Gorilla Journal Journal of Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe
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Gorilla
Journal
Journal of Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe
No. 56, June 2018
The Current Education Efforts Being a Good New Population
Whereabouts of Prevent a Cross Guest – A Guide Estimate for
Coco and Pucker River Gorilla from for Tourists Western Lowland
Being Killed Visiting Gorillas GorillasBERGGORILLA & REGENWALD DIREKTHILFE
CONTENTS Authors of this Issue became conservator for the Mt. Tshia
berimu sector of the Virunga National
D. R. Congo 3 Brian Batstone worked with apes Park and in 2017 the Director of the
Street Lighting in Mwenga Centre 3 in the Cologne zoo from 1973 to 1985. Itombwe Reserve.
More Rangers Killed in Virunga He was keeper for elephants from 1985 Dr. Fiona (Boo) Maisels has
National Park 5 to 2012. During his holidays he worked worked in the Central African forests
Rwanda 6 with elephants in Asia. He retired for the last 30 years as a conservation
Gorillas in our Midst: the Current in 2014 and is still engaged for the scientist. She has been in the IUCN
Whereabouts of Coco and Pucker 6 Cologne Zoo as a project assistant at SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG)
Memories – Working with Mountain the Elephant Transit Home Udawalawe, since 2007 (and on the IUCN SSC
Gorillas in the Cologne Zoo 7 Sri Lanka. PSG Great Ape Section Executive
Cross River 9 Anna Behm Masozera has Committee since 2013).
Education Efforts Prevent a Cross worked for the International Gorilla Dr. Henry Pihlström is a researcher
River Gorilla from Being Killed 9 Conservation Programme since 2010, and lecturer at the Faculty of Biological
Gorillas 11 currently as the programme’s director. and Environmental Sciences, Uni
New Virunga Gorilla Number 11 She holds a Master of Science degree versity of Helsinki, Finland. Among his
Being a Good Guest – A Guide for from the University of Florida’s School research interests are the taxonomy,
Tourists Visiting Gorillas 11 of Forest Resources and Conservation. anatomy and biogeography of mam
Certified Gorilla FriendlyTM – Gorilla Andrew Dunn is Project Manager mals, including primates.
Tourism as a Conservation Tool 14 for the WCS biodiversity research pro Dr. Martha Robbins, a research
New Global Population Estimate for gram in southeastern Nigeria, having associate at the Max Planck Institute
Western Lowland Gorillas 18 taken up his appointment in March for Evolutionary Anthropology, has
Reading 20 2004. been studying the behavioural ecology
Berggorilla & Regenwald Janne Granroth, Senior Museum of gorillas since 1990. Since 1998, she
Direkthilfe 21 Technician at the Finnish Museum has been studying the mountain gorillas
Impressions from our Members’ of Natural History, maintains the ver in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park,
Meeting in Nuremberg Zoo 21 tebrate collections at the Zoological since 2005 she has been working with
Finances 22 Museum in Helsinki. During the last the gorillas in Loango.
Impressions from the Species Con couple of years he has participated in Dr. Samantha Strindberg has
servation Day in the Stuttgart Zoo 23 taxonomic review and restoration of old worked as a quantitative conservation
mammal and bird specimens. scientist in the Global Conservation
Dr. Inaoyom Imong is the Director Program of the Wildlife Conservation
of the Cross River Landscape Project Society (WCS) since 2001. She provides
Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018 of WCS Nigeria. He has been involved statistical design, field implementation,
Editor: Dr. Angela Meder in Cross River gorilla conservation and analysis assistance to WCS staff
Augustenstr. 122, 70197 Stuttgart, since 2004. world-wide.
Germany Jean Claude Kyungu Kasolene Dr. Iris Weiche started her work with
E-mail meder@berggorilla.org headed the Tayna Gorilla Reserve, primates in 1990. For her dissertation
Translation and Proofreading: Ann the Walikale Community Gorilla Re she studied female gorillas in zoos.
DeVoy, Bettina and Andrew Grieser serve and was Project Manager for Since 1994 she has been active for
Johns the Tshiaberimu Gorilla Project for B&RD, and from 1997 to 2002 she was
Cover: Kamaya, Loango National The Gorilla Organization. In 2008 he a member of the Board of Directors.
Park, Gabon Currently she is lecturing at the Uni
Photo: Martha Robbins Organization Address: versity of Tübingen and involved in zoo
Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe research, especially on gorillas.
Bank Account: c/o Burkhard Broecker Dr. Liz Williamson is a Research
IBAN DE06 3625 0000 0353 3443 15 Juedenweg 3 Fellow at the University of Stirling and
BIC SPMHDE3E 33161 Hoevelhof, Germany the IUCN Red List Authority Coordinator
Switzerland: E-mail broecker@berggorilla.org for great ape taxa. She began fieldwork
IBAN CH90 0900 0000 4046 1685 7 Website: on apes in 1982 and is a former director
BIC POFICHBEXXX http://www.berggorilla.org of the Karisoke Research Centre.
