DR Congo gorilla numbers up 12.5%

The population of mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park has risen by 12.5%, a census shows. It is the first census to be completed by the park’s wildlife rangers since rebel troops seized control of the area in August 2007. “The status of Virunga’s Mountain Gorillas is a triumph for conservation,” said Emmanuel de Merode, […]

Gorilla Ranger Killed in Virunga of Congo

A wildlife ranger has paid the ultimate price in the effort to protect endangered Mountain Gorillas in Democratic Republic of Congo. Ranger Safari Kakule was killed by rebel forces during an attack on the evening of January 8 in Congo’s Virunga National Park. Safari and six other rangers were attacked while on patrol. More than 120 rangers have been killed […]

Radio interview on Radio Canada

YoG Coordinator Veronika Lenarz (UNEP/CMS) gave an interview in French to Radio Canada. The interview gives an outline of the campaign’s rationale and goals. To listen to the interview, follow the link below, then go to January 1st in the right-hand box and start at Minute 35 of the audio file.

Should We Save Gorillas or People

The United Nations have declared 2009 the Year of the Gorilla – and there is a call for actions from everyone to participate in global efforts to save gorillas. Some journalists are questioning the morality of saving gorillas while people continue to suffer in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. When in Rwanda I attended the Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming ceremony – […]

Is There ‘Gorilla Warfare’ in Virunga?

When rebels loyal to renegade DRC general, Laurent Nkunda, invaded and occupied the Virunga National Park in 2007, most rangers fled. Some 30 rangers however remained behind and continued their work under the new ‘administration’. Late last year, the rebels advanced pushing their front further towards Goma. Rumangabo, the Virunga Park headquarters fell to the rangers after a fierce battle […]

Ben Affleck and Jagger make film for Congo

Ben Affleck and Mick Jagger teamed up on Wednesday to launch a short film called “Gimme Shelter” drawing attention to the plight of Congolese families driven from their homes by a decade of war. The film focuses on the plight of families forced to flee the fighting, among an estimated 1.3 million displaced people in Congo, according to the U.N. […]

Another Gorilla dies, others are sick

Jenny, a 55 year old gorilla has died at Dallas Zoo in early September. She was an old gorilla, and died of a stomach tumor (actually she was euthanized because the tumor was inoperable).  In the wild gorillas don’t live much beyond 30 so Jenny had along life, yet it still feels sad and this story is getting wide coverage. […]

A Changing Climate for Protected Areas

On April 6, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will release a report entitled Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability that focuses on how climate change is affecting the planet. One finding is an accelerated rate of species extinctions, with estimates of up to 1 million species at risk in coming decades. However, new research shows that protected […]