Gorillas and Wildlife Protection DR. Congo/Congo safaris and tour
DR. Congo Gorillas and Wildlife Protection , The Gorillas and Wildlife Protection project was originally founded to safe guard various wildlife and gorillas in Virunga National Park from being poached and trafficked/killed. The protection is rendered by the park wardens. Who take initiative to take care of these primates at all cost including people that live around the park too.
This project is in existence due to the presence of various organizations and individuals. Who fund it and was inspired by the un expected assassination of five gorilla individuals. That belonged to the Rugendo family on July 24 2007 hence making it a point to protect all wildlife and mountain Gorillas. Gorillas and Wildlife Protection DR. Congo
The park is patrolled by rangers on a daily basis. Who are always equipped with the necessary items to use like guns, boots, gears to enhance peace and security. Gorillas and Wildlife Protection DR. Congo: After implementation of these security reforms. The park has stabilized and the population of the mountain gorillas has increased. And this has happened due to the presence of the international community that has donated and supported this in very many different ways.
The support attained includes provision and construction of electric fences. To reduce conflicts between humans and wildlife, elimination of deadly wildlife traps, special anti poaching deployments along. With foundation of community teams/associations that ensure there are no threats onto the gorilla population.
Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage#DR. Congo Gorillas and Wildlife Protection
The Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage center refers to a facility that was founded to take care of orphaned gorillas. From Goma along with those that were almost trafficked/ poached. The Center is located in Rumangabo near the headquarters of the park. And was named after a dominant silver back called Rugendo who was assassinated in 2007 with three members.
It is the only feature worldwide that cares and protects orphaned gorillas. With four family groups that were rescued from being killed and trafficked. And these include Maisha, Ndeze, Ndakasi and Matabishi. Maisha and Koboko. Were the first to be transferred from Rwanda in a candid facility to the center were they connected with others. These live together in peace within their habitat. Despite the fact that Koboko died during the latest dispute. Because of stress caused by the noise from the gun fires which led to the crumpling of his impervious system.
Eastern lowland Gorillas that are orphaned are also restored after being retained from poachers/traffickers. The center’s existence is due to the provision of support and financial help from various organizations and individuals. Whose prior role is to ensure these Gorillas are safe and protected from all kinds of threats.
Maisha Gorilla #DR. Congo Gorillas and Wildlife Protection.
Maisha was born in 2001 in Virunga National Park Congo. This was during the period of conflict in Congo when the rebels used the park as a hiding place. In December 2004, Maisha who was three years old was poached by the hunters from the park. And transferred to a cave in Rwanda where she was kept captive in a sack for fourteen days feeding on corn and canes alone for a very long time period.
When news spread about this incident, the police and rangers decided to start looking for her and on 18 December. They found Maisha and acquired her from the poachers. Gorillas and Wildlife Protection DR. Congo, She was taken to the gorilla Doctors who ensured she would be in good state. Through feeding her with milk and interacting with her slowly. Which brought her peace hence gaining more weight since she grew to be fanatical with food. Since she is always protesting the finest dishes when it is time to eat.
In 2006
Maisha and some other gorillas were seized in Congo and transferred to the quarantine feature restored by Gorilla Doctors in Kinigi, Rwanda. After some years had passed, Maisha who was always around her care takers. Was added to other fresh orphan gorillas including Pinga who was also an adult female like Maisha. Pinga was very assertive and wanted to be the leader. Where as Maisha was very peaceful and poised except when it was time for meals.
In 2010
when the establishment of the Senkwekwe Orphanage was done, Maisha and Koboko had to be returned back to Congo. To stay with other gorillas in their forested habitat like Ndeze,Ndakasi. On arrival, these were fascinated after spotting the green thick forested forest and Maisha climbed the tallest tree where he sat and looked down at Ndeze and Ndakasi.
Ndeze Gorilla
Ndeze Gorilla was a juvenile gorilla that was born by Silver back Senkwekwe. And Safari an adult female who were assassinated by rebel soldiers during the increased conflicts in Congo .Ndeze was orphaned into the Rugendo Gorilla family group staying in Virunga National Park on 17 February 2007. Though about five members of the family were murdered on 22 July by criminals that illegally burn and sell charcoal.
