abandoned it,” he added.”

    s.

  3. # Sheryl, Washington, DCon 08 Oct 2007 at 7:38 am

    The WaPo is carrying the AP version of the story on the front page, below the fold, in the World section: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/07/AR2007100701274.html?hpid%3Dsec-world&sub=AR

    s.

  4. # Annie/Texason 08 Oct 2007 at 7:44 am

    Thanks for the update Samantha…I am saying prayers for these guys….just cannot believe that this is still going on!!!!!!!

  5. # louise, UKon 08 Oct 2007 at 8:21 am

    Thanks for the information, have voted, at the moment the guy for gorilla protection is trailing slightly, so everyone get voting!

    http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/cnn.heroes/index.html

  6. # louise, UKon 08 Oct 2007 at 8:24 am

    and how could i forget to say, stay safe! We’re all hoping and praying for you.

  7. # STEPHANIEon 08 Oct 2007 at 8:40 am

    Stay safe to all and my prayers are with you all…

  8. # Sheryl, Washington, DCon 08 Oct 2007 at 8:47 am

    Thanks, Louise. I have to leave my office for a zoo shift in about half an hour so I won’t be able to vote much longer. Y’all gotta put Mr. Rutagaram over the top. I know you can do it!

    s.

  9. # Lisaon 08 Oct 2007 at 9:12 am

    Thank you Samantha for the update. Always thinking about the Rangers and the Gorillas and hoping they are all safe. I found this as I was KindlySearching.
    http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20071007/twl-drcongo-unrest-wildlife-gorilla-4bdc673.html Lisa, California

  10. # Lisaon 08 Oct 2007 at 9:19 am

    This is an interesting one too, as it talks about how the Rebels tried to force the Rangers to inlist. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/071007/world/drcongo_unrest_wildlife_gorilla
    Lisa, California

  11. # Tomon 08 Oct 2007 at 11:42 am

    Hi i was wondering why you dont just take them out of the habitat and bring them to a place where they can be safe, not to be a pessimist but a real lover of these rare animals. Maybe you guys should get them out of an area in which i dont think all the rangers in the world can take on rebels who want the land. Why not bring them to a safer place?

  12. # Lisaon 08 Oct 2007 at 12:18 pm

    I think Ranger Rutagaram won the CNN.Heros poll just barely. They were neck and neck for awhile. Do we want to get together and vote for a particular person for this next poll? There are a lot of good ones. Lisa, California

  13. # F. J. PECHIRon 08 Oct 2007 at 12:37 pm

    Very bad news for the gorillas and for the entire world. Until when does MONUC will do something to organize a talk table between the rebels and the Congo Government to put an end to the fights and search an agreement??? Our gorillas are unprotected…for how long does they could resist this dangerous situation????

  14. # Sheryl, Washington, DCon 08 Oct 2007 at 1:13 pm

    Did he win? did he win?

    s.

  15. # Jo - Newcastle upon tyneon 08 Oct 2007 at 2:19 pm

    BBc news has covered the news in the science/nature section. Any news on the CNN vote? I tried to get on to vote all day but have been at work and our server went down, so haven’t been able to check on anything until now. The situation is so frustrating.
    Sheryl, thanks for keeping everyone informed of relevant sites.

  16. # Samantha (WildlifeDirect)on 08 Oct 2007 at 3:30 pm

    Tom unfortunately while the solution you propose would be ideal, it is not realistic. Mountain Gorillas live in a certain habitat - bamboo forest at high altitude. You cannot move entire populations of animals - especially when they exist nowhere else on earth. As much as I wish there was an easy solution to this problem, there just isn’t. We need to keep working together to raise awareness and lobby, lobby, lobby. Thanks!

  17. # bettyon 08 Oct 2007 at 6:58 pm

    Thank you Samantha for keeping us informed. Wish it was better news.
    I know it is not realistic, but I feel the same as Tom. This is an unending battle, as there is constant unrest. All we can do is hope for the best. I don’t think other governments want to get involved, because it starts getting into a political nature. Unfortunately, these animals are not on US soil.
    Rangers, take care.
    Betty/Wash.

  18. # Jill De Schrijver, Belgiumon 08 Oct 2007 at 7:12 pm

    I’ve been greatly touched by what’s happening, and have been worried about the survival of gorillas (and bonobos), aside from the overall human disaster, ever since the central region has become unstable in the 90s. And I want to do more than donate money. I work as a Karavaan volunteer for a tour operator Joker who’s one of the West European pioneers in responsible tourism, and the pioneer in Belgium upon whom the ministry of tourism-and foreign development rely regarding responsible actions for environment, emancipation and protection of animals. Two years ago our organisation was heavily invested in helping to try and set up a labour organisation for the Kilimanjaro carriers, and when we were interviewed regarding hurricane Dean (because I was cauhgt in the middle of it) we were able to refocus the news item not on tourists being evacuated but on the local Mayan farmer who could and lost so much more. The news on hurricane Felix a couple of weeks later solely focused on Hondurse because of that. So, we try to lobby as much as we can and use our leverage with the media here. Since last year we have a trip to Uganda, including “gorilla watching”. Tomorrow I will lobby with my own organisations to help with the lobbying for your part, and see what kind of commitment we can personally do aside from that.

    I esteem you greatly for all the work you endeavour to do in the harshest of circumstances. It’s an example against couch cynicism. Despite the threat and greater difficulties for the rangers and their families, you do not give up and try to pick up the responsibilities you were forced to leave for now.

    I wish you all strength, and all the lobbying and help you need and that it may have a happy conclusion in the short term and long term. And I will do what I can from here to create more awareness.

  19. # Robin Andreaeon 08 Oct 2007 at 7:51 pm

    Thank you, Samantha for updating us on the situation. I’ve created a form letter of sorts with both the human impacts and impacts on the gorillas. If one thing doesn’t grab their attention the other should. Here’s a link to the template. Please feel free to add or change some things. It’s just an idea to get you started.
    http://arthelpingmountaingorillas.googlepages.com/Template.doc
    Here’s a place to find the addresses for your senators and congresspeople.
    http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
    Here’s Condoleeza Rice’s address:
    Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State
    U.S. Department of State
    2201 C Street NW
    Washington, DC 20520

  20. # Robin Andreaeon 08 Oct 2007 at 7:56 pm

    You’ll need Word to open the Template for the letter.

  21. # Lynnon 09 Oct 2007 at 12:12 am

    Samantha, thank you for keeping those of us, who hold the Mt. Gorillas near in our hearts. You are very brave. Please let the rangers know that the work they are doing is appreciated by many back in the U.S.

  22. # Samantha (WildlifeDirect)on 09 Oct 2007 at 2:23 am

    Messages are all passed on to Diddy, Innocent, Norbert, Augustin, Jean-Marie etc

  23. # Stephen Parnwell, Londonon 09 Oct 2007 at 6:38 am

    Used the template to send a message to MPs. Hopefully it will help!
    Keep up the good work.

  24. # Lisaon 09 Oct 2007 at 9:18 am

    Robin, you are awesome! In my opinion, that is an outstanding letter. Thank you for doing that and also providing the links and addresses. That will help alot of people get started and that in intself will make a huge difference. You ROCK! Lisa, California

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