Gearing up 4 Gorillas

Hi all,

Just to let you know www.g4g.co.uk now sits and works on new UK based servers.

This should provide more speed and resilience

I will update soon will new features and the possibility of a new system.

Cheers

David
G4G Webmaster

More news from Virunga National Park shows how much support these guys really need.

G4G has heard that, even though the ‘peace deal’ has been signed. the rebels are still firmly in control of the Mikeno gorilla sector and are very agressive towards the rangers. In other words the rangers will be attacked if they try to go into the sector. The rebels are also taking tourists from over the border in Uganda and Rwanda to see the gorillas in DRC, to make money. These rebels have no training regarding gorillas and reports suggest they are taking too many people too often to the gorillas. This presents a grave danger to the mtn gorillas, as they very easily catch simple diseases such as colds or flu from humans. These illnesses can easily be fatal & spread to many gorillas. Rebels have also now land mined the road to Bukima and Jomba patrol posts. This is a new and sinister threat to the rangers.

The rangers are, however, being successful in their ‘Makala Campaign’. This is the work to stop the illegal charcoal trade, that is destroying the forest habitat of the gorillas. Over 60 tons have now being confiscated and given to the refugees from the fighting for free. Even this work can be very dangerous. The 3 rangers above were attacked a few weeks ago in January and their vehicle pushed into a ditch. Luckily, all three are recovering from their injuries, but it shows the lengths the charcoal traders will go to, to make their money.

G4G continues to send funds each month to support the rangers in their dangerous work and have two more hilux trucks ready to ship out to them. Keep a watch here, as G4G will post pictures of the equipment as it leaves the UK. If you want to help, check out the site or contact G4G: linda@g4g.co.uk

More news from the Mikeno gorilla sector soon.

Linda, G4G

Dr Eddie Kambale of the Mtn Gorilla Veterinary Project checking on Ndeze and Kabila in Goma. Both are doing well.

Little Mapendo, the eastern lowland gorilla orphan, is shown here with Andre. She’s slowly recovering from ringworm. It is still not clear what the cause of death was of her little friend Vumilia and until that’s known, she has to stay in quarantine. We’ll bring you more news of all three soon.

Linda, G4G

With the peace deal signed in January, the rangers have tried to gain access to the Mikeno gorilla sector to at last, try and find the gorilla groups, not seen since early Sept 07.
Norbert Mushenzi led the first attempt, but they were turned back by rebel fighters still on site. In addition, a former ranger who left to join the rebels, has proclaimed himself ‘Head of National Parks’ and refuses entry to the genuine ranger patrols. Unsuspecting tourists from Rwanda may be being taken to see gorillas by this man, (paying of course) hence his reluctance to leave.
Norbert and the rangers are working on how best to resolve this situation.

Meanwhile, charcoal patrols are continuing in earnest and the rangers want to get to their former patrol posts to see what remains of them, what repairs or rebuilding is required, so they can, at last, return to their normal duties within Virunga National Park.

G4G will continue to support it’s rangers at Camp Bukima and raise further funds to help the rangers get back to work at these patrol posts. Let’s hope they haven’t been completely destroyed….
Back as soon as we have any more news.
Linda
Chair, G4G