Representatives of the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo have rescued a baby gorilla from poachers in an undercover operation. The team of five Virunga representatives, all Rangers in the National Park, posed as potential buyers of the baby gorilla, of which they heard of being for sale via a tip coming from the Lubero territory and the town of Kayna in eastern DR Congo. The poachers, who kept the infant in a small backpack, asked for USD40,000 for the baby. The three poachers were arrested once the undercover rangers had possession of the gorilla.
The baby gorilla, an Eastern Lowland Gorilla, got named Shamavu after the leader of the undercover operation, Ranger Christian Shamavu. The baby is now under the care of experienced gorilla handlers at the Virunga National Park.
Showing posts with label Virunga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virunga. Show all posts
07 December 2010
African Wildlife Foundation: Mountain Gorilla census reveals increase in population
The current census was made in March and April 2010 and indicates that there were a total of 480 mountain gorillas, in 36 groups along with 14 solitary silverback males in the Virunga Massif, which includes three contiguous national parks: Parc National des Virunga in the DR Congo, Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The only other location where mountain gorillas exist is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. Along with the 302 mountain gorillas censused in Bwindi in 2006 and four orphaned mountain gorillas in a sanctuary in DRC, this brings the total world population to 786 individuals.
Rwandan Mountain Gorillas from Richard Sprenger on Vimeo.
The last census undertaken in the Virunga Massif was in 2003, when the population was estimated at 380 individuals. The current figure represents a 26.3 % increase in the population of mountain gorillas in this area over the last seven years, which is a 3.7 % annual growth rate. This increase in the population occurred despite the killing of no less than nine mountain gorillas, in four separate incidents, during this time period.
Of the 480 mountain gorillas censused, 352 (73%) were habituated (349 in groups and three solitary males) and 128 were unhabituated (117 in groups and 11 solitary males). Please visit the website of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) for more info.
Rwandan Mountain Gorillas from Richard Sprenger on Vimeo.
The last census undertaken in the Virunga Massif was in 2003, when the population was estimated at 380 individuals. The current figure represents a 26.3 % increase in the population of mountain gorillas in this area over the last seven years, which is a 3.7 % annual growth rate. This increase in the population occurred despite the killing of no less than nine mountain gorillas, in four separate incidents, during this time period.
Of the 480 mountain gorillas censused, 352 (73%) were habituated (349 in groups and three solitary males) and 128 were unhabituated (117 in groups and 11 solitary males). Please visit the website of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) for more info.
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