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Journal of Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe

Disappearance ofMishebere

Protection Strate-gies for CrossRiver Gorillas

The Jane GoodallInstitute andMINEF in theMengamé Reserve

GorillaJournal

No. 27, December 2003

The SarambweGorilla SpecialReserve

BERGGORILLA & REGENWALD DIREKTHILFE

2 Gorilla Journal 27, December 2003

CONTENTSDemocratic Republic of Congo 3The Disappearance of Mishebere 3A Kahuzi-Biega Ranger Killed 3News from the Lwiro Orphanage 4Final Report on the Plunder ofResources 4An Institute for CommunityConservation Education 4AFECOGO and UGADEC 6The Walikale Community GorillaReserve 7The Gorilla in the Nyanga Tradition 7Gorilla Tourism in Jomba 8Hippo Population Devastated 9Only 22 White Rhinos in Congo 9Sarambwe Gorilla Special Reserve 10Equipment for Sarambwe Trackers 10Gorilla Orphan Confiscated 11Gorilla Tourism in Bwindi 11Gorillas 12Protection of Cross River Gorillas 12The Jane Goodall Institute andMINEF in the Mengamé Reserve 13Bushmeat Update 15World Parks Congress in Durban 16Reading 17News from the Internet 18Berggorilla & RegenwaldDirekthilfe 19Activities 19

Dr. Angela Meder observed thebehaviour and development of captivelowland gorillas for 10 years. Todayshe works as a book editor. Since1992 she has been part of the Board ofDirectors of Berggorilla & RegenwaldDirekthilfe.

Prof. John F. Oates is a memberof the Conservation Committee of theIPS (International Primatological So-ciety) and of the Steering Committeeof the IUCN Primate Specialist Group.He has been studying the ecology oftropical forest primates since 1964.

Carlos Schuler first worked as atypesetter, then became a windsurfingand skiing teacher. In 1983, duringone of his intercontinental travels, hevisited Bukavu. Two years later he re-turned and since 1994 he has beenworking for the GTZ there.

Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo didconduct a gorilla survey in the MaikoNational Park from 1989 to 1992.From 1995 he worked for the ICCN(Institut Congolais pour la Conserva-tion de la Nature) in Goma; now heworks for the IUCN program PPP(Peace Parks Project) in Goma.

Jacqueline Sunderland-Grovesbegan working with primates in 1991with Pandrillus in Nigeria and in 1995at the Limbe Wildlife Centre. In 1997she started a gorilla survey in theTakamanda Forest Reserve, since2000 she has been studying CrossRiver gorillas in other areas.

Yvonne Verkaik came to Ugandain 2001. She first worked for the Nga-mba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuaryand soon started to work for the RhinoFund Uganda. Since March 2003 shehas been our assistant in Uganda.

Iris Weiche started her work withprimates, in the wild and in zoos, in1990. At the moment she works onfemale gorillas in zoos. Since 1994she has been active for the Berggorilla& Regenwald Direkthilfe, and from1997 to 2002 she was a member ofthe Board of Directors.

Authors of this IssueChristina Ellis joined the Jane

Goodall Institute in 2000 to spearheada program designed to reduce thebushmeat trade by addressing sus-tainable community livelihoods. Shenow serves as a Vice President, Di-rector of Africa Field Programs for JGI.

Bernard Iyomi Iyatshi has workedfor nature conservation in the Demo-cratic Republic of Congo for 22 years,in national parks such as Salonga,Maiko and Kahuzi-Biega. In August2002, he became Principal Conserva-tor of Kahuzi-Biega.

Dr. Annie Kahindo Muyisa isPresident of AFECOGO and Coordi-nator of Ecosystem Health and Devel-opment for DFGF-I in eastern Demo-cratic Republic of Congo.

Pierre Kakule Vwirasihikya hasbeen working in the Virunga NationalPark since 1982 and became a SeniorWarden in 1988. Currently, he is theTayna Gorilla Reserve Coordinatorand the UGADEC Executive Secre-tary (since 2002).

Jean Claude Kyungu led anecologic NGO between 1994 and1999. Since 1997, he has been theNorth Kivu consultant on biodiversity.He headed the Tayna Gorilla Reserve.He is a field assistant for research inthe North Kivu University Centre.Organization Address:

Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfec/o Rolf BrunnerLerchenstr. 545473 Muelheim, GermanyFax +49-208-7671605E-mail [email protected]:http://www.berggorilla.orgThe latest Gorilla Journal is availablein PDF format at "Gorilla Journal"Bank Account:Account number 353 344 315Stadtsparkasse Muelheim, GermanyBank code number 362 500 00IBAN DE06 3625 0000 0353 3443 15SWIFT-BIC SPMHDE3E

Gorilla Journal 27, Dec. 2003Editor: Angela MederAugustenstr. 122, 70197 Stuttgart,GermanyFax +49-711-6159919E-mail [email protected] and Proofreading: AnnDeVoy, Bettina and Andrew GrieserJohns, Colin GrovesDesign: Edwin Artho, Angela MederCover: Claude Sikubwabo with anErythrina tree at the border of theSarambwe ReservePhoto: Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo

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The Disappearance ofMishebereSeveral times, the people responsiblefor the management of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park have establishedcontact with the warring factions inorder to safeguard the lives of thosegorillas ranging across troop posi-tions. We have been able to follow fourout of five gorilla families, who spendmost of their time in the vicinity ofTshivanga ranger post, on a regularbasis. No individuals are missing fromthese four families.

The fifth family, the Mishebere fam-ily, used to be the largest one. It con-sisted of 39 individuals, including oneadult male, Mishebere, 16 adult fe-males, one young male, 6 subadults,6 juveniles and 9 infants. Its homerange was situated between theMbayo plantation and the Mugaba pa-

bamboo shoot season, the familymoved towards Mbayo. Subsequentlywe were unable to survey this sectorbecause of security concerns. Welost contact with the family in the be-ginning of January 2003. As soon asthe warring factions left the park onMay 3rd, 2003, we intensified patrols inorder to relocate the group.

On August 12th, 2003, at 10.50 am,we finally found Mishebere’s bonesunder a tree on Kakungu Hill, which iscovered with secondary forest. Somehairs and teeth allowed identification.No flesh was left on the bones, whichhad attracted red ants and rodents.Our observations permitted the follow-ing conclusions:– The murderers were not profes-

sional poachers, because they didnot recover their loot, the corpse ofthe killed gorilla.

– The gorilla was shot not far from theKabona route. The bullet did notdamage any vital parts of the goril-la’s body.

trol post, and was about 20 km long.In October 2002, the family gatheredas usual at the foot of Mt. Kahuzi inthe bamboo forest to forage for youngbamboo shoots. At the end of the

A Kahuzi-Biega Ranger Killed by the Army inKasirusiruWe deeply regret to report the brutal death of the Kahuzi-Biega NationalPark Ranger Kasigwa Kaboyi, 31 years old. He was killed on 31 Octo-ber 2003 at about 8 p.m. in the Kasirusiru Sector.

On that evening, we were informed that a group of armed Interahamweand ex-FAR (Forces Armées Rwandaises) had been observed in thepark; they were preparing an attack on nearby villages.

The commander of the troops based at Kasirusiru, not far from theranger post, decided to carry out an action against these criminalswithout delay. As the soldiers were not sufficiently familiar with thepark's forests, he decided to form a mixed patrol composed of 22 sol-diers and 2 rangers. During the patrol, the soldiers were in front with aranger who guided them, while the other ranger stayed at the back.Unfortunately, when the second ranger approached the ambush, one ofthe soldiers fired on him without any warning. This was a criminal act.

We are very saddened by this incident. In a patrol there is always amarching formation and nobody shoots unless he receives an order fromhis superiors. We trust in justice and think that the one who committedthis crime should be punished according to the law.

The funeral of our ranger took place on the afternoon of 1 November inKasirusiru. May his soul rest in peace.

