Baby gorilla rescued from poachers
10th August 2011
An eight month old gorilla has been confiscated from poachers on the Rwanda – Congo border
Rwandan police have arrested Congolese poachers and two Rwandans in possession of a baby mountain gorilla in the town of Gisenyi, on the Democratic Republic of Congo border.
The poachers claimed that the infant gorilla was kidnapped from the Bukima area of Virunga National Park, indicating that it belongs to a critically endangered population. They added that they kept the infant for six days before trying to smuggle it into Rwanda.
The Director for Virunga National Park, Dr Emmanuel de Merode said today, "The infant mountain gorilla was recovered and the suspected poachers arrested. This is a remarkable achievement by the Rwandan Authorities.
“Nevertheless, the incident is unacceptable and deeply worrying for us, and reflects the enormous pressures faced by our rangers, 11 of whom have been killed this year protecting the park. Efforts are under way to strengthen the protection measures through de-snaring, increased anti-poaching, and tight collaboration with the local community."
The gorilla, estimated to be eight months old, was taken to veterinarians at the Mountain Gorilla Veterinarian Project (MGVP) for a full health check – according to the veterinarians, the gorilla is strong apart from a runny nose and a bad cough.
Dr Jan Ramer from the MGVP said, "He will go through a 30-day quarantine period, and hopefully will return to DR Congo at Virunga National Park's Senkwekwe Center where he can join other orphan gorillas.
“We are cautiously optimistic for this little guy – he is tense, but accepting of people, and is eating. All good signs for his eventual recovery."
There are approximately 790 mountain gorillas left in the world, with 480 in the Virunga Volcanoes Conservation Area, which is shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.
Six orphaned gorillas were returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo just last week after poachers smuggled them out of the country and into Rwanda. The rescues are being hailed as step in the right direction from both Congolese and Rwandan wildlife protection agencies.
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