Gorilla Orphan Confiscated

At the beginning of November 2003, a one-year-old gorilla was confiscated from poachers. The ICCN in Goma was informed by a local NGO that two gorillas babies were being kept illegally. They had been brought into Goma from Walikale, but one of the babies died on arrival. When the poachers heard that the ICCN had been informed, they took the remaining baby out of Goma. A few days later, the Rwandan national park authority was informed by the local population about the gorilla and it was confiscated. Four poachers, three Congolese and one Rwandan, were arrested.
The baby was in good health and slightly wounded. After the confiscation, it was taken to Ruhengeri where it is being cared for. It is still not clear which subspecies it belongs to; a genetic test is underway.
The poachers are part of an international network that organizes the smuggling of endangered animals. Congolese and Rwandan authorities are trying to destroy this network.

Update (June 2004): The baby is a Grauer's gorilla. It is still at the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Center.

Overview Virunga National Park South

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