Bernard Iyomi Iyatshi and Carlos Schuler

Mishebere and his skullPhotos: Carlos Schuler

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– We estimate that the crime tookplace in February 2003.

It will take more time and work to findout more about the other family mem-bers. An increase in numbers of indi-viduals or nests among the other fami-

Final Report on thePlunder of ResourcesOn 28 October 2003, the Panel ofExperts handed over the final report onthe exploitation of natural resources ofthe Democratic Republic of Congo tothe UN Security Council. Parts of thereport are available only to the Secu-rity Council. Many NGOs and pressreports have criticized this, pointingout that it could prevent effective ac-tion against the companies and war-ring parties that have been plunderingCongo’s resources.

In the meantime it has becomeclear that the report contains worryinginformation that preparations areunderway for a new war in Congo. Itseems that some of the warring fac-tions are not willing to accept restric-tions on their illegal activities and aretrying to undermine the peace proc-ess. The illegal exploitation of Con-go’s resources still continues. Thisconclusion of the Panel of Expertshas not been made public by the UN,however – for diplomatic reasons.

An Institute for Com-munity ConservationEducationThe establishment of the umbrella or-ganisation UGADEC (Union des As-sociations de Conservation des Goril-

lies has already been observed. More-over, not far from where the boneswere found, we discovered a nestingsite, which is approximately 2 monthsold. We have to continue our surveysin order to get a better idea of howmany animals died and how manysurvived.

Once more we have to pay homageto the park rangers and our guideswho have worked under unimaginableconditions throughout the war years.Day by day they braved all dangers inorder to safeguard the survival of thegorillas. After several months of occu-pation of Mishebere’s habitat, they didnot hesitate to mount patrols yetagain, sleeping in the forest, to try andfind Mishebere. Alas, labour lost! Justimagine their disappointment!

In spite of everything, we continueto fight for the protection of the goril-las.

Bernard Iyomi Iyatshi andCarlos Schuler

News from the Lwiro OrphanageSince the commencement of large-scale animal confiscations in theBukavu area, a place has been urgently needed to care for them. Althoughthe facilities are not ideal, an orphanage has been set up at the Lwiroresearch station.

According to the ICCN/GTZ (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation dela Nature/Deutsche Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit – Ger-man Society for Technical Co-operation) project at Kahuzi-Biega, theorphanage housed in October 2003 34 animals: 12 chimpanzees, 1 bono-bo, as well as Cercopithecus mitis, C. ascanius, C. pogonias, Lopho-cebus albigena, Chlorocebus aethiops, baboons, 2 snakes and 3 birds.Many animals have already died there: 2 gorillas, 3 chimpanzees, 4 mon-keys, 1 snake and 1 falcon. The orphanage is presently supported mainlyby the GTZ project, and in 2003 it received financial support from IPPL(International Primate Protection League) and the Born Free Foundation;the Jane Goodall Institute and PASA (Pan African Sanctuary Alliance)provided technical and administrative support and share their experiencein medical treatment and feeding.

The present problems are that there is not enough space in the buildingat Lwiro; the budget is still too small for equipment, medical treatment,hygiene and adequate motivation of the staff, and that the staff do not haveenough experience.

Minister Anselme Enerunga andEulalie Bashige, ICCN, visited theKahuzi-Biega National Park on23 December 2003.

Photo: Carlos Schuler

A gorilla in the Tayna GorillaReserve

Photo: Pierre Kakule Vwirasihikya

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les pour le Développement Com-munautaire à l’Est de la RépubliqueDémocratique du Congo – Union ofAssociations for the Conservation ofGorillas and Community Developmentof the Eastern Democratic Republic ofCongo) was a response by prospec-tive members who wanted to joinforces in order to conserve the faunaand flora of eastern Congo andconsolidate conservation activitiesthrough sustainable development.

The Tayna Centre for ConservationBiology, TCCB, a private technicaltraining institute, is in the process ofbeing established in order to improveand reconcile conservation and devel-opment activities in the UGADECzone of intervention. It was initiated bythe Chief Conservator, Pierre KakuleVwirasihikya, who is also the coordi-nator of the Tayna Gorilla ReserveProject (RGT) and the executive sec-retary of UGADEC.

The idea to establish such an insti-tute arose from the need for techni-cians with the capacity to initiate andadminister various participatory com-munity conservation projects in theregion. In the past, the RGT had totrain its students at the Higher Educa-tion Institute of Ecology and Conser-vation (ISEC) Kirumba. Because ofcurricular differences between theISEC and the TCCB, the RGT will pullthe current 18 students out of ISEC/Kirumba. Instead, it will offer themthe chance to join 64 other studentswho are children of landowners andUGADEC members (RGT, RéCoPri-Ba, ILSN, ACPN-IM, COCREFOBA,RGU, RGPU, REGOUWA) and ofother community members involved inthe conservation of ecosystems. Thisprofessional and scientific trainingcourse will support participatory com-munity conservation by re-inforcingprotection and action capacities andimproving the management of naturalresources.

In addition, the foundation of theinstitute will open up the possibility forresearch in these reserves, which willhave a positive impact on the pop-ulations living close to the reserves.Finally, it will also open up possibili-ties for sustainable socio-economicdevelopment in the areas of the asso-ciation members. As outlined above,the particularity of this technical train-ing institute is its objective of re-en-forcing the local stakeholders’ capaci-

ties in the area of participatory com-munity conservation, of which theproject is the first example in theDemocratic Republic of Congo.

Thanks to a construction fund andstudent scholarships received fromUSAID (United States Agency for In-ternational Development) gorilla direc-tives through the DFGF-I (Dian FosseyGorilla Fund International), the TCCBwill open its doors in January 2004. Itwill offer three study courses:– research and conservation biology,– conservation and management of

protected areas,– education, communication and in-

formation.At the end of this scientific course, theTCCB will be able to send researchersto the field as well as community pro-tected area managers and outreachstaff to work in environmental educa-tion. The institute is open to the ICCNand other institutions who agree withthe TCCB program. It is ironic that thisambitious project is about to unfold inspite of the financial difficulties withinUGADEC itself, which have limited itsactivities. Therefore UGADEC contin-ues to appeal to well-wishing peopleand organisations to help in the pro-tection of rare species, to help createan ecologically balanced environmentand to support sustainable develop-ment in protected area border zones –

Rangers and trackers during ananti-poaching patrol in theItombwe forest (ACPN Reserve)with a dead gorilla infant

The Shingisha mountain in theILSN Reserve

Yvonne Verkaik hands overcommunication equipment toPierre Kakule Vwirasihikya

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i.e. to assist this young institution toachieve its goals. UGADEC is verygrateful to DFGF-I and USAID for theirsupport for community-based conser-vation in the Democratic Republic ofCongo. We reiterate our thanks toConservation International for havingagreed to add their full support to theTCCB. We also acknowledge Berg-gorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe for itscontribution to the implementation ofthis project.

Pierre Kakule Vwirasihikya

AFECOGO and UGADECJoin ForcesThere is no doubt that there isstrength in numbers, among conser-vationists as among anyone else.UGADEC (Union des Associations deConservation des Gorilles pour le Dé-veloppement Communautaire à l’Estde la République Démocratique duCongo – Union of Associations for theConservation of Gorillas and Commu-nity Development of the EasternDemocratic Republic of Congo) can-not achieve its goals in isolation,whether they relate to protected areasor people.

It is widely acknowledged that toeducate a woman is to educate a na-tion. Women play a central role in

African society. They are the maineducators, both in urban and rural en-vironments. They have a strong influ-ence on their husbands and children.

Currently, African women activelyparticipate in the destruction of theenvironment while going about theirdaily activities. In the field of bio-diversity conservation, we need onlymention the use of firewood for cook-ing, the establishment of fields insideprotected areas, and the use of bush-meat for consumption and trade.