2 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018D. R. CONGO
First Phase of Street against poverty of populations adjacent
Parc National
to protected areas but not actively par
Lighting in Mwenga ticipating in the management of these
de Kahuzi-Biega
RWANDA
Centre protected areas, and thus not deriv Bukavu
ing legitimate advantages and benefits
The Democratic Republic of the Congo from them. Mwenga
teems with important natural and Furthermore, the legislation had Mt. Mohi BURUNDI
(3464 m)
biological resources. As they are so nothing to say concerning the respon
important for growth, development, sibilities of neighbouring populations – Uvira Bujumbura
the fight against poverty and climate and indeed of all the stakeholders, both Réserve Naturelle
regulation, strategies and effective public and private – to participate in the d’Itombwe
rules for the conservation of these planning process, nor in regard to na
resources need to be put in place. tional policies to implement conserva Itombwe
In fact, nature conservation was reg tion and sustainable use of biodiversi Massif Baraka
ulated long ago through Decree no. 69- ty, and neither did it say anything about
041 of 22 August 1969. However, the the practical modalities of the consulta
D. R. Fizi
implementation of this law turned out tion process.
CONGO TAN-
to be difficult as appropriate implemen In fact, Decree no. 69-041, of 22
tation measures had not been planned August 1969, was unsuitable as na ZANIA
which would take into consideration ture conservation legislation. A new Kigoma
new challenges to sustainable devel Decree, no. 014/003, of 11 February Boko
opment. Key among these is the fight 2014, on nature conservation, com
bined with the ICCN’s (Congolese Insti The Itombwe Reserve in South Kivu
tute for Nature Conservation) national and the town Mwenga
strategy for community conservation, Map: Angela Meder
have brought about several major in
novations, among them APA (Areas of lights along the main road, based on
Indigenous Heritage) which benefit lo the APA principle, which is stipulated
cal communities. not only by the CBD (Convention
The managers of Itombwe Nature on Biological Diversity) but also by
Reserve (INR) in partnership with the the NSCB (National Strategy for the
organisation “les SAGES” and with fi Conservation of Biodiversity);
nancial support from their partner Berg – to mitigate the insecurity caused by
gorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe were a lack of lighting;
pleased to be able to finance and im – to demonstrate to the population
plement an electrification project in se the merit of protecting the natural
lected public places in important cen resources of the IRN in general and
tres adjacent to the INR. Putting theo the gorillas in particular;
ry into practice, the first electrification – to help the population develop trust
phase was launched by the Mwenga in the IRN such that the community
Territory Administrator on 12 January will participate in the conservation of
2018 in the presence of all the relevant the reserve’s natural resources.
state services and tribal chiefs, in front
of a crowd that was happy to receive Results:
this gift from the ICCN/IRN and its part
ner organisation Berggorilla. This is an – The trust between the IRN and the
innovative project for Mwenga Centre. neighbouring population has been
The objectives: strengthened.
One of the street lights during the – The population joins in the
ceremony – to contribute to the development of participatory conservation of the
Photo: ICCN RNI Mwenga Centre by providing street IRN.
3 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018D. R. CONGO
– The APA principle and its application who had arrived for the occasion. All forts. Only two months after their arriv
in favour of the people living in the the words and speeches expressed joy al, they have already made the ICCN
neighbourhood of the IRN replace and satisfaction with the support given very visible. Building on the public elec
that of exclusive conservation. by the ICCN/IRN and its financial part trification event, which has just been
– The population understands the ner Berggorilla, which has allowed the implemented, his association has now
merit of protecting the natural accomplishment of this first phase of become involved in the sensitization of
resources of the IRN in general and providing Mwenga Centre with electric the people living adjacent to the IRN in
the gorillas in particular. ity. Highlights of the speeches are as the Mwenga Territory.
follows: The Director of the IRN first intro
This report gives an account of the The Chief of Mwenga Centre duced his team to the people, then
ceremony for the launch of the pilot could not hide his sense of achieve explained the origin of the project. In
project for public electrification and its ment about these electrical installa his speech, he showed that the pro
official presentation to the population tions. He offered his warmest thanks ject originated through a meeting with
and the completion of the first phase. to the ICCN/IRN for the electrification, SAGES. During this meeting, the as
Six electricity poles have been installed the first in the history of Mwenga, and sociation had presented a tortoise that
in a parking place in Mwenga Centre. saluted the approach of the SAGES had been found and was then put back
The street lighting will benefit the association in supporting this initiative. into the forest. The association ex
population of Mwenga Centre. The He promised that the population would pressed its wish to collaborate with the
activity was implemented as part of the get involved in the sustainable conser IRN in sensitization. Within this con
community conservation programme. vation of the IRN. text, the demand for public electrifica
The public ceremony, which was After introducing all the associa tion was mentioned and the IRN direc
held on 12 January 2018, was facili tion’s members including all the lead tor passed it on to Berggorilla & Regen
tated by the local chief/community con ers and prominent citizens of the area, wald Direkthilfe, whose response was
servation officer John Baliwa. Several his association’s aims and activities, favourable and who thus also needed
personalities offered a few appropriate the President of the Mwenga SAGES to be thanked. In addition, he informed
words in front of a large crowd consist association thanked the new IRN the audience that the street lights are
ing of the local population and others management team and lauded their ef a gift from the IRN in order to protect
the gorillas. In this sense, if the people
commit to conservation, they will ben
efit from the IRN.
Finally, the director of the IRN
thanked the administrator of the terri
tory, the representatives of the chiefs of
Basile and Wamuzimu chieftains, the
members of the security council, the
partner organisations WWF and Afri
capacity, the priests, the doctors, the
Mwenga office of the public prosecu
tor and the local notability for having
agreed to support the IRN and for grac
ing the ceremony with their presence.
