Rwanda: Seven Gorillas Rescued From Captivity

The Post
January 12, 2007
Posted to the web January 12, 2007

James Tasamba
Musanze

Seven gorillas of the Volcano national park that had been taken hostage by poachers in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were rescued last year, The New Times has learnt.

Simon Childs, a Gorilla care manager attached to Karisoke Research Center, in Musanze District said that a total of seven infant gorillas were rescued from poachers in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rubavu District in Western Province areas bordering the park and are undergoing 'orientation' in Kinigi before they can finally be reintegrated into wild life.
 
He said the gorillas between ages 1-6 years old had been captured between November 2003 and May 2006.

Childs was presenting the center's achievements for last year at a meeting organized by Karisoke held at Fatima Guest house on January 10.

"We managed to rescue a total of seven infant gorillas which were being held by poachers; we have since kept them in separate conditions under orientation to have them get used to wild life," He said, and added, because they (animals) were captured at varying ages and kept in different conditions under captivity, they had lost touch with wild life and so it is hard to reintegrate them immediately with others.

When asked which measures were in place to minimize cases of animal poaching, Childs stressed the need to sensitize residents around the park about the importance of conserving animal species in the country. He said it was unfortunate that residents at times look at them (whites) as prospective buyers of the animals.

Dr Katie Fawcett, the director of Karisoke research center attributed poaching in DRC to insecurity. She however warned of illegal animal trade in Rwanda appealing to security officials for vigilance to reduce scores of poachers in the country. "Conservation laws in Rwanda are a bit strong only need for vigilance to minimize a few loopholes, but in DRC because of insecurity it is hard to stop poaching" she observed

A park guard talked to, told this reporter that poachers capture infant gorillas hoping to sell them at high prices when they get prospective buyers but said that they (game wardens) are normally tipped by their secret informers then with the help of the police they arrest the culprits.