As a response, the AFECOGO(Association des Femmes pour laConservation des Gorilles – Women’sAssociation for the Conservation ofGorillas) was set up in order to sup-port UGADEC. It was created bywomen who work in various UGADECreserves in order to promote the edu-cation of women and their publicawareness activities for nature con-servation in general and the conserva-tion of gorillas in particular. The idea is

that these women will act as "multipli-ers" by carrying the message intotheir homes and influencing their hus-bands and children.

AFECOGO has the following goals:– to fight against the dangers threat-

ening the gorilla and its habitat,– to inform the public about the sta-

tus of the gorilla population,– to sensitise and educate children to

the necessity of conservation,– to raise the awareness of women in

rural and urban environments.In the future, AFECOGO will discour-age women from selling bushmeat bymaking them aware of the need forconservation and by introducing themto other income generating activities.AFECOGO will also introduce thosepeople who destroy habitats of flag-ship species to reafforestation meth-ods, enabling them to produce fire-wood for use and trade. In order toachieve these goals, AFECOGO inter-views rural people to determine thelocal situation and people’s opinions.

Since its establishment, AFECO-GO has already– conducted surveys on the extent of

the bushmeat trade,– conducted surveys on the extent of

the destruction of gorilla habitat,– conducted media campaigns over

the local radio,– identified the owners of captive pri-

mates and bushmeat sellers,– participated in International Wom-

en’s Day by showing a documen-tary about Dian Fossey, organizinga cultural meeting, and by joiningefforts with other organisations.

The organisation’s resources comemainly from membership fees, dona-tions, legacies and other contributionsfrom people inside the country andfrom abroad.

AFECOGO owes thanks to allUGADEC protected areas where theorganisation has members, in particu-lar to the people responsible for theTayna Gorilla Reserve, who helped

AFECOGO members checkwhether meat on the market isfrom endangered species

A black crested mangabey heldillegally by local people

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AFECOGO to conduct activitiesthere. AFECOGO is deeply grateful tothe DFGF-I, particularly to ClareRichardson and Alecia Lilly, for theirmoral and financial support. Lastly,AFECOGO would like to invite otherpeople and organisations to supportthe efforts of the organisation in pro-moting conservation.

Annie Kahindo Muyisa and PierreKakule Vwirasihikya

The Walikale CommunityGorilla ReserveThe North Kivu region in general, andthe territory of Walikale in particular,still have plenty of dense virgin forest,whose biodiversity is unexplored.These forests are home to numerousrare species such as gorillas, okapis,

and Congo peacocks, and impressivehydrological and floristic ecosystems.

Apart from preliminary surveys con-ducted by WCS (Wildlife Conserva-tion Society), no detailed scientificstudy has yet been undertaken in theWalikale forest or been published.Malassi, a member of the WalikaleCommunity Gorilla Reserve (RCGW –Réserve Communautaire à Gorilles deWalikale), collected some qualitativedata in 2000, and during a survey heconducted for DFGF-E (Dian FosseyGorilla Fund Europe) and RCGW in2002. These surveys have shown thatthe human population of Walikale isbecoming aware of the necessity toprotect the forest. Although non-pro-tected forest is exploited by miners,this has not contributed to sustainabledevelopment of their areas.

Therefore, the territorial chiefs ofWalikale joined forces in 2001 andexpressed their concern for the con-servation of the biodiversity of theirforest in general, and the gorillas inparticular. Hoping to contribute to thedevelopment of environmental aware-ness, they created the Mount NgaaReserve.

Since November 2001, the DFGF-Ehas been conducting a feasibilitystudy on a new project called RCGW(including the Mount Ngaa Reserve).After the project was approved, itstarted to receive funds through theDFGF-E in March 2003.

The RCGW is situated on the west-ern slope of Mount Mitumba, at analtitude of 1,000 to 2,500 m. In thenorth, it is bordered by the riversBilate, Misoke and Tatako, in the eastby the Hunde River, in the west by theRuringa River, and in the south by therivers Osso and Rumpobya. The cli-mate is equatorial with temperaturesbetween 28 and 30 °C. The sub-soil isrich in minerals, such as gold, coltanand cassiterite. The soil itself is of thered variety and very fertile. The forestis mostly equatorial, consisting of

dense stands of umbrageous trees,but various types of transition forestalso occur.

The RCGW is a Congolese NGO,which currently seeks recognition atthe national level. The structure of theRCGW consists of a general assem-bly representing the members, an ad-ministrative council and a committeefor the co-ordination of activities.

Basically, the population in theWalikale area consists of middle-agedand young people, with only a fewelderly people. The population is agro-pastoral, due to the favourable cli-matic conditions. The main crops arecassava, rice and oil palm. Virtuallyno income is generated from agricul-ture, because of the effects of the lasttwo wars. Poverty is extreme. Theusual infrastructure, such as school-ing and sanitary facilities, has eitherdisappeared already or is in the proc-ess of disappearing. The DFGF-E isplanning a long-term conservation pro-gramme for the gorillas and the forest,with the active participation of the lo-cal communities.

Jean Claude Kyungu

The Gorilla in theNyanga TraditionThe RCGW conducts its activities inan environment dominated by theNyanga people. In this tribe’s history,the gorilla has been known as a veryaggressive, wicked, intimidating ani-mal – mainly because of its ferocious-sounding vocalizations and becauseof the way it attacks humans. Theirword for gorilla is "Muhumba", but theanimal is also called "Shebirari",which means "animal that sweepsaway leaves and bushes from itspath". Another name is "Shempanda",which means "big-toed animal". Inshort, the gorilla was known to theNyanga as a destroyer, a ravager offields.

Rangers and trackers during amonitoring and anti-poachingpatrol in the RéCoPriBa Reserve,Walikale Territory


D. R. CONGO

Relationships between the Goril-las and the Nyanga PeopleOn a cultural level. One group of theNyanga is called "Bahumba", mean-ing people who are descended fromgorillas or people who call themselves"Gorilla". In fact, these people con-sider the gorilla as their god protectingthem from all curses. The Bahumbanever attack gorillas and they do noteat gorilla meat. The gorilla never at-tacks anyone of the Bahumba clan,nor ravages their fields, even if theirfields are next to those of their neigh-bours. Other people use gorilla eye-brows and lips in order to attain super-natural strength and power (talking ina cold-blooded way or in a terrifyingtone).

On a social level. The Nyangabelieve that the gorilla recognizes hu-mans as adversaries, but it still enter-tains relations with them. This isproven by the fact (they are convincedof this) that a gorilla will hardly everattack a pregnant woman. When cer-tain people are travelling through theforest and a gorilla blocks their path,they will therefore let a pregnantwoman go ahead because they be-lieve that the gorilla will get out of theway to let the woman pass.

Moreover, sometimes a gorilla willsave the life of a person. For example,when someone has climbed a treeand does not know how to get down, agorilla will come to help and carry theperson to the ground on its back.

The Nyanga women do not eat go-rilla meat, for fear that, if they do, theymight give birth to a child that willresemble this villainous animal. Onlymen eat gorilla meat, so they have tocook it themselves in the "baraza",the men’s meeting place.

Gorilla hunting is forbidden to aman whose wife is pregnant, as hispresence in the forest would hinderthe killing of the animal. It would be-come very aggressive or manage todisappear completely. When a gorilla

has been slain, the villagers rejoicethat another destroyer of banana plan-tations has been disposed of.

On an economic level. Formerly,the Nyanga used to perceive the go-rilla as an annoying animal, a de-stroyer of fields, a bringer of death, sothey hunted it at every opportunity.They immediately stopped hunting go-rillas, however, after a public aware-ness campaign, when they heard ofthe national law prohibiting their hunt-ing in order to save them from extinc-tion (as well as prohibiting the huntingof elephants, giraffes, zebras, okapis,chimpanzees, etc.).

In short, until recently the Nyangawere not interested in the gorilla inits natural habitat; once it had beenkilled, people would profit somewhatthrough the sale of the meat. TheNyanga knew the gorilla, but they didnot understand its importance.

