Four Mountain Gorillas killed in the DRC
12/11/2006 00:00:00
July 2007. Four highly endangered mountain gorillas, a silverback and three females have been shot and killed in the Mikeno sector of Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It is not yet clear who is behind this killing. At least two other gorillas are still missing, and one small infant, whose mother was killed, has been taken into care by the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project vets, who are already looking after another baby gorilla that was orphaned in June.
The four gorillas killed were part of the Rugendo Group, one of the gorilla groups habituated for visits by tourists in DR Congo. Below are the names of the gorilla members that are confirmed killed:
• Rugendo: the alpha male (silverback) of the group
• Safari: adult female, mother of a baby born in February
• Neeza: adult female
• Mburanumwe: pregnant female about to have her first baby
Two others - a mother and her four month old baby - are still missing. This leaves only 6 of the original 12 members of Rugendo Group accounted for.
Bodies of the four gorillas were carried to Rumangabo Park headquarters for burial after a post-mortem. The post-mortem report is being compiled, but preliminary results confirm that all the four gorillas were killed by bullets.
Authorities do not know why the gorillas were killed. It appears that no body parts were taken. The killings seem to have been done execution style.
• Rugendo: the alpha male (silverback) of the group
• Safari: adult female, mother of a baby born in February
• Neeza: adult female
• Mburanumwe: pregnant female about to have her first baby
Two others - a mother and her four month old baby - are still missing. This leaves only 6 of the original 12 members of Rugendo Group accounted for.
Bodies of the four gorillas were carried to Rumangabo Park headquarters for burial after a post-mortem. The post-mortem report is being compiled, but preliminary results confirm that all the four gorillas were killed by bullets.
Authorities do not know why the gorillas were killed. It appears that no body parts were taken. The killings seem to have been done execution style.
The International Gorilla Conservation Program
The International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) is presently engaged in emergency talks with wildlife authorities and conservation groups in Goma to coordinate and support conservation efforts.
Efforts are already underway to intensify patrols within the park, to solicit support of the national army to provide security to the Congo Rangers, and to seek political support from the Provincial Governor. These security initiatives will focus on all the habituated gorilla groups in the Mikeno Sector.
The International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) is a coalition of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Fauna and Flora International and World Wide Fund for Nature.
These killings are a devastating blow to the entire population of mountain gorillas, which is estimated to be less than 720 individuals. The deaths of these four gorillas, along with the two gorillas killed in January by rebel insurgents, and one female killed last month, brings the death toll to seven gorillas this year. Theses losses are cause for deep concern.
African Wildlife Foundation
The International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) is presently engaged in emergency talks with wildlife authorities and conservation groups in Goma to coordinate and support conservation efforts.
Efforts are already underway to intensify patrols within the park, to solicit support of the national army to provide security to the Congo Rangers, and to seek political support from the Provincial Governor. These security initiatives will focus on all the habituated gorilla groups in the Mikeno Sector.
The International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) is a coalition of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Fauna and Flora International and World Wide Fund for Nature.
These killings are a devastating blow to the entire population of mountain gorillas, which is estimated to be less than 720 individuals. The deaths of these four gorillas, along with the two gorillas killed in January by rebel insurgents, and one female killed last month, brings the death toll to seven gorillas this year. Theses losses are cause for deep concern.
African Wildlife Foundation
