Archive for the ‘Virunga National Park’ Category
During the Advance Force’s training with Major M’Poka, we spent the last week of the 3 months session going out on patrol in Ishango, practicing the learned techniques.
And doing data collection for ICCN flora and fauna records:
During the Congolese liberation war in 1997, unfortunately many hippos were killed. You can still find the bones dispersed all around Mahiya area.
To all my supporters, readers and commentators, a big thank you for all your contributions. Below is the list of January’s donations: Theresa S. $50.00 (for supplies) Wanda H. $20.00 (monthly donation) Angel S. $50.00 monthly donation) Pirjo I. $50.00 (monthly donation)
This is a women’s job. And they need a permit to do so.
Woman showing her permit to collect wood During one patrol day in Ishango, we found a group of women collecting dead wood from the forest.
They were very deep inside, 10 km into the forest, and this can be dangerous, for there is a lot of wildlife and something can happen to them. They had no permit, we had to confiscate their load and machetes.
All the Advance Force is now back in Mutsora. The three months training session with Major M’Poka has officially ended, and we are awaiting for instructions/results. Director Norbert Mushenzi is today in the station together with the Technical Administrator of ICCN Mr. Kisuki and Major M’Poka discussing the outcome.
Dir. Norbert Mushenzi on the left, and Mr. Kisuki in the middle I wanted to share with you some pictures taken in Ishango these last days. You can follow up the stories about this beautiful place in Atamato’s blog.
The active volcano Nyragongo on the far right, the valley where Goma is situated, and Mikeno beside it
Joseph, Atamato’s brother training to become part of the Advance Force
Another patrol day out with my troop while on training session with Mayor M’Poka, down the Semliki river.
This time we were lucky to get catch the poachers, very close to Lake Edward. We confiscated their nets (used for catfish and tilapia), we burnt their boats and spoke with the poachers to increase their awareness regarding the environment and the park after they paid the fine. This is a very important part of what we do - teaching people how to value their surroundings.
Following our training session with Mayor M’Poka in Ishango, we were out on patrol for a day down Semliki river, up to Museya - a 7 km distance approximately. My troop and Rebecca (the only woman to apply for the Advance Force) were on the pirogue ready for patrol.
On our way, we counted 56 hippos!
And found 3 metal nets in Museya river, used to catch tilapia and catfish. Unfortunately poachers were not there.
Big thanks to my supporters, as usual I am very grateful for your donations (2nd half of December): Lennart J. $8,65 Simon H. $30 Polly W. $20
Dear Supporters, a quick update on the Advance Force’s position. We are all here in Ishango continuing with the training with Mayor M’Poka.
The tents where we sleep
Getting the field ready for work
Maybe you have read in the Gorilla Blog that I was yesterday in Mutsora helping MGVP to gather the food for the orphans.
But I will be back in Ishango today to continue with the practice.
Views of Ishango and the sunset in Semliki River
Major M’Poka getting our shooting training session ready
Meet Congo, a chimp rescued a month ago, held in captivity by military men. We were responsible to transport Congo to a chimp sanctuary in Bukavu.
Congo displaying all his charm to curious people passing by.
I am sorry this is not a happy post, but I would like to write today to honor Ranger Gasusa who died on the 11th of October, during an unfortunate car accident.
The picture below shows him some time just before the accident. He participated on an intelligence work carried out to stop a trafficking ring in the Mikeno Sector.
Ranger Gasusa on the far left Thank you all for your constant support to the Congo Rangers - some 120 whom have died in the last 10 years in the line of service.
The threat of increasing population moving inside the Park limits in Lubiriha has obliged us to deploy several patrols of the Advance Force during the last two months.
Poachers are setting up fires in big open spaces, so new grass can grow, attrackting antilopes and other animals to come and feed. They set up the traps thus making it an easy target for them to catch their victims.
Here with the poachers we caught, taking them into custody in Mutsora.
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