Jean Claude Kyungu

Gorilla Tourism inJombaOn 13 December 2003, conservationorganisations, tour operators andother groups concerned with gorillatourism met in Bunagana. They dis-cussed how gorilla tourism in the Con-golese part of the Virunga Volcanoescan be re-started. As security is cru-cial, the meeting was also attendedby persons responsible for the secu-rity of the province, as well as the

Before the war, the mountaingorillas of the Virunga NationalPark were an important economicfactor – now, the Congolesegovernment officially started themountain gorilla tourism again.


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police commander and representa-tives of the army in Rutshuru andBunagana. The following week, theminister of the environment and thehead of the ICCN visited the park andtalked to the persons involved.

Thanks to Claude SikubwaboKiyengo for the information

Hippo PopulationDevastatedA census of hippopotamus in VirungaNational Park in March and August2003 found that there had been a 95%decline in population numbers. Thepark had at one time contained theworld’s largest hippo population. Lessthan 30 years ago, some 29,000 hip-pos were living there. In 2003, thesurvey by the ICCN (Institut Congolaispour la Conservation de la Nature),WWF and other conservation organi-sations found that only 1,300 remain.It was found that armed factions were

killing hippos "in shocking numbers"not only for their meat, but for theircanine teeth, due to an increasing in-ternational demand in the illegal ivorytrade.

Hippos play an important role in theecosystem. Their dung provides es-sential basic elements for the foodchain, particularly for fish. The loss ofmore than 27,000 hippos in the pastfew decades has resulted in the re-duction of fish catches and a dramatic

loss of nutrients in the freshwater eco-systems. Lake Edward also supportsover 20,000 people living around thepark who depend on fish for their liveli-hood.

Summary of a press release by theWorld Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

Only 22 White RhinosSurvive the War inCongoWhite rhinos have been hunted almostto extinction by rebel troops in Congo.According to an aerial survey, thereare now only 22 northern white rhinosalive in the Garamba National Park –down from 30 last year.

Northern white rhinos (Ceratothe-rium simum cottoni) used to be foundacross Central Africa, but now theyare being killed by rebel troops fromSudan, Uganda, Rwanda and Congofor their horns. The horns sell for morethan £ 4,500 a pair to Yemeni crafts-men, who use them to make tradi-tional daggers. The proceeds are usedto buy guns, rocket launchers andgrenades for the rebels’ war. Parkrangers are unable to protect theanimals against the heavily armedrebels. One ranger has been killed inan ambush by the poachers and an-other ranger was injured.

The number of white rhinos in theGaramba National Park had been re-duced to just 15 animals by 1985. Asthe result of the protection the rhinoenjoyed, the number had doubled to30 in 1991.

The total number of rhinos, of bothspecies (black and white), in Africa fellfrom 70,000 in 1970 to 10,000 in 1990,but since then it has risen again to14,000. The most populous subspe-cies is the southern white rhino with11,670 individuals surviving.

Summary of a press release bySave the Rhino International

On the way to track the mountain gorillas on the Congolese side of theVirunga Volcanoes (in 1988)

Photo: Angela Meder

Hippos in the Virunga NationalPark before the war

Photo: Angela Meder

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Equipment for Sarambwe TrackersClaude Sikubwabo Kiyengo (left, standing) with theteam of the Sarambwe Gorilla Special Reserve – con-servators, rangers and trackers. In this photo, they areposing in front of the Sarambwe ranger post; theconstruction of this building was funded by the IGCP(International Gorilla Conservation Programme).

In the forefront are the 9 trackers. So far, they do nothave uniform clothing or equipment. Claude Siku-bwabo has therefore asked us to provide the mosturgent material: the gumboots, clothes and equipmentthat they need for their work in the reserve.

We want to improve the working conditions of thetrackers and have promised our support. Pleasehelp us to give them good equipment!

Bank Account in Germany:Berggorilla & Regenwald DirekthilfeStadtsparkasse Muelheim/RuhrBank Code Number 362 500 00Account No. 353 344 315

Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfec/o Rolf BrunnerLerchenstr. 545473 Muelheim, GermanyFax [email protected]

International Bank Codes:IBAN DE06 3625 0000 0353 3443 15SWIFT-BIC SPMHDE3E

Outline and structure of theSarambwe Gorilla Special Reserve

Original map: C. Sikubwabo

The Sarambwe GorillaSpecial ReserveOn June 21st, 2003, the SarambweReserve was granted the status of aSpecial Reserve, which will preventpossible conflicts regarding the re-serve in the future. Its 900 ha areaincludes several mountains and forestpatches; part of the area is a multipleuse zone. It extends from the summitof Mt. Sarambwe in the north to theborder between Congo and Uganda inthe east, from Kikumiliro to the sourceof the river Ivi in the south, and to thesource of the Kanyabusinini in thewest.

The motivation behind the changeof status was the necessity to takeSarambwe out of the remainder of theRutshuru Hunting Domain, of which itwas an integral part, so that the"Réserve Spéciale de Gorilles deSarambwe" (Sarambwe Gorilla Spe-

cial Reserve) could be established.This was necessary in order to protectbiodiversity, including gorillas, and theforested fringe of Bwindi ImpenetrableNational Park in Uganda. Luckily, theprotected area now extends onto the

Congolese side of the mountain andtherefore protects the sources of riversthat bring water to the Virunga Na-tional Park and provide drinking waterfor the inhabitants of Binza. Apart frombiodiversity conservation, the aim of

D. R. CONGO


Gorilla Tourism inBwindiSince the attack on tourists byInterahamwe in March 1999, thenumber of Bwindi gorilla touristshas increased continuously –from 2000 in March 1999 to 6000in September 2003.

At the moment, 3 groups canbe visited: Mubare, Habinyanjaand Rushegura (formerly Habi-nyanja B). After the split of theHabinyanja group, the Rushe-gura group was monitored andthe number of visitors was re-stricted. In September 2003, thenumber of tourists per visit wasincreased to 6, the same asfor the other gorilla groups inBwindi.

the reserve is to support the socio-economic development of the popula-tion.

The ICCN is charged with the imple-mentation of the order, which willcome into effect on the date of signa-ture. After the announcement of thecreation of the special reserve andthree months after the planting ofErythrina trees, the Peace Parks Pro-ject (PPP) initiated the second phaseof boundary demarcation in collabora-tion with the ICCN and other partnersof the Virunga National Park. Thissecond phase included the cutting ofstrips to allow the Erythrina to grow

Plaques for border demarcation of the Sarambwe Gorilla Special Reserve, before they were erectedPhoto: Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo

rapidly, erection of boundary demar-cation plaques, and the planting ofCordia trees.

Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo

Gorilla OrphanConfiscatedAt the beginning of November 2003, aone-year-old gorilla was confiscatedfrom poachers. The ICCN in Gomawas informed by a local NGO that twogorillas babies were being kept ille-gally. They had been brought intoGoma from Walikale, but one of thebabies died on arrival. When thepoachers heard that the ICCN hadbeen informed, they took the remain-ing baby out of Goma. A few dayslater, the Rwandan national park au-thority was informed by the localpopulation about the gorilla and it wasconfiscated. Four poachers, threeCongolese and one Rwandan, werearrested.

The baby was in good health andslightly wounded. After the confisca-tion, it was taken to Ruhengeri whereit is being cared for. It is still not clearwhich subspecies it belongs to; a ge-netic test is underway.

The border of the SarambweReserve

Photo: Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo

The poachers are part of an interna-tional network that organizes thesmuggling of endangered animals.Congolese and Rwandan authoritiesare trying to destroy this network.

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Protection Strategies forCross River GorillasThe first International Conference andWorkshop on the Conservation of theCross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilladiehli) took place in Calabar, Nigeria inApril 2001. This meeting provided theopportunity for government officials,scientists, researchers, managersand representatives of supportingagencies to exchange information andframe recommendations for futureconservation actions focusing on thissubspecies of gorilla, which in 2000was listed by the IUCN Primate Spe-cialist Group as critically endangered.