After the assassination, Mukunda a black back saved Ndeze. Who was clinging onto her dead mother Safari to safety. Gorilla Doctors intervened and took measures onto attaining Ndeze from Mukunda. Who was a male and could not breast feed Ndeze who was very young by then. DR. Congo Gorillas and Wildlife Protection: She was provided shelter briefly and stayed here with Ndakasi under maximum care though. Despite the shocking experience she had been through, Ndeze was very simple and got well faster.
DR. Congo Gorillas and Wildlife Protection, They easily picked up with Ndakasi through playing and doing things together and in December 2009. They were transferred back to Virunga National Park at the Senkwekwe Gorilla Orphanage Center near the park headquarters. On reaching here, these embraced their new home by playing with in the forest vegetation watching Maisha and Koboko who were already living here. kazo, sarama, shereton
Ndakasi Gorilla
Ndakasi Gorilla was a juvenile gorilla whose mother was Nyiransekuye an adult female of the Kabirizi family on 17/April/2007. And her name was from the adored park ranger called Benjamin Ndakasi Lola who had died a year ago. After the conflicts that arose when Ndakasi was only two years old. She was left an orphan since her mother Nyiransekuye had been killed during the attacks.
She was found by rangers while clinging onto her mother’s breast who had died and at the time. And was too dehydrated almost closing to her death which made the rangers opt for milk so as to feed her very fast. So that she survives who later on took her to the housing facility found at Goma for examination by the Gorilla Doctors. DR. Congo Gorillas and Wildlife Protection, After sometime, she started drinking the milk in the bottle though after fourteen days. She attained pneumonia which made her very limp and could not take her milk anymore which made the doctors give her anti biotics along. With intravenous fluid treatment which helped her there by making her strong and healthy again.
Matabishi Gorilla
Matabishi Gorilla was found isolated outside Virunga National park in the east of Democratic Republic of Congo in a corn field in late June 2013.He was moving around for days by himself in about a kilometer out of the forest. Where he was spotted by a person who reported his presence to the wildlife authorities that he had seen a wounded Gorilla roaming outside the park. Was a victim of poaching and trafficking though was retained and put to safety on Sunday 23 June.
He accepted to be given a light sedative by Dr Eddy. So as to ease his transfer to the town of Rumangabo which Matabishi took comfortably. He was habituated so as to interact with humans freely which made him socialize with them with flexibility. On arrival to the Gorilla center the Gorilla Doctors made a variety of checkups and examinations to ensure he was very fine and healthy. He embraced his new environment and played around very comfortably within the trees and the vegetation n around.
Gorilla families at Virunga National Park
Virunga National park has six habituated Gorilla families. Which are distributed in different sectors and these include Mikeno and Bukima sector neighboring Goma. The Mikeno sector is comprised of around a hundred gorillas including seven infants, and many adults. The Bukima has the Kabirizi Gorilla group with over 35 recorded gorillas and its lead by two silverbacks. Other groups include the Humba, Rugendo, Mapuwa, lulengo and Muyanga.
Kabirizi Family
The Kabirizi is the leader of this gorilla family and it is located in the Bukima sector. Which Is very close to Goma and it’s a home to over 34 gorillas and two silverbacks although Kabirizi is the dominant. It was habituated and opened for tracking 1998 and obtained its name from the director of ICCN. Who passed away after encountering a tragic accident that took his life too. DR. Congo Gorillas and Wildlife Protection: Before then, the family was referred to as the Ndungutse gorilla group. Because it was led by silverback Ndungutse who was killed during the disputes between the revolutionaries of Rwanda and DRC in 1997.
Humba Family
This group is under the rule of a silverback called Humba Since 1998. Who separated from Rugendo “the father” and a brother to silverback Senkwekwe who was killed on the 22nd July 2007 by mysterious people with firearms. Gorillas and Wildlife Protection DR. Congo, The group consists of sixteen gorillas with two silverbacks situated in the Bukima sector near Goma.
