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.
Hello Stratton Elementary - I just wanted to let you know I am in Ishango at the moment protecting the hippos. I will send photos soon. Joseph
There are plans to extend the military camp that is already illegally located within Virunga National Park. This is not good news for the park as the camp is going to house about 4,000 men, plus their families. You can read more about this over on both Elie and Rob’s blogs. On a lighter note, Congo Rangers are now on the Discovery Channel UK! The program is called Dangerous Jobs and you can find out more about what our job entails over on their website.
This last week I’ve received messages from the students of Stratton Elementary who are sponsoring my work here. Their support has been tremendous and never ending, and I have heard from their teacher Libby that towards the end of last week they had been selling giant dill “Pickles for Primates” for 50 cents a piece to raise enough for my sponsorship. I am not a preacher nor a business man, and so it is difficult for me to find the words that express what I want to say. It is not just the physical things that the students at Stratton Elementary have made possible, like my boots and my rations, but they have also given security to me and my family. This makes it easier when I go out on patrol as I am able to concentrate on my work, and I hope that one day that all of the rangers who work for the Advance Force will also have this ongoing support. Stratton Elementary, you have given more than money and for that I am truly thankful. Thank you. I will now try do the best I can to answer all of your comments. dear Aloma Iam happy you are safe. Are you? do you drink soda. sinserly Danny Hello Danny, I hope you are well. We are now safe in our homes in Mutsora as the area is a lot more stable than before. And yes, I do drink soda. I like to take a coke and also I like sprite too. What is your favourite soda? DearAloma, I’m so sorry that an other goille got killd! How is your family doing? When did that happin? I do not know wath we can do whith out you. I mena that. Love, kori Hello Kori, and thank you for your message. Yes, we were very sad when the silverbacks were killed, it is a very sad thing to happen. They were killed at the end of last year. I am pleased to say that all in my family are in good health. How are you and your family? Dear Aloma, I’m glad that you are helping the gorillas in the Congo. How are you doing? I like you!! Sincerely, Hannah Dear Hannah, I’m doing very well. Thank you for all that you are doing to help our work here. Dear Aloma, Are classes hearts are with you and family .we are listining to africin music ..we will keep giving money to you gys so we can help you gys thrue the summer . Are hearts are also with the gorillas .we love you to the bottem of my heart .we are learning about meal worms and catapeelers they are relly cool . sincerely , brittany Thank you so much Brittany for such a kind message. It is good to know that I have such a good team behind me, so that me and my rangers can keep protecting the mountain gorillas and all the other animals here in Virunga National Park. I like caterpillars too, what is your favourite animal? Dear Aloma, I have my heart with you and the gorillas and i’ll never forget about you and the gorillas. While I was writing this I was auctually listening to music from the cong it was buetiful music. we hope we have payed all your bills from this year and through 3000 so we will always have your back and our hearts will always be with you. when I go home I am going to make cookies, cakes, and muffins to sell for money to give to you and the Gorillas. I hope at the end of the year and the next year at least 100 revels are stoped and there are 1000 Gorillas in the congo and you are safe and unharmed. Love, clare Dear Clare, I’m so glad that you like Congolese music.We love listening to it too and it is also very good to dance to. Thank you so much for all that you are doing for our work here in Congo, you have become an enormous part of all that we do here. I am sure that the cookies and cakes and muffins that you bake are delicious, and I would one day love to try one of them. I too hope that the rebels will leave the park and so then all the animals can return and the gorillas will be safe. Thank you once again. Dear Aloma I think you are good at your job and you are very brave! We are listening to Africa music. Is it scary in the congo because the rebels sincerely ISAIAH Hello Isaiah. We are not so afraid of the rebels, but we also do not like having them here in Congo as they can make life very complicated. Dear Aloma, How are you?I am worried about you!We are listening to African music.We are almost out of school. Your fighter, Anna Thank you Anna, but there is no need to be worried. We do lots of training to make sure that we know well our jobs. Do you know