Over the past two years a variety ofgovernment agencies and NGOs haveundertaken further activities in thehabitat of these gorillas, which arerestricted to a limited area of south-west Cameroon and neighbouringparts of Nigeria. These activities in-clude research on the abundance, dis-tribution and behaviour of the gorillas,conservation education and the devel-opment of management plans. Thelatest research indicates that theremay be up to 280 Cross River gorillasremaining in the wild and, specificallywithin Cameroon, that they are morewidespread than previously believed.Although the discovery of new sub-populations is encouraging, some ofthese sub-populations are quite iso-lated, and therefore pose conservationchallenges. To take account of thesenew findings, and review progresssince the 2001 meeting in Calabar, asecond International Workshop andConference on the Conservation of theCross River Gorillas was held at theLimbe Botanic Garden, Cameroon,from the 20th to the 23rd August, 2003.This forum was funded by the WildlifeConservation Society (WCS) withsupport from the United Nations Envi-ronmental Programme (UNEP)through the Great Ape SurvivalProject (GRASP), and organised by

WCS in collaboration with the Ministryof Environment and Forestry (MINEF),Cameroon. The overall objectives ofthe meeting were to– update our state of knowledge of

the biology, ecology and distribu-tion of the Cross River gorillas;

– investigate the progress of conser-vation management activities;

– review the threats, conservation ac-tions and actors identified duringthe 2001 meeting;

– update conservation actions andrecommendations, taking into con-sideration the recently discoveredsub-populations.

Finally we hoped to obtain the politicalcommitment of the governments of

Cameroon and Nigeria to the conser-vation recommendations arising fromthe meeting.

The meeting was attended by 25individuals representing governmentdepartments and non-governmentalorganisations in Cameroon and Ni-geria, international supporting agen-cies from the UK and the USA, andfield researchers. Both the Minister ofEnvironment and Forestry, Cameroonand the Minister for the Federal Minis-try of Environment, Nigeria found timein their busy schedules to attend themeeting.

The final conservation recommen-dations formulated by the participantsincluded

National parks, reserves and distribution areas of Cross River gorillasMap: Dan Slayback

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1. establishing a trans-boundary pro-tected area for the Takamanda-Okwangwo complex, in particularby upgrading the protection statusof the Takamanda Forest Reserve,

2. strengthening protection and lawenforcement measures for all CrossRiver gorilla populations,

3. developing land-use plans for theTakamanda-Mone-Mbulu area inCameroon, including a network ofprotected areas and corridors and aplan for the conservation of Afi-Mbe-Okwangwo area in Nigeria, includ-ing both a review of the manage-ment status for the Mbe Mountainsand the maintenance of forestedconnections between gorilla habi-tats,

4. maintaining and expanding basicresearch into the ecology, distribu-tion and population biology of thegorillas,

5. strengthening and expanding con-servation education and awarenessprogrammes at all levels,

6. establishing Cross River gorillamanagement committees in Cam-eroon and Nigeria,

7. building the capacity of relevant in-stitutions in Nigeria and Cameroon(including Government depart-ments, universities, NGOs),

8. incorporating local communityneeds into the development of man-agement strategies, including the

study of alternative livelihoods op-tions,

9. reinforcing collaboration amongstall stakeholders,

10delegating a working group to for-mulate more detailed recommenda-tions based on the deliberations ofthe workshop.

The final communiqué listing theseactions was agreed to and signed byboth the Cameroon and Nigerian Min-isters. Now, funding needs to be se-cured to implement this programmeso as to protect these unique apesfrom extirpation.

Jacqueline L. Sunderland-Grovesand John F. Oates

The Jane GoodallInstitute and MINEF inthe Mengamé ReserveIn 2002, the Jane Goodall Institute(JGI) signed a convention with theCameroon Ministry of Environmentand Forests (MINEF) to establisha community centered conservationand wildlife research program in thenewly proclaimed Mengamé Reserve(115,000 ha). Located in a prioritybiodiversity corridor on the border ofCameroon and Gabon, the MengaméReserve plays an important role inemerging transboundary protectedarea initiatives and partnerships suchas the Central African World HeritageForest Initiative and the Congo BasinForest Partnership.

In a baseline data collection phase,over the course of 15 months, JGIconducted a full wildlife and vegetationcensus in the reserve, as well as acomplete socioeconomic survey of 30villages surrounding Mengamé. A keycomponent of the census and our firstpublication is focused on great ape(Pan troglodytes troglodytes, Gorillagorilla gorilla) populations and theirdistribution in the reserve in relation tothe extensive human exploitation ac-

tivities of fishing, hunting and non-timber forest product collection, aswell as extensive cocoa and bananaplantations within the reserve bufferzone.

Sampling census methods usedrandom line transects with variablelengths over the entire reserve andperiphery to total 150,000 ha. A stand-ard standing nest count was con-ducted to assess ape populationdensities. Density figures were thencross-referenced with a GIS systemto assess distribution of ape popula-tions using a 5 x 5 km grid of theMengamé Reserve.

Nine teams composed of a Cam-eroonian student (or recent graduate)leader, 2 village assistants, 1 eco-guard and a Baka guide encounteredmuch wildlife in the forest. One teamhad to sleep high in the trees to avoidthe elephants waiting to ambushthem. Another team was cutting atransect and disturbed a python inambush position. Another team barely

The ministers sign the agreementon the conservation of the CrossRiver gorillas

Crossing a river during the surveyPhoto: Christina Ellis


GORILLAS

avoided disaster by a viper. As weentered the forest with the censusteam to complete the last, 54thtransect, we spotted several greycheeked mangabeys; hornbills circledabove, engines roaring. We followedthe tracks of elephants, forest buffalosand bushbucks. We spotted the nightnests of chimpanzees, gorillas andgiant pangolins.

As one might guess by its name,the "Sanctuaire à Gorilles de Men-gamé", gorilla population numbersare high. Our results confirmed thatMengamé contains significant popula-tions of both gorillas and chimpan-zees. During the census, 93 nestingsites of gorillas (containing 425 nests)and 56 nesting sites (containing 120nests) of chimpanzees were foundalong 142.5 km of transects. The go-rilla nest sites were interesting. Thelast nest cluster on this transect wasfrom the previous night; all the nestswere on fallen logs, high off the forestfloor. We could smell the gorillas allaround us, likely wondering why wewere inspecting their nests and fae-ces, snickering as I tested out themore comfortable looking nests. Nestcounting techniques gave averagedensities of 2.53 weaned individualgorillas/km² and 0.18 weaned chim-panzees/km².

Therefore, estimated populations ofgorillas and chimpanzees at 1,200and 200 respectively raise interestingresearch questions. Do these pop-ulations traverse the river which sepa-rates Cameroon from Gabon? Arethere similar population densities innorthern Gabon? Are these popula-tions distinct from those decimated bythe Ebola outbreak in northern Ga-bon?

The spatial distribution of apepopulations shows a high abundancein the southeast of the reserve, whichis characterized by swamp forests;here, the density of weaned individu-als is higher, with 4.50 weaned indi-

viduals/km² for gorillas and 0.29weaned individual chimpanzees/km².The southeast swamp areas are thegreatest distance from the villagesand are used less frequently by localand immigrant hunters than drier por-tions of the reserve. I understood whythis should be the case as we crossedswamps for days on end during thecensus.