The partner organisation Africa-
pacity expressed its satisfaction about
such an initiative: lighting up the park
ing places not only helps the local peo
ple but also travellers who are passing
through.
During the ceremony: from left to right, the representative of the Mwami of The partner organisation WWF
Basile, the Administrator and his wife, and the Director of the IRN. Behind hoped that the population will use this
them are the partner organisations WWF and Africapacity. model initiative to become more in
Photo: ICCN RNI volved in the conservation of the IRN.
4 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018D. R. CONGO
As far as WWF is concerned, the new which is the centre of all socio-eco
IRN team should be supported in its nomic activities of Mwenga, and where
work, as its arrival has given impetus to cases of insecurity have been regis
the WWF’s community activities which tered at night. The population in gen
have been going on in the area for a eral – and female sellers in particular –
while. were pleased and relieved as the pub
The representative of the Mwami lic lighting guarantees them a minimum
of the Basile chieftain said it was an of security during their nightly sales ac
honour to see the main road of his area tivities. As a result, the population has Distribution of gorilla traces in the
provided with electricity, which is a first. promised to make the installations their Itombwe Reserve, sector Mukungu
The Mwenga Territory Administra- own and to protect them. zi, noticed during the patrols in
tor, after having closed the series of Jean Claude Kyungu January to March 2018 (at the top of
speeches, called on the population to the map, in the middle)
protect the new installations like rea Map: ICCN RNI
sonable people. Just having light in the
night will reduce insecurity. With these
words, the speaker made the case that
this initiative is the beginning of the
development of Mwenga Centre. This
initiative constitutes the first phase of
electrification of the localities border
ing the IRN.
After his speech, the Administrator
proceeded to the official launch of the
More Rangers Killed in Virunga National Park
first phase of the provision of electric During a rebel attack on 9 April 2018, five rangers and a driver were killed.
ity by cutting a symbolic ribbon and Another ranger was wounded. The team was ambushed while driving
by turning on the first pilot lamp by re through the central sector of the park near Lake Edward between Lulimbi
mote control while waiting for the time and Ishasha, close to the border to Uganda. The men who died were
of the automatic lighting of the lamps between 22 and 30 years old. Although it is not clear which one of the
(6.30 pm) to arrive for the other lamps many rebel groups ranging in the park is responsible for the attack, officials
to light up. At the sight of the light be believe that it was a Mai-Mai group.
ing turned on, the population could not This was not the first attack to Virunga National Park staff in April: on
hide its satisfaction – crying out and ap 1 April, a ranger was killed by armed men when he and his colleagues were
plauding when they saw a dream come on a routine patrol in the central sector.
true. And with this outpouring, the cer Including these most recent cases, the number of Virunga National Park
emony ended with a cocktail offered by employees who have died during their work for the park has risen to 175
the SAGES association. within the last 20 years.
The purchase price on the mar
ket was high, which meant that not all On 11 May 2018, a ranger was killed again and 3 persons were abducted
the material that was planned could by armed attackers – the driver of the vehicle and two British tourists. They
be bought. Instead of buying 10 poles, were driving from Kibumba to Goma after having visited the mountain go
only 6 could be bought due to budget rillas in the park when they were ambushed. Two days later the kidnappers
ary constraints. Apart from these con released their hostages in the national park.
straints and other logistical hazards, The ranger Rachel Masika Baraka, who died after her critical injury
both technical and financial, it must during the attack, was only 25 years old. She was one of 26 women who
be noted that all activities were imple worked as rangers for the Virunga National Park.
mented as reported above. Tourism was halted in Virunga National Park after this incident to impro
However, there is notable success ve the security of park personnel and visitors.
in that we have succeeded in provid Summary of several blog entries of the Virunga National Park and
ing street lighting to a part of Mwenga’s other media
main road, particularly to the carpark,
5 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018RWANDA
Gorillas in our Midst: the gorillas would not fare well in a Euro Coco and Pucker’s earliest days in
pean zoo. Nevertheless, Fossey volun captivity have been recounted both
Current Whereabouts of teered to nurse both Coco and Pucker by Fossey herself (1970, 1983) and
Coco and Pucker to health after their capture, in order to by others (e.g., Mowat 1987). Rather
increase their chances of surviving the less has been published about Coco
Dian Fossey’s famous book Gorillas trip to Germany. In Fossey’s care, both and Pucker’s later life, but the fact that
in the Mist (1983) contains several Coco and Pucker did indeed rapidly re they did indeed end up in Cologne Zoo
memorable episodes from her years gain their strength. is widely known. However, what hap
of studying the mountain gorillas in In May 1969, Coco and Pucker ar pened to these two gorillas after their
the Virunga Mountains. One of them is rived in Cologne Zoo, where they would deaths has received little attention, at
the story of Coco and Pucker, the two live for nine years. Originally, it was be least in print.
