Gorilla Journal 34, June 2007
News from Kahuzi-Biega
Over the last 6 months, the situation in the high-altitude sector of
the park has calmed down, and work is progressing normally. In contrast,
although some surveillance units have been deployed, implementation of
activities in the low-altitude sector of the park remains difficult due
to the presence of armed bands of foreign troops (Hutu from Rwanda).
The combination of calm and the support of our partners has meant that
we have been able to implement protection measures in the park, in addition
to development measures in the accessible areas surrounding the park.
Of the 168 gorillas counted in the high-altitude sector during the last
census, we regularly follow 109. These 109 gorillas are grouped into 9
families, of which two are habituated to the presence of people (the Mankoto
group and the Chimanuka group). The Chimanuka group is the largest group
found to date with 30 individuals. Mugaruka can also be visited, but he
is a lone male at the moment.
As mentioned above, development activities have been implemented with
the help of our partners. The most recent support received from Berggorilla
& Regenwald Direkthilfe has helped to reinforce people's trust in
the park in the Nindja sector, more precisely at Ihembe.
Until recently, not a single park representative had put in an appearance
at Ihembe since 1996. The collaboration between park and the Ihembe population
was interrupted when the population came under the influence of farmers
who had illegally invaded the Kahuzi-Biega National Park; they then refused
to participate in any development activity initiated by the park. The
Nindja population was subsequently traumatized by war atrocities, and
in 2005 received over 350 tonnes of food aid. Since then, we have been
able to gradually re-establish a dialogue with these people. The re-establishment
of contact has allowed us to evaluate the population's real and urgent
development needs. The Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe's most
recent support arrived at its destination and, by general consensus of
the people, was used immediately in the reconstruction of some infrastructure,
i.e. the rehabilitation of 6 classrooms each at Kabona and Murhume primary
schools, including benches and blackboards, the construction of the Mudaka
health centre, and the rehabilitation of the Mwami's house (which will
serve as a meeting place for the preparation of the participatory management
structure that is envisaged for the future).
These activities have helped to re-establish the collaboration between
the park and the Ihembe population that had been interrupted for so long.
Nowadays, park representatives can arrive in Ihembe and implement activities
without having to worry about their personal safety. The population, who
used to have to walk 22 km in order to reach a health centre, now needs
to walk only half a kilometre to find health care. The children who used
to study sitting on tree trunks between dilapidated walls now listen to
lessons while seated on benches in comfortable buildings.
This is a start, but it needs to be followed up. Funds need to be found
to reinforce development activities, on the one hand, and to establish
a local Committee for Community Conservation on the other.
The 200 Pygmy children, whose schooling Berggorilla & Regenwald
Direkthilfe supports, continue to make progress. Their parents and
they themselves remain grateful for the support received, which consists
of the payment of school running costs and equipment.
On a joyful occasion on March 15th, park staff were able to welcome back
the guard who had been held hostage for two years by the "106"
splinter group of the FARDC (Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of
the Congo), who had spread terror throughout the park. Not only did they
let our guard go, but they also left the park and gave themselves up to
the FARDC authorities. If the other armed bands were also to leave the
park in such a way, it would make it possible for the park to recover
its integrity and to work with the population in its surrounding areas
for sustainable conservation and development.
Radar Birhashirwa Nishuli
Radar Birhashirwa Nishuli is the Head of the Environmental
Education Unit of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. He has been working
in the park since 1985.
Kahuzi-Biega
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