Orphaned gorillas could return to wild

The Guardian reports on the plans to release two orphaned young gorillas back into the wild.

Ndeze and Ndakasi (picture left) were orphaned after their parents were killed during the 2007 massacres in Congo's Virunga National Park that left 10 gorillas dead.

Negotiations are under way to bring two adult gorillas from Rwanda to become their adoptive parents, with a view to returning the babies to the wild.

The return of the gorillas from Rwanda depends on the completion of the Senkwekwe Centre, a specially designed sanctuary for Ndeze and Ndakasi in a lush forest habitat in Virunga park. The pair, each two and a half years old, moved there last December from a makeshift shelter in the city of Goma.

Besides the threat of poaching, the gorillas habitat is being slowly cut down as people seeking wood for fuel encroach more and more into the forests.

Read the full story: New hope for mountain gorillas

Photo from Virunga National Park

Congalese gorillas in rebels' hands

Reuters video reports on the rebel takeover of Congo's Virunga National Park gorilla sector and conservation headquarters.

General Laurent Nkunda's rebels took over the gorilla sector in September 2007, and this past October commandeered the Rumangabo park's headquarters where the conservation efforts were run from.

Many of the park's rangers, who protected the gorillas, are now in refugee camps.

The fate of the 200 gorillas is at risk.

Watch the report below:

Rare okapi spotted in African park

The BBC reports on sightings of the rare wild okapi in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Virunga National Park.

The shy animals - that mythical unicorns have been based on - are "under threat from the bush meat trade."

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) set up hidden camera triggers through out VNP and captured photos of the okapi:

"The latest pictures were taken by traps set by ZSL in conjunction with the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN).

Thierry Lusenge, a member of ZSL's DRC survey team, said: 'We have already identified three individuals, and further survey work will enable us to estimate population numbers and distribution in and around the Virunga Park, which is a critical first step in targeting conservation efforts.'"

Read the full story: Rare African okapi seen in wild

For previously reported stories from Ecotravel News on wildlife protection in the DRC's Virunga NP:
click here to read about elephant poaching
click here to read about conservationists attacked

Congolese elephants wiped out by poachers

Reuters reports on the massive decline of Congolese elephants due to illegal poaching and the Chinese marketplace for ivory:

"China, among the world's main destinations for illegal ivory, was granted permission last month to buy 108 tonnes of ivory stocks from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species."

A spokesperson for the park says that it is very hard to determine if the ivory sold comes from illegal or legal stocks because of the corruption and mismanagement from the decades of war in the region.

Rebels from the neighboring country of Rwanda have reportedly killed seven elephants this week in Congo's Virunga National Park, the nation's oldest.

Conservationist believe only about 300 elephants remain in the park.

Read the full story: Ivory poachers decimate Congo elephant population

Environmentalists killed in DRC gorilla park

The BBC reports on an attack to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) vehicle carrying 11 environmental workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Virunga National Park, home to endangered mountain gorillas.

Of the 11, two were killed and three injured when their vehicle was ambushed by Moi Moi rebels according to officials interviewed by Radio Okapi - a United Nations-supported station.

Virunga NP is "in a volatile region in eastern DR Congo where rebels have set up a base. Armed groups frequently carry out attacks in the park, home to at least 380 endangered mountain gorillas."

The endangered gorillas make their home in the parks and mountains that border Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC. More than half the population of the gorillas live in the DRC.

The rebel groups have taken over Virunga NP since September and have threatened to kill conservationists who enter the area. Last July five gorillas were shot "at point-blank range."

According to a park ranger, tourists have been led over the borders illegally by rebel "guides" to view the DRC gorillas. He urges tourists not to take this path because 1) the illegal guides do not follow proper procedure to stay a certain distance from the animals to not transmit disease and 2) it gives money to the same rebels that kill and eat the gorillas.

Read the full story: Attack in DR Congo gorilla park
Read about two gorilla conservationists: Diary: protecting mountain gorillas