juvenile females which were captured lieved that Coco was male and the zoo Originally, Coco and Pucker ended
from the wild and destined for the thought that it had received a potential up as specimens in the collections of
Cologne Zoo, (West) Germany. breeding couple. However, a chromo the Alexander Koenig Research Muse
The capture of Coco and Pucker in some test in the early 1970s showed um (or the Zoologisches Forschungs
1969 was sanctioned by the Rwandan that both gorillas were females (Hen museum Alexander Koenig, ZFMK)
government. Fossey, however, strong ning 1974). In 1978, Coco and Puck in Bonn, Germany (R. Hutterer, per
ly disapproved of the affair, especially er suddenly succumbed to bacterial in sonal communication). At the time of
when she subsequently learned that fection within a few months from each Coco’s death, the possibility that her
in order to capture these young goril other. Coco died on April 5, 1978, and skin should be preserved as a museum
las, the hunters who were assigned for Pucker on June 6 in the same year. An specimen was apparently not consid
this task apparently killed all the oth autopsy was performed on both ani ered. During the autopsy, Coco’s head,
er members of both Coco’s and Puck mals; it was found that Coco and Puck including the skin, was detached from
er’s respective family groups (Fossey er suffered from congenital immune the rest of the body, thus making the
1983). She also feared that mountain system defects (Krüger 1979). skin unusable for taxidermy purposes.
Pucker’s skin, however, was kept intact
after her death.
The ZFMK had traditionnally close
institutional ties with the Finnish Muse
um of Natural History (FMNH) in Hel
sinki, Finland. These two museums
exchanged zoological specimens on
several occasions in the early 1980s.
It was as a result of one such speci
men exchange that Coco and Puck
er’s remains eventually ended up in
the FMNH. Pucker’s skin was made
into a taxidermy specimen and she has
been on public display in the FMNH
since 1985.
In the FMNH, Pucker has been
placed in a diorama with a Virunga
Mountains setting, positioned on a slop
ing, moss-covered tree trunk. Pucker is
mounted in a quadrupedal pose which
is similar to that of a mountain gorilla in
one of Robert Campbell’s photographs,
originally published in the National Ge
ographic magazine (Fossey 1971, pp.
Pucker in her diorama setting in the FMNH 574–575). Pucker’s skull and virtually
Photo: Janne Granroth complete skeleton are not on display;
6 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018RWANDA
We thank Risto Väinölä and Martti Hildén at the
Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS
for providing us with access to specimens in
their care, Rainer Hutterer, Eva Bärmann, and
Erik Weckman for providing us with valuable
information, and Jeroen Stevens and Sonja
Koski for help with the literature.
References
Fossey, D. (1970): Making friends with
mountain gorillas. National Geographic 137
(January), 48–67
Fossey, D. (1971): More years with the
mountain gorillas. National Geographic 138
(October), 574–585
Fossey, D. (1983): Gorillas in the Mist.
Houghton Mifflin Company
Henning, G. A. (1974): Olympiatest für Gorillas.
Die Zeit, 19. April
Krüger, G. R. F. (1979): Coco und Pucker, die
Berggorillas (Gorilla g. beringei) des Kölner
Zoo – ein Epilog. Zeitschrift des Kölner Zoo
22 (3), 95–99
Mowat, F. (1988): Woman in the Mist: The
Story of Dian Fossey and the Mountain Gorillas
of Africa. Macdonald, London & Sydney
Smith, B. H. et al. (1994): The age of eruption
of primate teeth: a compendium for aging
individuals and comparing life histories.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
37, 177–231
Thompson, N. E. & Almécija, S. (2017): The
evolution of vertebral formulae in Hominoidea.
Journal of Human Evolution 110, 18–36
Williams, S. A. (2011): Variation in anthropoid
vertebral formulae: implications for homology
Pucker’s skull and homoplasy in hominoid evolution. Journal
Photo: Janne Granroth of Experimental Zoology (Molecular and
Developmental Evolution) 318, 134–147
they are part of the FMNH’s research tain gorilla vertebral formula (Williams
collection (where they have been giv 2011, Thompson & Almécija 2017).
en collection number UN 1416). Coco’s Coco’s vertebral column is incomplete.
Memories – Working with
skull and the skin of the head are un The first cervical vertebra (the atlas) is Two Mountain Gorillas in
fortunately missing, and are presumed missing, and while there are 13 thorac the Cologne Zoo
lost. However, most of her postcranial ic vertebrae, only two lumbar vertebrae
bones (collection number UN 2718) as and no sacral or cervical vertebrae are The two mountain gorillas from the
well as the rest of the skin (UN 1720) preserved. Virunga Mountains in Rwanda, Coco
are preserved. Coco and Pucker have ended up far and Pucker, arrived in the Cologne Zoo
Pucker’s skull is in fairly typical con away from their native Rwanda. Their in May 1969. At that time it was a very
dition for a female gorilla of her age, lifespans were, sadly, not as long as controversial theme worldwide. Coco
which was estimated to have been cir they ideally should have been, and and Pucker were a present from the
ca 13 years at the time of her death neither one of them ever had any off Rwandan government to the mayor of
(Krüger 1979). All permanent teeth are spring. However, their earthly remains Cologne, Theo Burauen. The Cologne
in place, with the exception of the man are, at least for the most part, pre Zoo was the only zoo in the world at
dibular third molars which were still served for posterity. Thus Coco and that time to display mountain gorillas.
erupting (cf. Smith et al. 1994). Puck Pucker still serve as silent ambassa They were given as a pair to breed,
er has, in addition to 7 cervical verte dors for their endangered species, long unfortunately they turned out to be two
brae, 13 thoracic, 3 lumbar, and 6 sa after their deaths. females.
