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Park staff and
researchers identify Individual mountain gorillas using unique facial
markings.
UNESCO Mission
rallies support for the preservation of the mountain gorillas of the DRC
A mission of experts led by UNESCO has
rallied the support of the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC), the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC)
and of local communities in the preservation of the endangered mountain gorillas
of Virunga National Park.
The mission, comprising experts from
UNESCO and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and accompanied by a
representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was sent to
the DRC, 11 to 22 August, to investigate the causes of the recent slaughter of
nine gorillas in Virunga National Park and determine ways to help save the 370
odd endangered primates there. The outstanding universal value of the Park,
which warranted its inscription on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1979, is
largely due to its rich biodiversity, notably the fact that it is home to the
mountain gorilla.
Having heard all the stake holders concerned by the gorillas, both in situ and
in the capital of the DRC, the mission will present its findings to the
Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee, Christina Cameron (Canada).
In Kinshasa, the mission met the directors of the Congolese Institute for the
Conservation of Nature (ICCN), William Lacy Swing, Special Representative of the
Secretary-General of the United Nations to the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
and Environment Minister Didace Pembe.
Both Mr Swing and Mr Pembe pledged their support, recognizing the importance of
preserving the mountain gorilla and other endangered wildlife because of their
importance to biodiversity and because of their potential value for the local
economy.
The mission then visited Rumangabo, the base station of the park rangers, and
Bukima and its gorilla monitoring centre, and held talks with numerous personnel
working with the gorillas and with local communities. The experts also visited
the Rugendo gorilla family, in which the recent killings took place as well as
the different locations where the dead gorillas were found.
In Goma, the members of the mission met representatives of the different NGOs
active in the southern part of Virunga and interviewed them about their
perception of recent events, about their cooperation with ICCN and with local
communities. They also met military and judicial leaders in the area, as well as
community and traditional leaders, including Mwami Ndeze, one of the most
important traditional chiefs in the area.
The mission members further met the President of the National Assembly, Vital
Kamerhe, who also pledged his support to the mission and quoted the Head of
State, Joseph Kabila, who said he was determined to "champion conservation."
During their visits, the members of the mission observed the importance of
including local communities in efforts to preserve the gorillas and to let them
get their share from income generating activities linked to the presence of
wildlife.
Comment on the situation at Virunga National Park:I Park Community
The Struggle Continues
Learn more about what is happening to the mountain gorillas of the international
park Virunga volcanoes region in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. There is amazing new blog with almost daily updates by park warden
Paulin Ngobobo at
www.wildlifedirect.org and CNN's Anderson
Cooper has been putting together some additional reports.
Streaming Video:
Gorillas under Threat
The Plight of Baby Gorillasrochure
Park Links
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Virungas National Park, Dem. Republic of Congo
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
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