The first footsteps are tentative andcarefully placed. Sinking into elephantfoot prints is almost humorous; ex-tracting legs, feet, and boots from thegrip of the swamp. Each step is acalculated movement; left foot onpalm frond cut and laid precisely bythe Baka guide ahead, right foot onthe fallen tree beneath the surface ofthe mud. The next 5 steps are alongthis same tree, balancing by means ofa palm branch walking stick (made ondemand at the beginning of eachswamp by machete wielding compan-ions) in a white knuckle grip in my lefthand. Right hand may be high in theair, stretched out to the side, or brac-ing on nearby trees, sticks, or themud itself. Upon stepping off the sub-

merged balancing tree, feet are tenta-tively placed into the swamp, hopingto catch foliage, tree branches orother supportive structure. With deepsteps, the swamp belches and bub-bles; dark mud mustiness fills the air,one's shoes and trouser pockets. Af-ter 7 hours, legs are exhausted fromthe suction and extraction process ofeach step, the mind is tired of trying tolocate safe places to step, with a lineof people behind you pushing you forquick decisions, and the sun pullingyou across the sky.

Overall, the data suggest that dis-tance to villages and therefore humanactivities is an ecological determinantin the distribution of great apes. Theyare absent in areas with sustainedhuman presence through regular activ-ity routines, infrastructure and noise.

Threats to great apes in Mengaméare diverse and include1. destruction and fragmentation of

habitat by farming practices,2. hunting using snares and shot-

guns,3. hunting of elephants with heavy

caliber guns,

The Mengamé Reserve (at the left) and other conservation areas inGabon, Congo, Cameroon and the Central African Republic

GORILLAS


4. direct effects on the forest from log-ging activities, causing direct large-scale modification of the habitatand indirect effects such as the in-crease in hunting due to increasedaccess to the forest via loggingroads.

Recommendations for FutureActionThe Jane Goodall Institute maycommence long-term community-centered conservation activities afteranalyzing the results of the wildlifecensus, of the vegetation census andthe village socioeconomic studies inthe Mengamé Reserve and within the30 communities surrounding the re-serve.

It is our hope that increased knowl-edge and understanding of existinginteractions between the protectedarea and neighboring human pop-ulations will help to formulate pro-grams to reduce the occurrence andimpact of anthropogenic activities onwildlife populations, and at the sametime implement measures to reducewildlife crop raiding damage, and ad-dress the underlying conflicts whichexacerbate the extent and degree ofcrop raiding damage in neighboringcommunities.

Increased attention will be placedon understanding the relationship be-tween logging activities and wildlifepopulations; to determine whether thedisturbance has an effect on the eco-system in total or more directly on theecology and behaviour of wildlife pop-ulations.

As a preliminary community-cen-tered conservation activity, the JaneGoodall Institute will develop a moni-toring system that includes: (1) identi-fication of threats to wildlife popula-tions based on systematic patrols inthe forest, and (2) monitoring of thestatus of great ape populations overtime. In addition to our direct programactivities, we seek to:

– Develop a better understanding ofthe anthrozoonosis risk in the area,with an emphasis on Ebola. A fol-low-up system dealing with bothwildlife and human health in themanagement of the reserve and itsperiphery should also be imple-mented.

– Assess the status of mammalianfauna, with special emphasis ongreat apes, in the neighbouring for-est management units and on theGabon side, in the inter-zone be-tween Mengamé Reserve andMinkébé Reserve. Provide guid-ance for logging companies to con-duct wildlife census in their forestconcessions in partnership withMINEF and in the interests of con-servation of the Mengamé Reservewith the Jane Goodall Institute.

Use of the census data, together withthese recommendations, will help usto identify and implement an appro-priate conservation strategy, whichoptimizes the preservation of the re-serve and of its natural resources,while assisting community develop-ment and livelihood. Considerationmust be given to the development ofthe sort of economic activities whichcontribute to sustainable natural re-source management. The Jane Good-all Institute believes that the survival ofgreat ape populations is stronglylinked with increased and diverse eco-nomic opportunities for local commu-nities, and is itself a key componenttowards conservation of biodiversitythrough community-centered activi-ties.

Christina EllisFull ape census and elephant censusreports are available onhttp://www.janegoodall.orgFor more information please contact:Christina EllisThe Jane Goodall Institute8700 Georgia Ave, Suite 500Silver Spring, MD 20910, [email protected]

Bushmeat UpdateAfter the African states establishedNEPAD, the New Partnership for Afri-ca's Development, the G8 statesagreed on an Africa Action Plan dur-ing the Global Economic Summit inJune 2002. The priority target of thisAction Plan is the promotion of peace,education and trade. The Congo BasinForest Partnership was also estab-lished on a similar occasion: it wasintroduced by the USA and SouthAfrica during the World Summit onSustainable Development in Johan-nesburg. The Congo Basin ForestPartnership envisages the regionalmanagement of natural, cross-borderresources. Yet even in the most re-cent report on the Africa Action Planin June 2003, only a small paragraphis dedicated exclusively to conserva-tion; typically, conservation is men-tioned only in the context of sustain-able use.

AFLEG, African Forest Law En-forcement, Governance and Trade,was established as another declara-tion of intent and request for financialsupport by 29 African government rep-resentatives, 8 European countries,the European Commission, the USAand Canada, in October 2003. AFLEGrefers expressly to the problem of for-est destruction and the illegal bush-meat trade, but always in the contextof the continuing development of for-estry and "sustainable use of naturalresources". Obviously, this catch-phrase is still very powerful. Many sci-entific studies, however, and even theInternational Tropical Timber Organi-sation (ITTO) consider sustainableuse, as defined, for example, by FSC(Forest Stewardship Council) criteriaor as suggested by the Ape Alliancein a code of practice, as not feasible inforestry for various, mostly economicreasons.

Many scientists now have severedoubts as to whether sustainable use

GORILLAS


is actually possible, for instance re-garding hunting in tropical forests (seefor example Hunting for Sustainability,edited by J. Robinson and E. Bennettin 2000). The reason for this is notonly the gap in knowledge and the factthat the concept cannot be tested overthe short-term, but also in the ap-proach itself, which is based on theo-retical economics which do not appro-priately represent ecological-dynamicprocesses. These are subject to asuite of variables that cannot reliablybe predicted over the long term. Thereis a need for approaches that not onlyallow for the typical, "politically cor-rect" development tracks, but will alsopermit the maintenance of completelyprotected areas, as the latter are ofimportance for long-term ecologicaland economic stability.

The Congo Basin Partnership cur-rently has a budget of Euro 100 mil-lion, in addition to on-going projects(e.g. EU projects provide another Euro150 million). The German Federal Min-istry for Economic Development andCooperation annually spends Euro125 million on projects for the conser-vation and sustainable use of forestsworldwide, according to Uschi Eid (28October 2003).

James et al. (1999, 2001) cited sev-eral studies that calculated environ-mental goods and services providedby natural biological systems andbiodiversity itself up to US$ 33 trillionannually. This study group also esti-mated that annual costs for maintain-ing biodiversity cluster around US$ 20billion. Annual funding shortfalls forconservation of existing protected ar-eas in sub-Saharan Africa are aboutUS$ 253 million with effective conser-vation costs per km² of US$ 240 onaverage (see also Balmford et al.2002, 2003).

Various organisations (the Euro-pean zoo association EAZA, the Zoo-logical Society of London and thecompany Ciel) united in a European

initiative, the bushmeat campaign(www.thebushmeatcampaign.org,through EAZA also supported byBergorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe),which addresses the bushmeat prob-lem at a global political level, for ex-ample with the World Bank and withAFLEG. The EAZA bushmeat cam-paign, which targets the EU, has actu-ally made some progress: a resolutionwas drafted which was commented onand supported by the EU committeefor development. The resolution, whichdemands concrete financial supportand also addresses the problem areaof arms and ammunition, is to bepassed by the EU petition committeeon 14 January.

As usual, we can only hope thataction will follow the written declara-tion of intent – this is where everysingle one of us can contribute: asconsumers, as donors, as taxpayersand as voters!

