tagged w/ Democratic Republic of Congo
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"Over the last two months, nearly 4,000 acres of prime mountain gorilla habitat has been cleared by illegal settlers in Africa's Virunga National Park, a World Heritage Site and site of Dian Fossey's groundbreaking gorilla research. World Wildlife Fund is calling on government officials there to take immediate action to protect the park.
Located in DRC on the border with Rwanda and Uganda, Virunga National Park is home to more than half the world's 700 remaining mountain gorillas - one of the most critically endangered species on the planet.
According to information received by WWF, the Wildlife Conservation Society and their conservation partners, most of the destruction took place from early May to June. Several thousand people moved in to the area to farm illegally in Virunga, with support from influential local individuals who sold plots of land within the national park. The forest was clearcut and turned into timber or charcoal before crops were planted.
WWF and its partners are working to improve the livelihoods of local people around Virunga through community projects - destroying the park is not a solution and in the long- term will cause even more suffering to people as well as gorillas
WWF is urging the Congolese and Rwandan governments to take measures to enforce the UN World Heritage Convention that protects this unique site. WWF is also calling on the international community to fund park patrols, the peaceful evacuation of illegal settlers, and the restoration of destroyed areas.
"What is happening in Virunga is a disaster," says Marc Languy, coordinator of WWF's program in the Albertine Rift. "Thanks to conservation efforts during the past decades, the mountain gorillas have survived civil unrest and war in the region. Loss of habitat is however the worse threat to this species. It is also a loss for the local communities as the forest provides many ecological and economical services to the neighboring population, and many local people benefit from gorilla tourism revenues"."
By Jan Vertefeuille
Read more about issues affecting gorillas:
http://www.worldwildlife.org/gorillas/
http://www.worldwildlife.org/gorillas/
www.iccnrdc.cd/
www.wildlifedirect.org/blogAdmin/gorilladoctors
http://gorilla.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/16/video-tshiaberimu-gorillas/
http://getinvolved.conservation.org/site/PageServer?pagename=gorillavideo
http://www.wcs.org/international/Africa/gorilla
http://www.igcp.org/gorillas/gorillas.htm
http://mgvp.32ad.com/default.aspx
http://gorilla.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/16/video-tshiaberimu-gorillas/
http://www.gorillas.org/
http://gorilla.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/16/video-tshiaberimu-gorillas/
http://www.conservation.org/fmg/pages/videoplayer.aspx?videoid=17
www.uwa.or.ug/
"Over the last two months, nearly 4,000 acres of prime mountain gorilla habitat... more
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"I had to guide you all to a link that really hit home with me. I knew that the World Press Photo had recently chosen it's winners for best photo in various categories and posted video interviews of each winner on their website. I had even watched the interview of Platon, the photographer who shot a portrait session of Vladimir Putin for Time Magazine. I thought that was a really cool story, but it did not compare to the impact that Brent Stirton had on me with his shot of a dead mountain gorilla in the Eastern Congo.
His story of the original assignment for Newsweek magazine covering the rebel fighting in the DRC morphed into a story of gorilla conservation tied inextricably to the the resilience of the human spirit that made me truly inspired and near tears. I was also hugely impressed by his efforts and ingenuity to secure a shot showing the epic effort of these Rangers who's job it was to extract the murdered Silverback Gorilla from deep in the volcanic jungle.
This is what the World needs to see more of.
In the face of unimaginable hardships and uncertainty, that a group of underpaid and overworked Rangers, who have massive risks to their own life on a daily basis, would continue to stand up to the violence and death imposed by the rebel factions fighting for genocidal ideals. These men are true Heroes and so is Brent Stirton for showing us this story in such a respectful and honourable way, and at no small risk to his own life as well. I have no words of praise worthy enough for this.""I had to guide you all to a link that really hit home with me. I knew that the... more
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The UN Security Council is on a mission to Africa to look at the continent's wars and see how they might be ended.
The mission is due to have its first discussions with Somalia's government and its opponents, then go to Sudan and several other countries at war.
It has decided it is too dangerous to hold its Somali talks on Somali soil - they will be held in Djibouti instead.
The Security Council is also hoping to broker the first official direct talks between the Somalis.
BBC World Affairs correspondent Mark Doyle, who is travelling with the mission, says there is less optimism about the situation in Sudan.