cral vertebrae, i.e., the typical moun Henry Pihlström and Janne Granroth I was fortunate to work as a keep
7 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018RWANDA er with Coco and Pucker from 1973 to cold or diarrhoea but nothing serious. 1978. During the summer I took them In March 1978 Pucker showed signs out for walks. I remember they loved to of discomfort and did not have an ap climb the beech tree opposite the zoo petite. In spite of the consultation of a director’s house. On top of the tree they paediatrician and immediate treatment built themselves sleeping nests. Every she died a few days later. Coco had time I pass this tree during my walks the same symptoms and died sever through the zoo today, I think of Coco al weeks later (on 1 June). They both and Pucker. They were very playful. died of a bacterial infection. The post Gorillas prefer varied diets and have mortem results showed symptoms of a individual preferences for food. Since defect in the immune systems (heredi we did not have the same food as in tary or acquired) of both mountain go the wild, we supplemented their food rillas which might have been the rea with celery, onions, broccoli, other veg son why the treatment with antibiotics etables, bamboo shoots and wheat etc. failed. sprouts. Celery, both sticks and root, I remember Coco and Pucker as and fresh spinach leaves were their fa very gentle apes and it was great fun Pucker in Cologne Zoo vourite food. to work with them. Coco and Pucker had an occasional Brian Batstone Brian Batstone with Coco 8 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018
CROSS RIVER
Education Efforts Prevent vi
sion of the Cross River National
a Critically Endangered Park. Population
Researchers believe the gorilla is a
“Blackback” Cross River “blackback” – a young male that has
Differences
Gorilla from Being Killed recently left its family group to start In western gorillas and Grauer’s
its own. Gorillas normally live in small gorillas, male emigration is
In November 2017, Wildlife Conserva groups composed of a large domi common, while among mountain
tion Society (WCS) received a report of nant male known as a silverback to gorillas less than 50 % of the
a lone male Cross River gorilla sighted gether with three to four females and males emigrate. In the Virunga
near two Nigerian villages (Ofambe their young. When these young goril mountains, in Bwindi and Bai
and Okiro), miles from the nearest las mature, they leave to join another Hokou, a large percentage of the
protected area. Fewer than 300 Cross gorilla group. Each blackback gorilla groups includes more than one
River gorillas remain in the wild in must roam the forest in search of a adult male.
Nigeria and Cameroon and are rarely mate. These wanderings are very im Solitary males make up 5
seen. They avoid humans by living portant for the long-term survival of the to 10 % of the western lowland
on the steepest, most inaccessible species, allowing for the exchange of gorilla populations. Among east
mountain slopes. genes between groups. ern gorillas, the percentage
News of this gorilla sighted close This gorilla is believed to have been seems to be lower: up to 3.5 %
to the villages, several miles outside making an attempt to migrate from in Kahuzi-Biega and 1.8–4.0 %
of Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary the AMWS to the Mbe Mountains, the in mountain gorillas.
– the nearest gorilla stronghold – was nearest Cross River gorilla site. So
therefore surprising. In Nigeria, gorillas far away from the sanctuary (see fig
occur at three sites – the Afi Mountain ure next page) and without the protec ing killed by villagers for bushmeat or
Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS), the Mbe tion offered by ranger patrols within the as reprisal for perceived threat to peo
Mountains, and the Okwangwo Di sanctuary, he faced serious risk of be ple and crops on farms. Fortunately
however, rather than attacking and kill
ing this young, adventurous gorilla, the
Anape protected area
Butatong villagers tolerated its presence so close
Akwaya gorilla distribution to their communities and reported its
Afi Mountain presence to the Cross River State For
national border
Wildlife Okwangwo estry Commission (CRSFC), which
Sanctuary Mbe manages the sanctuary, and WCS staff
Mountains at Afi. In December 2017, WCS staff
Afi River Cross River Takamanda
Forest Reserve National
Mbulu Forest
CAMEROON and CRSFC rangers found a fresh trail
National
Park Park heading back into the sanctuary – the
Basho last sign of the animal seen outside
Kagwene the sanctuary and indication that it had
Gorilla Sanctuary safely returned back to the sanctuary.
Takamanda The attitude and behaviour of the vil
NIGERIA Mon lagers towards this gorilla is commend
e
able, a possible indication of the suc
Ma
nyu
(Cr Mone River cess of WCS’ long-standing education
oss
) Ri
ver Forest Reserve program.
Although protected by law in Nige
Mamfe ria and Cameroon, Cross River goril
las are still occasionally hunted and
Tofala Hills they are particularly vulnerable to hunt
Wildlife Sanctuary ing outside protected areas where
they are not protected by ranger pa
Distribution of the Cross River gorilla in Nigeria and Cameroon trols. WCS works to save Cross Riv
Map: Angela Meder, with information from Richard Bergl er gorillas through support for protect
9 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018CROSS RIVER
terials such as T-shirts, caps and note
books are produced and distributed
as souvenirs in the local communities
and schools to encourage people to
take pride in Cross River gorillas as
their natural heritage. Thanks to this
increased awareness, and two enlight
ened village chiefs in Ofambe (Chief
Julius Ochui) and Okiro (Chief Augus
tine Bitte), the presence of this gorilla
so close to their villages was tolerated.