Iris WeicheReferencesBalmford, A. et al. (2002): Science 297(5583):950Balmford, A. & Whitten, T. (2003): Oryx 37:238–250James, A. et al. (1999): Nature 401: 323–324James, A. et al. (2001): BioScience 51(1):43–44

From 26 to 28 November 2003,UNESCO hosted a GRASP meetingin Paris. As Ian Redmond reported, 17out of 23 great ape range states hadsent representatives, and a further twotried but were unable to attend be-cause visas could not be acquired intime. In addition, Belgium, Canada,Egypt, France, Germany (GTZ), Ja-pan, UK and USA were representedas well as UNEP, UNESCO, FAO,CITES, CMS, GEF, Europe-aid,IUCN, CARPE and many NGO part-ners and friends. A GRASP State-ment of Intent was prepared and circu-lated.

World Parks Congress inDurbanOur representative in Uganda, YvonneVerkaik, visited the Vth World ParksCongress in Durban, organized byIUCN, September 8–17. Around 2,500people from all over the world attendedthe Vth congress, organized aboutonce every ten years. Former presi-dent Nelson Mandela and HM QueenNoor of Jordan were amongst thespeakers at the opening ceremony.

The congress was a colorful hap-pening, with some of the participantsdressed in their traditional clothes,and dances or theatre performancesduring breaks between sessions. Apermanent exhibit presented manyconservation organizations with mostimpressive information booths.

After two days with mostly plenarysessions on the main theme of thecongress – Benefits Beyond Bounda-ries – the participants had a choice ofattending seven different workshops.To name just a few: building compre-hensive protective area systems,building a secure financial future, link-ages in the landscape/seascape…

Day 7 and 8 were spent in the field.I visited the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi GameReserve, which has played a majorrole in the conservation of southernwhite rhinos and is now home to oneof the largest remaining populations ofblack rhinos in all of Africa.

Most of all, the World Parks Con-gress was a place for conservationiststo meet other people in the field, toshare experiences, to meet with do-nors. A number of motions and recom-mendations were approved during thecongress. An extensive list can befound on the World Parks Congresswebsite, accessible at www.iucn.org/themes/wcpa/wpc2003

Yvonne VerkaikWith special thanks to InWent forsponsoring the costs for accommoda-tion and the congress fee.


READING

Dale PetersonEating Apes. Berkeley (The Univer-sity of California Press) 2003. 320pages, 16 colour photos by KarlAmmann. Hardcover, US$ 24.95,£ 16.95. ISBN 0-520-23090-6In this moving book, Dale Petersonexplains the background and presentstate of the bushmeat trade as it af-fects the great apes in Africa, mainlywith case studies. This makes thebook especially strong – the danger tothe apes is not analyzed from a dis-tance, but very closely and in indi-vidual cases.

The central personalities in thebook are Karl Ammann and JosephMelloh, a former gorilla hunter. DalePeterson tells the story of their livesand their connection with the bush-meat trade; their experiences illus-trate the problems discussed in thisbook. It is written from their perspec-tive and does not claim to be objec-tive. Subjects presented include: theabilities of chimpanzees and their be-haviour (especially compared to hu-mans), the history of gorilla hunting,the importance of bushmeat in Africantradition, orphanages, disease trans-mission and the role of logging com-panies in the bushmeat trade. Someof Karl Ammann's impressive photosillustrate the menace.

Apart from describing and ana-lyzing the bushmeat trade, the authoralso criticizes conservation and devel-opment projects that do not help tosave the apes, and he adds his ownadvice on how to act most effectively.

Angela Meder

James A. Comiskey, Terry C. H.Sunderland and Jacqueline L.Sunderland-Groves (eds.)Takamanda: the Biodiversity of anAfrican Rainforest. SI/MAB Series 8.Washington, DC (Smithsonian Institu-tion) 2003. VIII, 182 pages. Paper-back. ISBN 1-893912-12-4 (contribu-tions can also be downloaded at

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ConservationAndScience/MAB/researchprojects/appliedconservation/westafrica/Takamanda.cfm)The Takamanda Forest in Cameroonis a very special area – not only be-cause it is the home of an estimated100 Cross River gorillas. Its fauna andflora are exceptional in many re-spects. This book gives the first over-view of the reserve's biodiversity fromrecent surveys. It contains chapterson the vegetation, butterflies, dragon-flies, reptiles, birds, large mammals,apes, fish, and forest products as wellas the conservation of the area.

Angela Meder

Frans de WaalMy Family Album. Thirty years ofprimate photography. Berkeley, LosAngeles, London (California UniversityPress) 2003. 169 pages, hardcover.US$ 29.95, £ 19.95. ISBN 0-520-23615-7In this book, Frans de Waal shows histalent as a primate photographer. Theconcept is simple: Each double pageshows one photo (or two), printed induplex, and a short text. The picturesthemselves are very expressive andthe texts are more than captions: theycontain additional information – verywell written, in a personal, entertainingstyle. They provide insight not onlyinto the particular primate's behaviour,but also into the thinking of humans.

As Frans de Waal has not workedwith gorillas, his book contains no go-rilla photos, but anybody who is inter-ested in primates will love it. The pri-mates shown on the pictures arechimpanzees, bonobos, macaquesand capuchin monkeys.

Angela Meder

Dorothy M. Fragaszy and SusanPerry (eds.)The Biology of Traditions: Modelsand Evidence. New York (CambridgeUniversity Press) 2003. 474 pages,

hardcover, US$ 90. ISBN 0-521-81597-5.

J. J. Vea, J. Serrallonga, D.Turbon, J. M. Fullola and D.Serrat (eds.)Primates: Origin, Evolution andbehaviour. Homage to Jordi SabaterPí. Barcelona (Parc Cientific) 2003

Mark Paul Mattson (ed.)Neurobiology of Aggression: Un-derstanding and preventing violence.Totowa, NJ (Humana Press) 2003.324 pages, hardcover, US$ 125. ISBN1-58829188-X

A. Alonso Aguirre, Mary C. Pearl,Richard S. Ostfeld, Carol Houseand Gary M. Tabor (eds.)Conservation Medicine: EcologicalHealth in Practice. New York (OxfordUniversity Press) 2002. 432 pages.Hardcover, US$ 45. ISBN 0-19-515093-7.

Steven R. Beissinger and Dale R.McCullough (eds.)Population Viability Analysis. Chi-cago (University of Chicago Press)2002. 496 pages. Hardcover, US$ 95.ISBN 0-226-04177-8.

Brian ChildParks in Transition. Biodiversity,rural development and the bottomline. London (Earthscan) 2003. 224pages. Hardcover, £ 55.00, ISBN1-84407-068-9; paperback, £ 17.95,ISBN 1-84407-069-7.

Colette BraeckmanLes nouveaux prédateurs. Politiquedes puissances en Afrique centrale.Paris (Librairie Arthème Fayard) 2003.312 pages. Euro 19. ISBN 2-213-61488-1

Roméo DallaireShake Hands with the Devil: TheFailure of Humanity in Rwanda. To-

ronto (Vintage Canada) 2003. 584pages. Hardcover, $ 39.95. ISBN0-679-31171-8.

James Keeley and Ian ScoonesUnderstanding Environmental Po-licy Processes. Cases from Africa.London (Earthscan) 2003. 240 pages.Hardcover, £ 50.00, ISBN 1-84407-980-9; paperback, £ 17.95, ISBN1-84407-975-2.

Kelly J. StewartGorillas: Natural History & Conserva-tion. Stillwater, MN (Voyageur Press)2003. 72 pages. Paperback, US$16.95. ISBN 0-89658624-3

Duane M- Rumbaugh and DavidA. WashburnIntelligence of Apes and Other Ra-tional Beings. New Heaven (YaleUniversity Press) 2003. XVII, 326pages. Hardcover, US$ 35. ISBN0-300-09983-5.

Joanna M. Setchell and DeborahJ. Curtis (eds.)Field and Laboratory Methods inPrimatology. A practical guide.Cambridge (Cambridge UniversityPress) 2003. 370 pages. Hardcover,US$ 100. ISBN 0-52182004-9.