Rugendo Family
The Rugendo family is consisted of eighteen members that include 2 silverbacks with Rugendo the dominant silverback the other silverback is called Humba. And the group was habituated in 1989-1997. As time went by these two silverbacks i.e Humba and Rugendo. Later on separated and Rugendo was left with only eight members. Lucky enough the group got new members as time passed. Due to the increased reproduction of juveniles in the group. For example, two infant gorillas were born into the group in 1999. By an adult female Gorilla called Safari whose infant was called Katembo.
Another adult female called Neza also gave birth on 15th July 2001 to juvenile gorilla. However, badly, Rugendo a dominant silverback was killed during the insurgencies that were happening between the military and interhamwe armed force on 1st. In 2007. Four other Gorillas including Senkwekwe a successor to Rugendo were killed with three adult females ie Neza, Safari, and Mburanumwe.
Mapuwa Family
The group is located in Jomba near Bunagana with fifteen members and a silverback called Mapuwa. Silverback Mapuwa was a son to Rugendo. Who choose to separate with his birth family to create his own with two adult females namely Mafaze and Jicho. Gorillas and Wildlife Protection DR. Congo,He did not stop fighting with other groups. So as to gain more females to expand the group for example. In 2002 he battled with Pili-Pili whom he left an introvert. Then went on and snatched three female gorillas who he added to his group. Thereby increasing birthrates hence expanding the number to fifteen gorilla members. DR. Congo Gorillas and Wildlife Protection.
Lulengo Family
This group is under the rule of Silverback Lulengo. With six gorilla members and is found in Jomba close to Bunagana. Silver back Lulengo’s birth family was Rugabo which was the initial habituated family in the Mikeno sector. Before, the group was named “Musekura” although the name was changed by park wardens to Lulengo. So as to remember the official director of Virunga National Park who died after encountering a land mine. Unfortunately, his father Rugabo also passed away after being killed in 1994. During the Great lakes Refugee Crisis and left power to his sons ie Pili-Pili, Mareru, Lulengo-Black back and Nvuyekure a juvenile gorilla.
Munyaga Family
This is situated in Bukima near to Goma with seven gorillas and 2 silverbacks. It was the ultimate group to be discovered by the wardens in 2008.The group is led by Silverback Muyanga and an adult female called who relocated from the Rugendo gorilla group in 2004 with two infant gorillas that unfortunately died. After a while, Munyanga also vanished leaving power in the hands of another silverback called Mawazo who was residing with Buhanga till 1997. Later on, he joined Karatega who he left and went back to Buhanga around 1998. He then finally left and united with the Munyaga Gorilla Family.
How to Get to Virunga national Park, Gorillas and Wildlife Protection DR. Congo
Virunga National Park is situated 32 km west of Goma (capital of North Kivu province) and reaching this place one has to travel with someone who has knowle dge about the whole area. The roads are not in good shape so the visitor has to be cautious when travelling and driving. An appropriate way to get to the town of Goma flexibly is through Rwanda due to its well structured infrastructure especially roads. Form Kigali one takes only three hours to get to the DRC across the border and in only ten minutes he/she will have reached Goma. One can also go south west of Uganda to the Bunagana border where they can get a less costly visa that enables them to enter the DRC.
Kahuzi Biega National Park
Kahuzi Biege national park is situated close to Bukavu town east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and along the western bank of Lake Kivu and Rwanda. The park was founded in 1970 by a Belgian photographer and conservationist Adrien Deschryver and named after two dormant volcanoes i.e Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega that are located within the park. It is one of the vast parks in the country covering an area of 6,000 sq kms (2,300 sq mi) and has both montane and lowland terrain as well as the rare species of Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri).
In 1980, the park was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its diverse biodiversity of rainforest habitat as well as the endangered Eastern Lowland Gorillas. On average, the park receives annual rainfall of 1,800 mm (71 in) with maximum temperatures of 18 °C (64 °F) and minimum temperatures of 10.4 °C (50.7 °F).
The Eastern Lowland Gorillas are the most prominent species encountered here on safari vacation for there are about 125 Gorillas though these have multiplied with time due to appropriate conservation methods and support from individuals as well as other organizations.