However, more needs to be done
to protect gorillas outside protected ar
eas. With funding support from Berg
gorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe, WCS
recently launched a “Gorilla Guardi
an” project at Afi, working with the sur
rounding communities to monitor and
protect Cross River gorillas outside the Interview session for My Gorilla –
sanctuary. A similar project is imple My Community with Hon. Abubakar
Locations where signs of the gorilla mented by WCS in Cameroon. Ewa, Executive Chairman of the
were observed outside the AMWS Inaoyom Imong and Andrew Dunn Boki Local Government Area
Map: WCS Nigeraia Photo: WCS Nigeria
ed area management and wildlife law
enforcement, community-based gorilla
protection, research, sustainable live
lihood development and conservation
education. WCS has been implement
ing an education and awareness pro
gram in the Cross River gorilla land
scape since 2002, reaching over 100
villages and 80 schools in Nigeria and
Cameroon. Activities implemented in
clude community meetings, great ape
film shows, field trips for conservation
clubs, schools visits, and a radio pro
gram called My Gorilla – My Commu
nity. The My Gorilla – My Community
program is a weekly radio magazine
program that combines entertain
ment and education to influence atti
tude and behaviour change. The pro
gram includes a drama segment and
an interview segment which provides
a platform for listeners to interact with
conservation experts and local politi
cians, and promotes adoption of sus
tainable livelihood activities that reduce
pressure on the gorillas and the for Recording a scene of the drama for My Gorilla – My Community
est. Cross River gorilla campaign ma Photo: WCS Nigeria
10 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018GORILLAS
New Virunga Gorilla 600
Number 500
400
A survey in 2015–2016 documented 300
604 mountain gorillas in the trans
200
boundary Virunga Massif, one of the
two areas where this gorilla subspecies 100
is found. This is the largest number
of Virunga gorillas ever record ed – 1971-73 1976-78 1981 1986 1989 2003 2010 2015/16
124 individuals more than during the
previous census (in 2010)! When com Virunga gorilla census results
bined with the published figure of 400 Drawing: Angela Meder
gorillas from Bwindi Impenetrable Na
tional Park, Uganda, as of 2011, an the Uganda Wildlife Authority, respec ity to these national parks who co-exist
estimated 1,004 mountain gorillas ex tively) under the transboundary frame with mountain gorillas and contribute to
isted in the wild as of June 2016. work of the Greater Virunga Trans conservation efforts.
In the area encompassing the Mike boundary Collaboration, and supported The two populations of mountain go
no Sector of Virunga National Park in by many partners and various donors. rillas remain small and vulnerable to a
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, The increase in mountain gorillas in potential rapid decline due to factors
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, habiting the Virunga Massif is attrib such as their limited habitat, climate
and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in uted to the effectiveness of conserva change, dependency on resources in
Uganda, the 604 gorillas were found tion policies, strategies, notably reg the park by people, and the risk of dis
in 41 groups and as 14 solitary males. ulated tourism, daily protection and ease transmission. The Greater Virun
Survey teams walked pre-determined veterinary interventions, intensive law ga Transboundary Collaboration calls
“recces” (reconnaissance trails) ensur enforcement, community conservation upon all conservation institutions and
ing a thorough coverage of all forest projects, and transboundary collabo organizations and in fact all individu
areas to sweep the area and search ration among government institutions als, to join efforts to conserve moun
for signs of gorillas, other key mam and NGO actors. Further, these results tain gorillas and their habitat for future
mals, and illegal activities. When fresh are a testament to the tireless effort of generations.
gorilla signs were detected, the teams the rangers and trackers who daily pro Source: press release of the Greater
followed the gorilla trail to locate three tect and monitor mountain gorillas and Virunga Transboundary Collaboration
recent night nest sites. At each of these their habitat, including those that have
nest sites, the teams collected fecal been killed in the line of duty. It is also
samples from nests. important to recognize the role of the Being a Good Guest – A
However, during this past census communities that live in close proxim Guide for Tourists Visiting
in 2015–2016, the survey effort was Gorillas
doubled by sweeping the Virunga Mas
sif twice; first from October to Decem As with many types of wildlife tourism,
ber 2015 (57 days) and second from viewing gorillas has grown in popularity
March to May 2016 (59 days). A sec since the 1980s. Currently tourists
ond sweep allows to find gorillas that can visit more than 20 gorilla groups
were undetected during the first sweep in the Virunga Massif and another
and thus provides more reliable num 14 in Bwindi Impenetrable National
bers of gorillas. Fecal samples were Park, Uganda. Approximately 50,000
analyzed genetically to determine indi tourists visit mountain gorillas each
vidual genotypes. year. Tourists can also visit Grauer’s
The survey was conducted by the gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park,
Protected Area Authorities of DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo as
Rwanda, and Uganda (l’Institut Congo A young Virunga gorilla on the well as see habituated western gorillas
lais pour la Conservation de la Nature, mother’s back at four sites (Bai Hokou in Central
the Rwanda Development Board and Photo: Martha Robbins African Republic, Mondika and Odzala
11 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018GORILLAS
tivities of a gorilla family. I also enjoy
talking with tourists about their experi
ences and sharing the world of gorillas
with them. I view being with the goril
las the same way as being a guest in
someone’s house, or in this case, for
est. As a guest, I treat the hosts with
respect and behave in a polite manner.
If guests behave in an inappropriate
way, they are likely to offend the hosts,
cause them stress, or in the worst case
threaten their safety.