what kind of African music you are listening to? DearAloma, Thank you for what you do.Stratton is always with you! Your friend, Brendan Thank you Brendan, it is good to know that I am getting such good support from all of you at Stratton Elementary. dear aloma I)m sorry that a garilla died in the congo. sincerely miguel p.s. my inglish name is mike. Hello Miguel, do you prefer to be called Miguel or Mike? I am called both Joseph and Aloma, Joseph is my Christian name. Dear Aloma, I hope you and your family are safe. You are a great person. We are listening to African music in our class. I am also a Gorilla expert so you can write to me. your friend,Andrea Thank you Andrea, you too are very kind for all the work that you are doing. It is also good to hear that you are a gorilla expert, did you know that every gorilla has a unique nose pattern, like we humans all have different types of fingerprints? Dear aloma, Hope you are safe.what tipes of insects do you have in the congo.you are doing good in the congo love justin Hello Justin. We have many different types of insects here in Congo, lots of grasshoppers, caterpillars and termites, which tend to be eaten by many of the peoples living here. Thank you for your message, you too are doing good in Congo. Dear Aloma, I hope your doing OK. I think you are doing lots of effort at job. You are the best. I hope the gorillas that died there will be another born that will not die. Sincerely, Marian. Thank you Marian, I too hope that the gorilla population will have a chance to grow well over these next few years. I do believe with all the support that Virunga is receiving that this is becoming more of a possibility. Dear Aloma, how are you doing? Anyway wat kind of gun do you have? Sincerely, Brian8 p.s. do yu have a xp soliver p.p.s wer do you wrk Hello Brian, I am well thank you. How are you? When I’m out on patrol I use a machine gun. What is an xp soliver? I work in Virunga National Park, DR Congo. Dear Aloma, You are the greatest man in Congo I know!I am glad you help the gorllias they need a lot of help and you and the other rangers can do that WELL!Me and my class love listening to Africa music it is so cooler than my music here. my school and my family are right behind you. Your FERIND, dominique Thank you so much Dominique, Stratton Elementary is the greatest school I know! The gorillas do need our help, and the great thing about this blog is that now together we can give them that help. What other types of music do you like listening to apart from African music? It is great to know that your support will always be there. To everyone at Stratton Elementary, I want to say that I am very happy to receive the messages that you have sent me. Strong courage for all the work that you are doing to help us. I am always with you and I sincerely thank you for all that you are doing. Stratton Elementary, you are the best. Joseph Aloma
I want to share some photos with you all. Paul from World Picture News, who was with us the other week, took the following pictures while we were out on patrol, as well as some photos of the Kabirizi family of Mountain Gorillas. Here is a small selection:
A follow-up to the post from a couple of weeks ago about the habituated monkey found in Mutwanga.
After sending our Conservateur Communicateur to talk to the Mama who has habituated the monkey, I’m pleased to say that she does have all the relevant permission and papers to look after the monkey.
He’s a very friendly monkey and in good health too. You can see him on the shoulder of one of our men who went to talk to the Mama who looks after it.
A sad day for Mayale and his family. He lost his very young son. Words cannot express the loss felt.
Last day of the patrol here at Djuma.
Before heading into the forest we took coordinates using GPS, and we again take coordinates whenever we come across illegal activity such as logging…
…and poachers traps.
All the information that we take from these patrols is recorded so that we know what areas are high in illegal activity and can patrol them more regularly.
Later on in the patrol we spotted some large nests up in the trees.
Which are made by chimpanzees and we spotted a further five in the same area.
Again we took GPS coordinates and then stopped for a rest next to the stream.
Patrolling through the jungle is thirsty work, and below you can see Gripolo using a cup made out of a leaf to drink some water from the river.
The patrol of the last few days has been very successful with all the traps that we were able to take down, as well as coming across the okapi traces which was very exciting for all of us here. We were also very pleased to have Paul from World Picture News with us and look forward to seeing the photographs that he took. For now, here is one that Cyprien took of himself, with Kikanda on the left and Moses in the background on the right.
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