Emmanuel greets the provincial Environment Minister, Felicite Kalume Ndoole, before the ceremony

Emmanuel takes an oath

At Kibati Rangers await Emmanuel’s arrival

Emmanuel arrives to be sworn in by ICCN’s Director Cosma Wilungula. That is Norbert Mushenzi on the left.

And who is writing this post? Well it’s Samantha. I am back. I have come to work with Emmanuel and ICCN on the communications/branding of Virunga National Park.  I shall be writing posts for this blog, which will of course be kept going by Pierre.

Rather excitingly ICCN has a new logo for the park that I thought I would show you - the first time it has gone public I believe! A new website is being designed just for Virunga National Park and the Rangers. Dot cd by the way, in case you are wondering, is DRC’s url.

What do you think? This is the English version - on the ground it will be written in French.

Look forward to hearing your comments. Pierre will give you another update shortly on Tongo - the logistics of getting him to JACK are proving fairly complex but we are all on standby Look forward to reading all your comments again.

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If you would like to contribute to the long-term care of Tongo, please visit their blog and make a donation.

Faustin and Tongo 

Proceedings are ongoing against the men who were arrested and Major X. It has emerged that Major X was probably also involved in the shipment of bushmeat that was confiscated at the Kibati barrier in April.

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I arranged with a local contact to meet the men who were selling the gorilla. I was introduced to them and they told me that they were acting as middle men for the owner of a baby mountain gorilla that was being kept here in Goma.

After several hours of negotiating and discussions, the men handed me a mobile phone- on the other end of the line was the owner. The man was not in Goma, but he agreed to send someone to take us to his house to show me the animal. When I finally arrived at the house, we entered the yard and I immediately realized that it belonged to someone in the military. There was a army truck and a jeep there, and a soldier with an AK-47 was standing guard.

I was led to a small room in the house, where a man opened a basket revealing a baby chimpanzee. Clearly the men did not know the difference between a gorilla and a chimpanzee. The chimp had been in that basket for three months and came from Tongo in Virunga National Park.

After taking pictures of the chimp, I told the men that I would have to go back to my house to get the money. As we left, the team of Rangers roared up in a vehicle and raided the house. The three middle men and the soldier were arrested, and the chimp was confiscated.

We took the chimp back to our office and had the MGVP veterinarians give it a check-up. It is a male, about 9 months old, and in pretty good condition apart from some parasites. We are now taking care of him while we try to find him a good home in a sanctuary. We decided to call him Tongo.

Following the arrests, it has emerged that the man who owned the house, and with whom I spoke to on the phone, is a Major in the Congolese army. It was not a surprise that Major “X” (I can’t name him yet due to legal reasons) was involved in the trade of baby chimps. He has been implicated in poaching incidents in Rwindi and more importantly there is strong evidence that he is a ringleader in the illegal charcoal trade.

We hope that the judicial proceedings following the rescue of Tongo will finally bring Major X to justice. This would represent a massive breakthrough in our efforts to protect the gorilla sector.

Tongo already enjoys climbing the tree in our garden.

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A special thanks goes to Vanessa from Happy Hollow Zoo for their $2000 donation and to Kathleen B who gave $500.

Here is the full list the July donors:

Benjamin A $25; cathy s $25; DONALD M $25; Judi N $25; Judi N $25; georgia w $60; Michel T $105; richard w $165; Brenda G $85; Camille D $35; Daniel DQ $35; gerard g $35; Masako S $35; Steve T $60; Guy G $45; Mary H $45; M D’s Neighborhood $45; Sue D S $45; christine l $110; William S $180; Marco C $70; Nahja B $105; Stephen W $100; AKIHIDE R $10; DAPHNE K $10; joseph a $10; Rick L $10; Susan K $10; Cynthia U $100; Gideon M $100; Jerry H $100; Keith K $100; KENT F $100; Lechoslaw K $100; Marin R $100; Selina S $100; Vicki H $100; Marisa A $100; Robert H $100; Amanda S $100; chris n $100; Craig F $100; Hector V $100; Jason B $100; Jeanette D $100; Jill H $100; Jill P $100; Laura R $100; Mary L $100; Rae S $100; Suzy M $100; Veronica r $100; susan k $760; Lorena R $150; Marian D $105; Mary X $120; Paula B $15; Joyce L $150; Casey M $150; Chantal A $20; Maximilian H $20; Michael K $20; Briah T $20;