The mass displacement of civilians in the country's troubled western province of Darfur is still unresolved, and the peace agreement between the north and south of the country is in the midst of new tensions.
The mission will also visit the Democratic Republic of Congo, where millions of people have been displaced by fighting in the east of the country.The UN Security Council is on a mission to Africa to look at the continent's wars... more
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China has just signed its biggest contract in Africa, a multi-billion dollar deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Roads and railways in exchange for minerals.China has just signed its biggest contract in Africa, a multi-billion dollar deal with... more
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Virunga National Park -- Russell A. Mittermeier, president of Conservation International and chairman of the Primate Specialist Group of the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission. “If we can’t stop these attacks, our closest living relatives will disappear from the planet.”
Ndeze, as park rangers named him, survived the July 22 attack by unknown assailants on the Rugendo gorilla group that killed Senkwekwe, the dominant silverback, and three adult females (another adult female is missing and presumed dead). Ndeze was carried by his brother from the slaughter; both were later found by members of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Program and Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN). They had to tranquilize the brother to rescue the infant, who would have died from lack of care.
Ndeze is now being cared for at a primate rehabilitation center in Goma, Congo, called the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International rehabilitation center. He joined another infant orphaned six weeks earlier in an attack on a different group in the park that killed another
adult female.
Conservation International has agreed to provide money from its Primate Action Fund foradditional guards in Virunga to protect the mountain gorillas, which until the recent attacks had been a rare success story for the great apes of Africa, whose numbers have been falling elsewhere across the continent by Ebola virus, illegal trade and deforestation.
* Find how you can help save these gentle giants, please visit these organizations dedicated to saving this incredible species.
www.iccnrdc.cd/
www.wildlifedirect.org/blogAdmin/gorilladoctors
http://gorilla.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/16/video-tshiaberimu-gorillas/
http://getinvolved.conservation.org/site/PageServer?pagename=gorillavideo
http://www.wcs.org/international/Africa/gorilla
http://www.igcp.org/gorillas/gorillas.htm
http://mgvp.32ad.com/default.aspx
http://gorilla.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/16/video-tshiaberimu-gorillas/
http://www.gorillas.org/
Virunga National Park -- Russell A. Mittermeier, president of Conservation... more
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Their mission is to promote conservation of the bonobo and its tropical forest habitat. Bonobos are found in only one country: the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire), a resource-rich region ravaged by years of war.
Biologically speaking, bonobos are the closest you can get to being human without being human. Bonobos and people share 98.4% of the same genetic make-up (DNA).
In contrast to the competitive, male-dominated culture of their close relative the chimpanzee, bonobo society is peaceful, matriarchal and more egalitarian. Bonobos live in large groups where harmonious coexistence is the norm.
Female-female contact, or "GG-rubbing," is actually the most common. Unlike other apes, bonobos frequently copulate face-to-face, looking into each others eyes.
When bonobo groups meet in the forest, they greet each other, bond sexually, and share food instead of fighting. Likewise, almost any conflict between bonobos is eased by sexual activity, grooming, or sharing food.Their mission is to promote conservation of the bonobo and its tropical forest... more
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Thousands of people were massacred during the genocide of 1994 in Rwanda. Now, in the crucible of the ensuing war in neighbouring Congo, the fugitive killers are training their children to carry on the Hutu mission of extermination. Thousands of people were massacred during the genocide of 1994 in Rwanda. Now, in the... more
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A senior wildlife park official in Democratic Republic of Congo has been arrested amid claims that he organised the killing of rare mountain gorillas.
The Congolese Nature Conservation Institute (ICCN) is reported to have brought the charges against Honore Mashagiro - one of its members.
Ten gorillas were killed in 2007 in the Virunga National Park, a Unesco world heritage site.
The park is in a volatile region where rebels have set up a base.
The area is also home to more than half of the world's last 700 mountain gorillas living in the wild.