John Nelson and Lindsay HossackIndigenous peoples and protectedareas in Africa: from principles topractice. 312 pages. £ 15.00 (free toindigenous peoples organisations).Forest Peoples Programme 2003:ISBN 0-9544252-1-9In French: Les peuples autochtoneset les aires protégées en Afrique :du principe à la pratique. ISBN0-9544252-2-7

More information on the website ofthe Forest Peoples Programme:http://forestpeoples.gn.apc.org

News from the InternetThe International Gorilla ConservationProgramme has its own website now:http://www.mountaingorillas.org.Helga Schulze designed a website forthe Tayna Gorilla Reserve: http://www.tayna.org. CEPF (Critical Eco-system Partnership Fund) is a jointinitiative of Conservation International,GEF and others to advance the con-servation of biodiversity hotspots:http://www.cepf.net

Hope Walker has created a web-site about Dian Fossey: http://www.fosseyinfo.com, describing her moti-vation as follows:

FosseyInfo.com is dedicated to anexamination of the life and murder ofDian Fossey, who spent the last 18years of her life studying and protect-ing the mountain gorillas of CentralAfrica. Mystery, myth and controversyhave long surrounded her life and hertragic murder. This website, and thecompanion book which will accom-pany it, have been written to offer anew perspective into the life of one ofthe world's most important zoologistsand her struggle to protect one of themost endangered species on earth.

Hope Walker has also published anew Dian Fossey bibliography 1958 to2003. It can be ordered directly fromher; more information onhttp://www.fosseyinfo.com.

The latest issues of ECOFAC'sjournal Canopée (in French) are avail-able on the ECOFAC website (http://www.ecofac.org). Canopée 24 (July2003) deals with Ebola. The direct linkto the contents with the articles avail-able for download in PDF format:http://www.ecofac.org/Canopee/N24/Sommaire.htm.

The ECOFAC website also offersseveral papers and booklets for down-load: Mikongo Conservation Center,Lopé National Park, Central Africa –Eco-tourism for conservation andcommunity (http://www.ecofac.org/


READING

From 25 to 28 June 2004, theCalgary Zoo will host the firstGorilla Workshop in Canada. Itwill be held at Glenmore Inn andConvention Centre. The work-shop days will be filled withround table forums, guestspeakers and plenty of time forkeepers to exchange ideas andhusbandry experience. It will begeared not only toward thoseworking directly with gorillas butwill include topics for students,researchers, docents and gorillaenthusiasts. Possible topics in-clude: general gorilla husbandryand bachelor groups, environ-mental and behavioural enrich-ment and training, veterinary anddietary concerns, conservation,education and the concern aboutthe bushmeat crisis.

More information, registrationform and instructions for ab-stract submission at http://2004gorillaworkshop.tripod.com

GorillesMikongo), Les Gorilles deLoloué (www.ecofac.org/GorillesLokoue/Contexte.htm), Lopé: Unalmanach équatorial (www.ecofac.org/Biblio/Download/Guides/LopeGuide.pdf – 13.5 MB), La réserve defaune du Dja: à la découverte de laforêt tropicale (http://www.ecofac.org/Biblio/Download/Guides/DjaGuide.pdf – 5 MB).

BERGGORILLA & REGENWALD DIREKTHILFE


We thank everybody who supportedus from June to October 2003. Majorcontributions and donations were re-ceived from Chisato Abe, AngelaBöckler, Andreas Bornheim, KathrinChrist, Sai Reddy Cholleti, Choletti &Ebbinghaus GbR, Maria Egger, Horstund Elisabeth Engel, Jörg and MariaFamula, Stefan Faust, Jürgen andIrmgard Friedrich, Freundeskreis fürUgandas Tierwelt, Horst Gönnenwein,Gerhard Gotzen, Thor Hanson, Peter

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ACCRA DUBAI JOHANNESBURG LUSAKABAHRAIN ENTEBBE KANO MUMBAIBUJUMBURA FREETOWN KIGALI NAIROBI European Headquarters: London-GatwickDAR ES SALAAM HARARE LAGOS PORT HARCOURT Tel: (44) 1293 643501 Fax: (44) 1293 551545

Email: [email protected]

Contact: AMS +31 20 4058666 DXB +971 4 2826696 EBB +256 41 320085 NBO +254 2 822905 MCO +407 2407787 CDG +33 1 48166161

ActivitiesExamples for our support during 2003:bicycles for Sarambwe, T-shirts anddigital cameras for Kahuzi-Biega.

and Karin Haug, Ursula Hickstein,Joachim Holst, Hundeleben, BerndKrüger, Gertrud Barbara Lang, WalterLeibold, Hendrik Lindner, ReinhardLipski, Mette Lüning, Jürgen Mathes,Michael Monzew, Yvonne Munk, DieNeuen Alten Bünde, Klaus-DieterNaumann, Sharam Parvizi, ElisabethQuick, Thomas Rau, RealschuleGräfenberg, Erwin Rosenkranz, Eddavon Rospatt-Vorbeck, Frank Seibicke,Ehrentrud Stephani, Achim Trietsch,Sigrid Ulrich and Elisabeth Zaruba.Moreover, we received valuable ma-terial: Marianne Famula, Siemens,handed over a notebook computer

from a colleague who had bought anew one, as well as a mobile phone.Both arrived in Afrika in the meantime.We are grateful for the help of theseand of all the other supporters!

Michel HassonNouvelles Approches a.s.b.l.Rue E. Branly, 9 Boîte 351190 Bruxelles, BelgiumFax : (00322) 732 27 [email protected]://www.nouvellesapproches.orgN° identification nationale:10281/97

We are very grateful to Nouvelles Approches for thetranslation of the Gorilla Journal to French again!

Nouvelles Approches, a Belgian based NGO, works tosafeguard the national parks of the Democratic Repub-lic of Congo. We are the only NGO currently active inUpemba and Kundelungu National Parks of Katanga Prov-ince and we collaborate with the GTZ in Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

The fact that almost every memberof our Board of Trustees has lived or isstill resident in the D. R. Congo, is anasset that gives us good knowledge ofthe country. We maintain permanentcontacts in Bukavu, Lubumbashi, andKinshasa. We keep excellent relation-ships with the ICCN and all nationaland international organizations involv-ed in conservation in Central Africa.

Mgahinga Safari Lodge is a luxury lodge, perched at the tip of a peninsula juttinginto the waters of Lake Mutanda, in southwestern Uganda. The lodge is the ideal settingfrom which to track the mountain gorilla in nearby Mgahinga Gorilla National Park orduring a day trip to Rwanda or Congo.All our visitors have seen the mountain gorillas!Africa Adventure Touristik will be pleased to design individual safari tours to themountain gorillas, all over Uganda and neighbouring countries. We offer our servicesall-in-one, design of tours and reservation/booking in Germany, transportation inUganda and neighbouring countries, mainly with own guides/drivers and own cars,operating Mgahinga Safari Lodge, situated right in the middle of all national parkswhere mountain gorillas are living. We offer tours to the mountain gorillas andchimpanzees, already designed and often tested. Please have a look at our websiteand/or contact us.

For further information contact:

AFRICA ADVENTURE TOURISTIKKurt NiedermeierSeeshaupter Str. 17D-81476 Munich/GermanyPhone: +49-89 759 79 626Fax: +49-89-759-79-627

E-mail: [email protected]@t-online.de

http://www.aat-gorilla.com

Subscription to the Gorilla JournalIf you become a member, you will receive the journal regularly. If you want to receive the printed journal withoutbecoming a member, we would be grateful if you could make a donation to cover our costs. The costs to send thejournal overseas are abut US$ 20.

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Bank account:Please send to: Berggorilla & Regenwald DirekthilfeRolf Brunner Account number 353 344 315Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe Stadtsparkasse Muelheim, GermanyLerchenstr. 5 Bank code number 362 500 0045473 Muelheim, Germany IBAN DE06 3625 0000 0353 3443 15Fax +49-208-7671605 SWIFT-BIC SPMHDE3E

Africa Adventure TouristikKurt Niedermeier

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