UNAA Times Online | September 2009, Karisoke Research Center Field News | Karisoke staff and researchers brought the body of silverback Titus down from the mountain on Sept. 16, many weeping at the loss of their old friend. Titus, who has been followed by Karisoke staff since his birth in 1974, died on Monday, Sept. 14. Read the full story

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www.unaatimes.com | By Veronica VecellioAugust 2009, Karisoke Research Center Field News |  When the dominant silverback Shinda died in November 2008 his group split into two, one led by silverback Ugenda and the other by silverback Ntambara. Shinda had led one of the main groups of mountain gorillas observed for decades by the staff of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International at the Karisoke Research Center in Rwanda. Read the full story

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By Daniel Howden | August 2009 | A bloody battle is raging in Eastern Congo over the illegal charcoal trade that is killing the region’s great apes. The charcoal trade has led to rebels killing hundreds of gorillas in a battle for the forest. For the past week a remarkable battle has been raging in the mountain forests of Eastern Congo. Park rangers entrusted with protecting some of the world’s most endangered gorillas have launched an offensive against the rebel armies in the area and the charcoal industry that helps to support them. Read the full story

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Earlier this year we (WildlifeDirect) were approached by someone commissioned by a rich citizen of a middle eastern country, who wanted to know how to go about purchasing a baby gorilla. We were very disturbed at the request, and explained as politely as possible, the legal and ethical implications and consequences. Well, it’s obvious that there is a market for baby gorillas as has just been reported by the ICCN.

On Sunday a suspected gorilla trafficker was caught and arrested at Goma International Airport. He arrived from Walikale with a baby eastern lowland gorilla hidden under clothes at the bottom of a bag. This baby came from Congo which is the only place where this species is found. The baby was stressed and was “suffering from over-heating and dehydration after spending over 6 hours in transit”.

This video shows how the operation was conducted by the Virunga National Park. WildlifeDirects former CEO Emmanuel de Merode led the 3 month opearation. Congratulations to everyone at the ICCN – lets hope that justice will be served and the baby gorilla returns to it’s natural habitat.

Resource Link: http://gorilla.cd/2009/04/28/baby-gorilla-seized-in-trafficking-ring-bust/

Article Source: http://gorilla.wildlifedirect.org/tag/congo/

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afrol News, 20 April – Uganda has marked 2009 “the year of the gorilla” with mass celebrations following the earnings of more than $220 million in 2008 from the endangered mountain gorillas tourism, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has said.

UWA’s Executive Director Moses Mapesa said although less than 10 percent of tourists in Uganda has a chance to view the gorillas, the Authority expects the revenue to increase as the country opens up more gorilla groups for viewing.

Local news reports said only last year, about 842,000 tourists visited Uganda and brought in about $590 million with them.

Mr Mapesa said endangered gorilla population has marketed Uganda as one of the major tourist destinations in Africa with the demand for gorilla tourism on the rise.

Late last week, the UN declared 2009 ‘Year of the Gorilla’ to protect endangered gorilla species in Central Africa. More than half of the endangered mountain gorillas with a population estimated at 700 are in Bwindi while the rest occupy Mgahinga national park.

Although animal rights activists had expressed concern on the rights of gorillas in the mountains, Mr Mapesa assured the Authority would ensure that the gorillas would not be exploited for financial gains.

The state minister for trade, Mr Gagawala Wambuzi, said the endangered gorilla species will be given a platform this year to raise awareness about their plight and threats to their habitat.

The minister said the lack of legal frame work and policy to protect the gorilla will reduce the number of tourists coming to Uganda as well as reducing the number of the remaining gorilla species.

“In fact our eco-tourism is based on wildlife resource especially primates and Mountain gorillas which are said to have put Uganda on the international map,” he said.

The gorilla tourism employs about 5,000 people in tours and travel while national tourism accounts for 17 percent of available job opportunities countrywide.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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