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Gorilla Journal 15, December 1997
Mt. Tshiaberimu 1997 - Research Expedition
to a Nearly Lost Forest
The name of the Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe - direct
aid - again proved true in the still politically instable situation of
former Zaire. While most large governmental and non-governmental organizations
in times of political changes wait until a stability is restored, the
Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe wants to take action especially
during these states of emergency for the preservation of the African tropical
forests and their wildlife.
Mountains of the Spirits
In the montane rain forest of Mt. Tshiaberimu along the westbanks of
the Albertine Rift Valley in the east of the newly formed Democratic Republic
of thrCongo, a considerably reduced and totally isolated population of
gorillas still exists. The area is part of the Parc National des Virunga
and therefore receives international attention, also for conservation
efforts. Thus, there is a realistic chance to save these gorillas and
- in the long term - for a growth of their population.
In cooperation with the European Dian Fossey
Gorilla Fund (DFGF-UK), which mainly funded the trip organized by
Esteban Sarmiento and Thomas Butynski, the Berggorilla & Regenwald
Direkthilfe participated in a research expedition to Mt. Tshiaberimu
in June/July 1997. We financed the equipment for the rangers and the transport
of this material to the area; two researchers participated in the scientific
survey. The aim of the expedition, besides collection of basic biological
data, was also to help improve the conservation of this region.
Journey into a New Country
With 280 kilograms of ranger equipment, we travelled in convoy together
with five other participants to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Our apprehensions were unfounded that the situation at the Kasindi border
post would not allow us to pass due to fights in nearby Bundibugyo. After
4.5 hours of customs clearance, we passed the Congolese border.
We were welcomed by Jean-Paul Kambale Shabantu,
at that time conservator of the Virunga National Park North Sector. He
already had the working permits for every participant and an official
ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature) document
which allowed us to pass every road-block unhindered. Our original schedule
had to be changed because some time before Mobutu soldiers had burned
the Semliki ferry. Consequently, we had to make a 120 km detour via Beni
and Butembo, which took us 1.5 days longer, but this gave us the opportunity
to have a look at the general situation in this region. In some parts
of the northern Virunga Park we saw smoke clouds, indicating poacher activities
as the conservator told us. On the roads as well as in the cities, there
was a strong army presence, but the general mood of the Congolese seemed
to be good. We also saw a lot of construction work and the availability
of supplies seemed reasonable.
In the Gorilla Bamboo Forest
At the park post in Burusi, a village at the edge of Mt.
Tshiaberimu, the rangers were already waiting for us. Two days before,
Thomas Butynski and Esteban Sarmiento had arrived and started their search
for gorillas as well as their survey of birds in the research camp situated
at 2,700 m in the central forest area.
Our first impression from the edge of the forest was confirmed inside
the park: The extent of human encroachment, such as wood-cutting and -burning
and gold mining, was enormous. Thomas Butynski, who had already surveyed
this area in 1995, estimated a 10-fold increase
of these human activities. We were also informed that the last forest
elephants had been killed in spring 1997. According to various sources,
during the war, chiefs of the surrounding communities had declared that
the park borders no longer existed and encouraged people to use the land
for their needs. The unarmed rangers were not able to put a stop to this.
On the first day in the main camp, a gold miner and a poacher were arrested.
During our stay, about 40 wire snares were found, one of which had caught
a blue monkey, another a black-fronted duiker. During the whole survey,
a total of 120 snares were found in total as well as another blue monkey
in a snare.
Direct Aid Works Immediately
In view of this extremely difficult working situation,
our delivery of equipment to the rangers was very well appreciated. In
order to replace stolen material, the Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe
brought the following items: 18 sleeping bags, 5 blankets, 15 rucksacks,
20 pairs of gum boots, 23 T-shirts, 8 ponchos, 60 pairs of socks, 3 tents,
8 water bottles, 3 binoculars, 2 compasses, 5 torches, 5 tarps, 6 water
resistant bidons, stationery and other camp equipment. These materials
and our acknowledgement of their efforts under difficult circumstances
had a big impact on the motivation of the rangers and their superiors.
Claude Sikubwabo was equipped by Berggorilla
& Regenwald Direkthilfe with 2 binoculars, 2 compasses, some other
material and money as a replacement for the losses from the looting of
his house. But even this seemed to us like a drop in the bucket. DFGF
project assistant Vital Katembo told us that the monthly salary of US$
20 per ranger had so far only arrived irregularly.
Research teams for the survey were established, focusing on mammals (E.
