Archive for the ‘Virunga’ Category
May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a good start of the year. A big thanks to my supporters: * Libby and her husband who continue to support me with $250 a month. * Todd for the $1,000 donated on the 31st of December, which will be used to support the Advance Force Rangers.
Holding a Catfish in Semliki river
Lunch in Ishango on Christmas Day
During our last trip to Tshiaberimu, one of our missions was to patrol the Muramba sector. We have been informed that local villagers were cultivating rice, beans and bananas inside the Park. Local villagers are instructed and supported by the Mai Mai to do so.
When we were approaching the area, the Mai Mai spotted us and started making signal noises for the others to escape the place. We only found the women and children who work the land. After long discussions and explanations about conservation in Virunga National Park, the women had agreed not to cultivate any longer. We estimate that around 8 hectares have already been cultivated. I have been informed there is a WWF programme to relocate the plantations of this community.
We went back to the patrol post to rest and spend the night. The next day a Mai Mai commander, named Convoy, came to the post, with a very angry attitude, demanding explanations on our procedure. I have managed to take a picture of him without noticing (you can see him dressed as a civilian, wearing a red cup).
We have discussed for many hours, until we managed to negotiate they will wait until they get the crops out and then leave the plantations for good.
These two are Mai Mai escorts for the commander, again they didn’t notice I took this picture.
One of our missions on our way to Tshiaberimu, was to assist WWF in finding a suspicious individual. We received reports that a man was present in the Tshiaberimu gorilla sector who was perhaps a military man masquerading as a member of the Gorilla Organisation. He was suspected of this because of the shirt he was wearing that is often worn by people who work for GO. We have to be very careful at the moment as you can imagine following the attacks on this gorilla sector. So we met with the chief of patrol post at Kitolo.
After a long walk of 12km from the post under cold weather, we apprehended the individual (see on the picture below the person with yellow t-shirt)
He pleaded innocent, and following an interrogation, we have decided to let him go. His brother also vouched for him.
Following the attacks at Tshiaberimu last month, the Advance Force of Congo Rangers have been patrolling the area regularly. At the moment it is mine and my troop’s turn to be in the area and we have been here since Saturday.
It is tough terrain to patrol with many hills and valleys to cover, but it is necessary to do so as this is also home to the Eastern Lowland Gorillas and so we must ensure their safety.
When you exit the park from Ishango and you want to head west, towards Tshiaberimu for example (the gorilla sector in the north of the park) you need to cross the Semliki River. But there is no bridge. So a Congolese entrepreneur set up this system with three dugout canoes with planks on top and an outboard motor, that you see on the right in this photo.
Then you drive the vehicle on to the planks and start moving across slowly. The cost is $10 per vehicle, one way. We don’t pay because we are Rangers and the entrepreneur lets us cross for free.
This is the view when you get to the other side, safe and sound!
We have Mbuti Pygmie communities living near Mutsora in a place called Mwenda. We passed by to see them the other day. They are also known as the Forest People because they traditionally live in the forest and live from the forest. They are truly amazing people. They are known not only because of how they live but also because they are small in stature.
The Pygmies do not destroy the forest. They live there but only eat and hunt what they need. That is how it should be for all of us but unfortunately the pressures of humans change all of this.
The Pygmies tell us when they have seen people poaching in the park. They are our friends. The other day they showed us a chimpanzee nest. There are chimpanzees here that we would like to start habituating, so I hope to blog about this in the future.
If you want to know more about the Mbuti Pygmies you should read Somba and Rosie’s blog. They work with them on a daily basis and the okapi.
I have just returned from my patrol in Ishango and Tshiaberimu after the attacks on the gorilla sector by the Mai Mai. The situation is much calmer now, and I have a full update for you coming. Four people have actually been arrested. I am very tired and we need to now plan for other patrols as my work is never done. I have just visited the WildlifeDirect office which is right next to where I live and Samantha gave me the envelope full of letters and pictures from everyone at Stratton Elementary. I am so pleased I cannot tell you! Your support is amazing and I feel very very lucky. I am going to read each and every letter later on, with Samantha or Elie, so they can explain words I do not understand. Here I am looking at the pictures and letters.
And here are some of my favorite pictures from you all. I also like reading about the Pickles for Primates.
This is just a short account from my brother who has been deployed in Tshiaberimu for the last 10 days, doing the reconnaissance work after the Mai Mai rebels attacked our patrol posts last week. He and his 15 rangers were rushed to the mountain immediately after we heard of the rebel attack, and he had an incredibly difficult job doing all the early reconnaissance work. He is the leader of troop 1, and we’ve now joined him on the mountain for a big defensive operation to protect the gorillas from the Mai Mai rebels. My brother has been on operations in Tshiaberimu for over a week and it has been difficult, and often very frustrating. I couldn’t update the blog because I have also been on operations protecting Ishango, which we felt was also quite vulnerable to attack by the Mai Mai. Ephrem, the WildlifeDirect country director was at Burusi yesterday, so I gave him my photos and have given him my notes on our efforts so far. Troop 1 travelling through Virunga’s northern Savannas towards Tshiaberimu On the day of the attack, my brother rushed to Burusi, where the attack took place. He was immediately drawn into the efforts to resolve the conflict with the Mai Mai rebels. Director Mushenzi, our commander, and various military and UN Peacekeepers arrived on the scene. To his big surprise, Commander Jackson, the leader of the Mai Mai in the area turned up. For all the terrible things his men did to us and to the park, he simply walked in and started negotiations as if nothing had happened. Director Mushenzi with UN and Congolese military officers in discussion with the Mai Mai Commander, Jackson There were long discussions. Jackson swore that he was not responsible, but other than that, it was unclear what could be achieved. There were many soldiers, both from the Congolese national army and from the UN Peacekeepers, but within minutes of the talks ending, everyone pulled away and my brother and his park rangers were left on their own to patrol the mountain. For ten days, the 15 of them scoured the mountain to search for signs of the rebels and to try to find out the status on the gorillas. There were now indications of the rebels being in the forest, and thankfully, they were able to account for all of the gorillas. A welcome sight in the forests of Mount Tshiaberimu. Thankfully all the gorillas were accounted for. We are now all together, all 49 rangers of the advance force, working to protect the gorillas. It’s hard work patrolling the mountain, but we’re a very strong force, and feel like we are doing the job that we were trained to do. We’ll probably be here for several weeks, but will try to send you other updates.
It seems that after the attack on the 19th May at Tshiabirimu, the situation has been unable to stabilise. Following an increase of threats to the guards working in the area, the entire Advance Force has now been sent to Tshiabirimu to secure the sector. For a full report of the attack, go to Elie’s blog. I will try to keep you updated as the situation progresses.
Dear Stratton Elementary, I am still in Ishango protecting the hippos and the elephants. It is a very beautiful place as you can see by the photographs. Kwa Heri, Joseph
Looking out over the river…
Spotting the elephants…
And getting up closer. |
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