imelda a $20; Nicholas H $20; Robert L $20; Sandra C $20; Tina Y $20; Joe N $200; Julie M $200; Vanessa R $2000; KIM M T $25; Michael P $25; Faye T $25; Karin m $25; Laura M $25; Low Cost Lawn Care $25; Mary C $25; Rachel B $25; Nigel H $250; Bonnie S $250; Winthrop A $275; Jeff C $30; Erin M $30; Juanita G $30; Andreas C $300; Steven G $300; Heather M $35; Eric S $40; darrick u $40; Robert H $40; Eric B $100; Ann P $50; Caroline B $50; Dudley S $50; Jason G $50; Jeri F $50; Robert N $50; Sherri M $50; William H $50; Ashley E $50; Charmagne S $50; Deborah B $50; Dorothy M $50; Elizabeth R $50; Frank B $50; Jason J $50; Jennifer P $50; john w $50; juan f $50; Kate D $50; Kimberly B $50; Laura W $50; ROBERT R $50; Sandra M $50; Susan M $50; susan k $185; Kathleen B $500; Carrie J S $100; Jarett K $100; Annie Y $60;

 Elee C $75; Garth R $400; cynthia r $15; Dafna M $15; Gloria A $15; K E Adams $15; Kathleen W $15; Nicholas H $15; Marco C $55; Constance B $85; Sara T $85; Teva S $85; Ah K L $40; Alicia K $40; Helen S $40; Jorge G $40; Norma A $40; sarah a $40; William W $40; Silvio L M M $30; beth f $70; wild entertainment $30; William S $130; Ayako U $10; Deborah B $10; MIRIAM C $10; Pam P $10; Black Circle Technology $10; Elizabeth H $100; Sophie N $50; Brad S $15; Deanne H $15; Andy S $15; Maria B $15; Robert H $15; brad h $100; Willem v $16; Andrew B $20; Arnie S $20; Carrie J S $20; g roberts $20; Deeanna B $20; Jennifer A $20; Tresha D $20; Michael L $25; Sharon C $25; aleta W $25; lenette b $25; Sharon S $25; Kathy M $30; Steven G $300; thomas l $40;

Michelle W $5; Christine L $5; john z $50; Pirjo I $50; Michael G $50; Northwest Shows, Inc. $50; A BROWN $20; alberto g $0.1; Angela S $25; Anne K $20; ATV Off Road Stuff $20; Baerbel W $50; beth m $15; Brad M $40; Brenda P $50; Brian M $100; Carol H $15; Caroline N $10; Charla M $10; Claude H $50; Cynthia W $30; Daniela M $25; DARIO R $50; Daryl P $20; david b $20; David L $20; Deanne D $15; diana t $50; Donald T $35; doug b $20; elizabeth d $40; Elizabeth V $20; Eric O $10; Eric S $25; Erin M $20; Etienne B $50; Haishin O $27; Hayez V $20; Jacqueline T $200; Jana S $5; Janice G $10; Jeanie N $10; Jeffrey W $20; Jennifer K $20; Jennifer L B $15; Jesse W $20; Jessica I $20; Joseph S $20; Joy E $10; julia b $20; justin m $20; kari h $40; Karin T $55; karith c $100; Kelly M $50; Kevin C $20; Kevin F $15; Kim M $40; L Vos $30;

Lalita S $20; Lara D $10; Lisa H $50; Madeleine P $40; mandi c $10; Maria H $30; Marilyn L $20; Mark H $20; Mark S $20; Mark T $20; Martana R $15; Martha A $30; matthew c $10; Meghan L $25; Micaela B $10; Michael D G $15; Michael S $30; Michel S $15; Michelle P $30; Michelle W $20; mr glyn c c $15; NATHANIAL W $20; Nicholas M $5; Nikki N $25; Paige W $10; Paul J $15; Paula J G $15; Petrina L $50; PRISCILLA L C $30; Ramsay B $50; Rebecca P $25; rebecca w $10; reisa v $30; Richard I $50; Robert J $10; Robin D $20; Ross W $10; ruth t $15; Salim Jamal $10; Sean H $40; Shawn M $15; Sherri S $25; Shine Web Design $25; Stephani A $25; susan r $20; Suzanne C $30; Tammie F $25; Tasha C $20; Ted W $20; Teresa E $10; Thomas T $20; Tonia W $15; Wild Mare Productions $15; william c $35