What are the “house rules” for vis
iting gorillas and why do these rules
exist? When conservationists devel
oped gorilla tourism in Rwanda in the
1980s, they realized that if it were to
succeed as a conservation strategy, it
would need to be regulated (Weber &
Vedder 2001). The rules are in place
primarily to minimize disturbance to
Tourists with Mukiza, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park the gorillas, reduce the risk of disease
Photo: Martha Robbins transmission from humans to the go
rillas, and provide a safe, high quality
in Republic of Congo, and Loango able to get a close view into the lives of experience for tourists (Macfie & Wil
National Park, Gabon). some gorillas because they have been liamson 2010). People visiting the go
With little doubt, tourism has been habituated. Habituation, or when the rillas will hear these rules a few times
beneficial for gorilla conservation. The gorillas grow accustomed to humans and the majority of visitors are inter
permit fees provide millions of dollars in being in close proximity, is a form of ested in protecting the gorillas. None
revenue for the park services and as trust between the gorillas and us. They theless, it is valuable to spend some
sociated tourism businesses. Routine learn to expect us to act in a certain time thinking about the justification for
monitoring of the habituated groups way and in return, they will permit us the rules. Furthermore, putting your
provides increased protection of those to be nearby. self in the “shoes” of the gorillas – our
gorillas and enables veterinarians to Therefore, in the excitement of a hosts – may help you remember what
treat habituated gorillas. This greater unique encounter with habituated go the rules are and provide a more mean
protection of habituated gorillas is be rillas, we should also not forget that ingful experience. The guidelines have
lieved to be partially responsible for the like most things in life there are guide changed little over the years:
large increase in the number of moun lines to be followed. The rules for go
tain gorillas in the Virunga Massif since rilla tourism are in place essentially as 1) A maximum of 8 visitors to each
the mid-1980s (Robbins et al. 2011). a means to maintain the trust of the group of mountain gorillas (or 4 for
However, tourism can also be a threat gorillas as well as protect them from most western gorilla sites). This is
to the gorillas if not properly managed. too much disturbance. These rules ex in place to minimize the amount
Seeing gorillas in the wild is a dream ist not only to ensure the safety of visi of disturbance to the gorillas and
of many people and is an unforgetta tors but also to attain the main goal of to ensure that all tourists can get
ble wildlife experience. It is very differ gorilla tourism: the conservation of the a good view of the gorillas. We all
ent from observing wildlife from a ve gorillas. know the difference between having
hicle on a game drive, because there There is something very special a few friends visit versus hosting a
is nothing except some forest vegeta about being embedded with a gorilla party. When visiting the gorillas, it
tion between the gorillas and us. This group. Even after studying gorillas for should be an intimate visit, not a
makes it an incredible event but also nearly 30 years, I still enjoy the priv large party. The gorillas are aware
brings in different challenges. We are ilege of watching the day-to-day ac that there are different visitors every
12 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018GORILLAS
day, but the more people they need also become stressed or agitated if If a gorilla screams or charges at
to keep track of, the more stress and humans are too close. The closer visitors, it is because the humans
disturbance it is for them. humans get to the gorillas, the higher did something to provoke it. Maybe
2) One tourist visit per group of gorillas the risks. Humans have unwritten the visitors approached too closely
per day. Studies have shown that rules about personal space, es or made a rapid movement that
gorillas may feed or rest less during pecially with strangers, so respect frightened the gorilla. If gorillas
the hour that tourists are visiting. To the personal space of the gorillas. If scream or charge, they are trying
maintain as much of the normal daily the guides are taking you too close to protect themselves and the rest
schedule of the gorillas as possible, to the gorillas or other tourists are of their family. Occasionally I hear
only one tourist visit is permitted per asking to be taken closer, do not tourists say that “it was so cool
day. hesitate to ask them to respect this to be charged by a gorilla”, which
3) A maximum of one hour per visit. rule too. upsets me because it means that
This rule is also in place to enable 6) Do not go to the gorillas if you are the visitors caused that gorilla too
the gorillas to follow as much of sick with a cold, flu, or intestinal much stress. Who would brag about
their normal daily routine in an problem. One of the biggest risks to being shouted at by the host of a
undisturbed fashion as possible. gorillas is the transmission of human get-together?
Can you imagine what it would be disease to the gorillas (Spelman et 11)Follow the advice of the guides. The
like to have 8 strangers sit in your al. 2013). Cases of gorillas being guides are experienced in telling
living room for an hour every day? ill with human respiratory disease people where and when to move
4) Visitors must be 15 years old or have been documented. Colds when with the gorillas, with the goal
older. Children are more likely than and flu may put us out of work for of minimizing disturbance to them.
