News from the Southern Sector of the Virunga National Park

Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo has been informing us about the situation in this area which includes the Congolese/Zairean part of the Virunga Volcanoes. On 23 December 1996, he wrote that during a survey in late November, they had found that the situation was very critical. The infrastructure had been destroyed, vehicles stolen and several park rangers killed while others had fled. All the rangers had to hand over their guns and could therefore no longer prevent poaching in the park, except with the assistance of ADFL (Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire) soldiers. The facilities in Jomba and Bukima were also demolished and the rangers' huts were looted. Effective protection of the park could no longer be sustained.
In a letter dated 22 February 1997, Claude Sikubwabo told us that in January 1997 he had been promoted to chief of the southern sector of the park. At some time, he had to flee to Masisi where he hid for 3 weeks. During this time, all his belongings were stolen and part of his house ransacked.
The park, especially the southern part, has suffered immensely. The gorillas could not be visited regularly. Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo and his colleagues have tried to develop strategies to convince the local population to support the ICCN in their efforts to protect the park. On May 15th, he told us that he had been staying in Rumangabo since March in order to more efficiently supervise the work in the park - gorilla monitoring and patrols.

New Projects

Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo asked the Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe to provide financial support for the restoration of the Mikeno sector. Several vehicles were stolen, and out of these, only a small Suzuki has been returned, but in very poor condition. It would cost about US$ 1,000 to replace the missing parts. In addition, Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo would like to initiate a long-term study of the gorillas, much like the monitoring project in Rwanda. He would also like to monitor the activities of other large mammals, such as elephants and chimpanzees. This project would require the following equipment: a computer, two tents, two sleeping bags, two raincoats, two pairs of rubber boots and a camera.
However, the most important issue now is to sensitize the local people who live near the park about the necessity to protect the gorillas. This can not be done at the moment because resources are lacking. The local people must be involved in any measures to protect the gorillas. Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo has therefore developed a concept for informing and involving the local population of Goma in these efforts. Up to now, there has been no system to let the local population participate from the proceeds from tourism. This creates tension when the gorillas raid their fields or attack them. Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo is currently investigating the possibilitiy of establishing eco-tourism with the participation of the local population. Another very urgent project he suggested is a trip by a small group of two scientists, two rangers and two pathfinders to the hills of Sarambwe. These hills border the Ugandan Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is important to determine whether gorillas are still living in this area.

Virunga National Park overview

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