Sarmiento, T. Butynski, V. Katembo, C. Sikubwabo, I. Weiche, M. Daly),
birds (T. Butynski, C. Jackson, T. Imboma, J. Fuller) and botany (U. Karlowski,
B. Bytebier).
Biology of the Mountain of the Spirits - The Vegetation
The survey on the vegetation units of Mt. Tshiaberimu
gave the typical impression of afromontane forests. The biggest portion
is covered by bamboo, followed by afromontane secondary forest, forest
dominated by Podocarpus, Rapanea and Rubiaceae, and ericaceous
belt. An afroalpine zone is lacking because the altitude of Mt. Tshiaberimu
is about 3,100 m, whereas the afroalpine zone of other regions starts
at about 3,400 m.
During this first new botanical survey by Ursula
Karlowski, 124 species out of 41 families were verified. B. Bytebier,
who focussed on orchids, found 14 additional orchid species, so that in
total the species inventory to date includes 138 species of higher plants.
Most of these belong to the families Asteraceae (15), Orchidaceae (14)
and Poaceae (8), Rosaceae (6), Rubiaceae (6), Apiaceae (5), Euphorbiaceae
(5), Ranunculaceae (5), Acanthaceae (4), Cyperaceae (4) and Lamiaceae
(4). The inventory does not take into account mosses, ferns and lichens.
The afromontane rain forests are limited to the
mountain regions of Africa and make up the smallest portion of all primary
African biotopes. They are therefore among the most endangered tropical
regions and a habitat to many endemic species. The conservation of these
areas is not only necessary for the survival of many animal and plant
species; these areas are also important headwaters of many rivers and
play a crucial role in climatic and water conditions of an entire region.
A small overview on the mountain forest vegetation
is provided by the following plant communities:
- afromontane secondary forest, mainly at the park edge
- typical afromontane clearings at the park edge
- Macaranga-Xymalos montane forest (park
edge)
- bamboo zone (main plant communities)
- bracken fern-dominated secondary vegetation in the
bamboo zone
- Podocarpus forest
- Rapanea-Galiniera mixed forest
- ericaceous belt
Further on, surveys were made of the vegetation of a high
altitude swamp and of sources at the influx of creeks.
The Wildlife
Thomas Butynski and his group identified 80 bird species,
with 15-16 of these endemic to the Albertine (Western) Rift. He stresses
the importance of the region for the conservation of mountain forest birds.
In contrast to the findings in 1995, there was little sign of small antelopes
throughout the area. The only direct evidence was a freshly snared duiker
in a poacher's trap. We assume that the increased poaching activities
immensely impacted the numbers of these mammals.
Thomas Butynski confirmed the presence of Thomas' galago (Galagoides
thomasi). Blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis stuhlmanni) were
seen regularly. The search for the owl-faced monkey (Cercopithecus
hamlyni) was not that successful. In the Tukote bamboo zone, we found
fresh evidence of feeding activity normally ascribed to this species at
2,700-2,900 m.
During his 3-week stay, Esteban Sarmiento found
and measured over 100 gorilla nests. He estimated that there were 14 individuals
in 2 large groups, one including a 4-5 year old juvenile, and 2 solitary
silverbacks. It is feasible that there is another "group" consisting
of 2 individuals. The identification of this group is problematic, because
they were nesting close to one of the other groups. A DNA analysis of
hair, undertaken from Christian Roos/European Primate Gene Bank Munich,
proved that the two silverbacks of these nest groups are different individuals.
E. Sarmiento found that the groups ranged mainly in the central park area
on the slopes of Mt. Tshiaberimu. We also found evidence of solitary silverbacks
in the Tukote and M'Pens areas at about 2,900 m in the bamboo zone and
mixed forest.
The Future
At the end of our stay we discussed our suggestions for
future work in the park with Vital Katembo and the conservator, e. g.
the distribution of the rangers on more park posts, training of the rangers,
regular patrols with written records, continuous presence of a project
officer, sensibilization of the people and local chiefs in the surrounding
communities.
We now want to reinforce our efforts for the conservation of Mt. Tshiaberimu,
if possible in cooperation with DFGF-UK. Our main part will be to organize
deliveries of equipment. We also want to provide the rangers with another
tent for a patrol post and pay top-ups on their salaries. DFGF is trying
to find a person who will be constantly present in the park for the next
year or so to guide the rangers' work and improve the contact with the
villages nearby. With this we hope that the gorillas of Mt. Tshiaberimu
and their habitat will have a chance to see the next millennium with us.
Iris Weiche and Ursula Karlowski
Iris Weiche started
her work with primates, in the wild and in zoos, in 1990. At the moment
she works on female gorillas in zoos. Since 1994 she has been active for
the Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe, and from 1997 to 2002
she was a member of the Board of Directors.
Dr. Ursula Karlowski became involved in rain forest conservation
in 1988, especially in southwestern Uganda. Currently she is working at
the University of Rostock. Her special interests are vegetation change
and nature conservation strategies.
Mt. Tshiaberimu
overview
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