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A group of Rangers had gone on patrol on the Rwindi plain from the Vitshumbi Patrol Post and encountered a group of FDLR poachers. A gunfight ensued and the Rangers were able to push the rebels back. No-one was injured on either side and the rebels escaped.

The Rangers then discovered the bodies of two elephants that the rebels had killed. The elephants still had their tusks and had clearly just been killed. In response to this, the ICCN will be deploying fifteen Rangers from the Advanced Force to Rwindi this week.

This attack follows several bad months for the elephants of Virunga, including the killings of elephants in April and May of this year. Lets hope the Advanced Force will be able to turn the tide…

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Everyone here is absolutely thrilled and we are looking forward to seeing Virunga move forward under his leadership.

Below is the press release that will soon be sent out to journalists, but you saw it here first!

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CONGO’S GORILLA SECTOR GETS NEW CHIEF 1 YR AFTER MASSACRE

The Congolese wildlife authority, ICCN, has named Dr. Emmanuel de Merode as the new Director of Virunga National Park, 1 year after the worst mountain gorilla massacre on record. The appointment of the former CEO of conservation group WildlifeDirect to ICCN is a move by the Congolese authorities to strengthen the rule of law, step up anti-poaching and prevent forest destruction for charcoal in Africa’s oldest national park. De Merode’s second in command will be Norbert Mushenzi, one of the most experienced senior wardens in the region.

ICCN’s Director, Cosma Wilungula said “We are absolutely committed to taking all the necessary measures to protect the mountain gorillas and bring security to the people living around Virunga National Park. The new team that we have appointed is a major step toward achieving this goal”.

After being sworn in by the Military Tribunal in Goma, de Merode will step into the role on 13 August 2008, taking command of the 680 rangers serving within the park.

“The intensity of the conflict in and around the park makes this a daunting challenge, but it is a great privilege to be working alongside such a dedicated and courageous team of rangers. I have real confidence in our ability to secure a future for the park to ensure that it makes a positive contribution to the lives of the people of North Kivu,” said de Merode.

The appointment follows a year which has seen Laurent Nkunda’s rebels take over the Gorilla Sector of Virunga National Park, as well as the ongoing trial of the suspects charged with orchestrating the killing of 6 mountain gorillas in July 2007.

The presence of an estimated 4,000 armed militias throughout the park, and a growing demand for the park’s natural resources - including charcoal, bushmeat and other illegal products - has led to massive and sustained attacks on the park’s wildlife. In 2007 10 mountain gorillas were killed and the hippo population of Lake Edward, once the greatest in the world, has been depleted by over 95% by armed militias. Over 120 rangers in Virunga have lost their lives in the line of duty after a decade of armed conflict in the region.

With financial assistance from the European Union, ICCN will be launching an ambitious plan to re-establish the rule of law within the national park, prevent the destruction of its wildlife, and secure the park as a basis for stability and economic growth in the country.

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This is Diddy. Exactly one year ago today we discovered the bodies of the gorillas that had been killed on 22 July 2007. Today we all paused to remember the gorillas from the Rugendo family group.

Emmanuel and Innocent over the body the silverback Senkwekwe 

Innocent at the time had written an account of happened on that fateful day. We are all very disappointed that the people responsible are still at large one year on, but we are confident that justice will eventually prevail.

By coincidence, the Rugendo family had been filmed by a visitor shortly before the attack:

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Part of these workshops involved going to various locations in the Southern Sector of the park to make assessments on the ground. This included going up the Nyiragongo volcano to see what was required to cater for tourists. Below is a picture of our group at the top- thats me with the walking stick, quite tired!

You can also see the video of the volcano that Pierre filmed earlier this month.

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