Six other foresters could be questioned over the killings, and their role in trapping and slaughtering the animals on the alleged orders of Mr Mashagiro, reports say. A senior wildlife park official in Democratic Republic of Congo has been arrested amid... more
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In eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 370,000 people have fled their homes since last December. The conflict centers around fighting between a Tutsi renegade commander, Rwandan rebels, and the Congolese National Army. If the fighting continues, UN officials say it will be one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in the world.In eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, more than 370,000 people have... more
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Despite many challenges, their blogs are becoming increasingly popular, both inside and outside the continent. Despite many challenges, their blogs are becoming increasingly popular, both inside... more
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usnico
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In the Democratic Republic of Congo, when the government tries to help, a dismal situation becomes even worse.In the Democratic Republic of Congo, when the government tries to help, a dismal... more
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usnico
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A new International Rescue Committee survey has found that 5,400,000 people have died from war-related causes in Congo since 1998 ? the world?s deadliest documented conflict since WW II. The vast majority died from non-violent causes such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition?easily preventable and treatable conditions when people have access to health care and nutritious food.
There is a ray of hope the conflict may soon come to an end as the Democratic Republic of Congo and armed groups are now sitting down together and are lurching forward to sign a peace agreement.
The sheer level of devestation and death that has taken place over the last 10 years is remarkable. The International Rescue Committee President George Rupp said the loss of life was equivalent to the entire population of Denmark, or the state of Colorado, dying within a decade.
To read the full report, check it out on blogflict.A new International Rescue Committee survey has found that 5,400,000 people have died... more
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jhaber
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5 years ago
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The deadliest conflict since the second world war is that which continues today in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This survey reports that 5.4 million Congolese have been killed in less than a decade, and at present, about 45,000 people die each month -- half of them small children. While not all of the reported deaths are directly related to combat, the preventable diseases and starvation that have been aggravated by conflict are claiming many thousands of lives.
"Congo is one of 11 countries where 20% of children die before the age of five, according to a Unicef report released yesterday."
The deadliest conflict since the second world war is that which continues today in the... more
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1. Humanitarian crisis in war torn Somalia
2. Political and Economic Turmoil Sparks Health-Care Crisis in Zimbabwe
3. Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Spreads As New Drugs Go Untested
4. Expanded Use of Nutrient Dense Ready-to-Use Foods Crucial for Reducing Childhood
Malnutrition
5. Civilians Increasingly Under Fire in Sri Lankan Conflict
6. Conditions Worsen in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
7. Columbia's civil war and it's effect on civilians
8. Humanitarian Aid Restricted in Myanmar
9. Civilians Caught Between Armed Groups in Central African Republic
10. As Chechen Conflict Ebbs, Critical Humanitarian Needs Still Remain1. Humanitarian crisis in war torn Somalia
2. Political and Economic Turmoil Sparks... more
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16 soldiers and 85 rebels were killed in fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The violence in the region picked up in August, but a shaky ceasefire was negotiated in early September. That obviously didn't last and the violence began again last weekend. Since August several hundred have died.16 soldiers and 85 rebels were killed in fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.... more
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Tori
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5 years ago
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Rebels have seized an area in eastern Congo that serves as a wildlife habitat for endangered mountain gorillas, threatening one of the last known populations of the animals, conservationists said Sunday.Shelling and heavy gunfire could be heard from the headquarters of the Virunga National Park, and rangers were forced to flee over the weekend, said the international conservation group WildlifeDirect.It is just baffling to me that people would feel so privileged and so little respect for an amazing animal of which there are so few left in the world. Are they ignorant or just think that their cause is more important than the lives of the few of these magnificent beings?Rebels have seized an area in eastern Congo that serves as a wildlife habitat for... more
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cwhite
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5 years ago
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In parts of Africa, the demand for meat from wild animals has led to a bushmeat crisis - the over-hunting of animals for food.In parts of Africa, the demand for meat from wild animals has led to a bushmeat crisis... more
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Christof Putzel takes an unsettling trip on one of the rickety old Russian planes that fly in and out of the Democratic Republic of Congo.Christof Putzel takes an unsettling trip on one of the rickety old Russian planes that... more
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Christof Putzel traces gold to it's origins in one of Africa's biggest gold mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Christof Putzel traces gold to it's origins in one of Africa's biggest gold... more
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A new UN report is due out in September, but a UN expert just returned from a trip to the Congo talked about forcing men to rape their daughters, mothers or sisters at gun point, shooting or stabbing women in the genitals after rape, forcing women to eat the flesh of murdered relatives. Horrible stuff.A new UN report is due out in September, but a UN expert just returned from a trip to... more
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Tori
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