Conflicts

Wherever gorillas occur, human settlements are usually not far away: over recent decades, the human populations have gone up a lot and they occupy ever more of the forested areas, however remote. For this reason, cases where the interests of gorillas and those of people clash are more and more frequent.

WHY ARE THERE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BETWEEN PEOPLE AND GORILLAS?

If a forest is logged, the animals may fail to find enough food and so help themselves from the farmers' fields. The farmers defend themselves against the destruction of their livelihood by trying to chase away the plunderers, occasionally killing gorillas in the process. Animals that are used to people are more likely to penetrate into the vicinity of human settlements and are therefore particularly at risk.

HOW CAN THESE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BE SOLVED?

In the densely populated areas near the habitats of the mountain gorillas, committees have been formed to demonstrate to the farmers how they can chase off the gorillas without hurting them. This model has been so successful that other areas have also adopted it. In addition, many projects train teachers to help them develop children's awareness of the local fauna in school and teach them to build a good relationship with their environment.


SOS - Gorillas of the Itombwe Nature Reserve in Danger

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Balancing Act: The Imperative of Social and Ecological Justice in Kahuzi-Biega

Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the conflict-afflicted eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has…

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Mining Menaces Itombwe Nature Reserve

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Electric Fence Reduces Human-Wildlife Conflict

"For the past ten years, we had given up on planting maize. Buffalos could raid our farms a few weeks to harvesting and we could make immense losses.…

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10 October 2021

A Year of Protection of the Sarambwe Nature Reserve by Trackers Unsupported by Rangers: Results and Lessons Learnt

The protection of protected areas…

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Why Rangers in the Virunga National Park Are Under Attack

Another Attack on Rangers in the Virunga National Park

On 10 January 2021, 6 rangers lost their lives in an attack by armed…

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Pressures on Natural Resources of the Maiko National Park

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Restoration of Sarambwe Ranger Post and Current Activities

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Strengthened Human-Wildlife Conflict Measures Restore Hope in the Virungas

Regardless of the scotching sun and laborious work, a delighted face is the perfect description of Jean Bosco Ntawukibiwabo, as he works on a 3 m deep…

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Protection of the Cross River Gorillas in Takamanda

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End in Sight for the Conflict over the Sarambwe Nature Reserve

The Sarambwe Nature Reserve is well known for its location on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and its contiguity…

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A Brief Update on the Proposed Superhighway in Cross River State

In March 2016 the Federal Ministry of the Environment issued Cross River State a stop work order pending approval of an environmental impact…

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The Sarambwe Reserve: Current Developments and Threats

This article documents activities implemented in the Sarambwe Reserve and the almost continuous threats to the conservation of the reserve. It is…

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Ranging on Community Land and Crop-Raiding by Bwindi Gorillas

Getting ready to start the vegetation sampling outside Bwindi with the vegetation team (Philemon Tumwesigye, Christopher Byaruhanga, Emmanuel Tibenda and Nicole Seiler) (© Nicole Seiler)

Conflict between people and animals is one of the main threats to the continued survival of many wildlife species and also represents risks to local…

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Equitable Conservation for Bwindi's Gorillas

Mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetra­ble National Park, Uganda, live in one of the poorest regions of Africa. This creates a major challenge for…

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The Economic Value of Virunga Park

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Cameroon Loses a Cross River Gorilla

On March 1, 2013, the Cameroon conservation community was taken aback when news reached them about the brutal killing of a silverback male of the…

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Human–Wildlife Conflict Management in the Virunga area

Banana plant destroyed by gorillas at the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (© Michele Goldsmith)

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Exclusion from Sarambwe

Map of the Sarambwe Reserve with places mentioned in the article (© Angela Meder, adapted from a map by WWF/PeVi)

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The Power of Local Stories in Lebialem, Cameroon

© Denis Ndeloh

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Ape Research and Tourism

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News from Cross River National Park 2007

Funding of School Fees, Uniforms and School Material for Pygmy Children

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Support of Urgent Needs of the Local Population

[Translate to EN:] Der Mwami (traditionelle Chef) vor dem Haus, in dem sich die Gemeinde versammelt (© Carlos Schuler)

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HuGo in Uganda

Impacts of Habituation for Ecotourism

An Initiative to Resolve Conflicts

Primates at the Edge of the Abyss

Pygmies in Kahuzi-Biega