adults to harbor various diseases a few days, but they can be lethal
that can be transmitted to the go for gorillas. Would you visit friends if If your guide is not following the rules,
rillas. Also, small children may have you were sick? say something to him and/or to the
difficulties walking in the forest or 7) All visitors must wear a surgical park managers at the office. We live
find the gorillas very frightening. mask (only in the Congolese in an age where you can voice your
5) Maintain a minimum distance of portion of the Virungas and Loango opinion and rate the quality of anything
7 m between people and gorillas. National Park, Gabon). This rule online (TripAdvisor etc.), which in
Without a doubt, this rule is the is in place to minimize the risk of cludes gorilla tourism. Sometimes
most difficult to abide and is the one disease transmission. The gorillas guides may bend the rules in hopes of
most commonly broken. Often it is are not disturbed by people wearing getting a larger tip from tourists, which
nearly impossible to see the gorillas masks and it provides one additional is shortsighted on the part of both
when 7 m away because of the boundary to prevent human germs the guide and the tourists. Everyone
thick vegetation. The gorillas also getting to the gorillas. Wearing – the park staff, tourists, tour operators,
do not always follow this rule. It is masks does not diminish the im conservationists, and researchers –
not uncommon for juveniles to be portance of the 7 m distance rule. must work together to maintain the
very curious about humans, when 8) Do not eat, drink, or smoke when rules for the long-term benefit of the
they should be busy playing with with the gorillas. Do not litter in the gorillas. It may be easy to think “oh,
their peers. However, this rule is in forest. Any food or water particles I’m only seeing the gorillas once, so
place to minimize the risk of disease dropped in the forest may have it is okay if I sit one meter away from
transmission from humans to go human germs on it. We do not want this infant gorilla if the guide allows
rillas. Studies show that particles the gorillas ingesting human food. me”, but please remember you are one
from a human sneeze can travel this 9) Do not use flash photography. of thousands of people visiting these
distance. In addition, being too close Nobody likes having bright lights in critically endangered animals and it
to gorillas can cause them stress their faces, including gorillas. only takes one person to transfer a
and be threatening to them. Yes, 10)Speak quietly and do not make any cold. Do you want to be the person that
it is amazing that wild gorillas can sudden movements. Do not run if gives the gorillas a cold virus? Do you
be so tolerant of humans at a close a gorilla charges. The gorillas are want to be causing stress to the mother
distance, but that does not mean accustomed to humans moving and father of that infant gorilla?
that it is worth the risk of giving them slowly and quietly. Therefore, do not Lastly, while it is not an official rule, I
a respiratory disease. Gorillas may do anything that may disturb them. suggest that when visiting gorillas you
13 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018GORILLAS
put your camera down for at least five Spelman, L. H. et al. (2013): Respiratory of tourism as a conservation tool for
minutes of the hour. Photos are a great disease in mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei mountain gorillas within their three
beringei) in Rwanda, 1990–2010: outbreaks,
way to document your experience, but clinical course, and medical management.
range States. While IGCP does not
rather than spending the full hour tak Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 44, manage mountain gorilla tourism
ing many, many photos, take some 1027–1035 – that is left strictly to the Protected Area
time and simply watch the gorillas. Why Weber, B. & Vedder, A. (2001): In the Kingdom Authorities – we strongly advocate for
of Gorillas. New York (Simon and Schuster)
are you visiting the gorillas in the first the continued pursuit of best practice
place? Is it simply to get a photo or is approaches by all involved, from
it for the overall experience? After all, Certified Gorilla authority, to manager, to guide, to
you would take photos the entire time FriendlyTM – Safeguarding private operators, to tracker, to tourist.
you were visiting friends? What underlines best practice ap
Martha M. Robbins Gorilla Tourism as a proaches is the precautionary principle –
Conservation Tool utilize as few gorilla groups as needed,
References
Macfie, E. J. & Williamson, E. A. (2010): Best take as few people as possible, and
Practice Guidelines for Great Ape Tourism. The International Gorilla Conservation stay no more than one hour of viewing
IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG). Programme has been operating for at a safe distance. It is even better to
Gland, Switzerland
Robbins, M. M. et al. (2011): Extreme Con
more than 25 years, and has provided wear a mask or at a minimum at least a
servation Leads to Recovery of the Virunga financial and technical support for barrier (even a cloth bandana) to cover
Mountain Gorillas. Plos One 6 the introduction and development your nose and mouth in proximity to go
During a tourist visit of the Umubano group, Parc National des Volcans Photo: Karin Linke
14 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018GORILLAS
rillas. These principles have been doc
umented in best practice guidelines by
IUCN (Macfie and Williamson 2010; Gi
lardi et al. 2015).
These best practice approaches can
be perceived as a barrier to greater
revenue by an authority, and a bar
rier to getting better tips from tourists
for perceived good service by a guide.
However, there is a stronger case to be
made for the best practice approaches
in ensuring greater visitor satisfaction
and willingness to pay, and ensuring
that the objectives of gorilla tourism are
sustained – conservation of the spe
cies itself.
In 2012, the International Gorilla
Conservation Programme began work
ing with the Wildlife Friendly Enter
prise Network to explore transitioning
the best practice guidelines into stand
ards on which the various actors could
evaluate themselves against best prac
tice, and also provide the basis for an
audit to establish eligibility for a spe
cific tourism ecolabel. Certified Goril contribute to the conservation of a spe mountain gorilla tourism stipulated the
la FriendlyTM was born, and since its cific wildlife species is. Wildlife Friend percentage of great ape population to
inception, and through a consultative ly Enterprise Network’s exploration of be exposed to tourism, the number of
process, the following set of agreed Certified Gorilla FriendlyTM standards tourists per visitation, and the use of
required and recommended standards has led to the development of similar face masks.
have been developed: ecolabels – Sea Turtle FriendlyTM and We hope that in the near future, peo
– Parks & Park Guides Elephant FriendlyTM. ple will start seeing the Certified Gorilla
– Hotels & Lodges A professional standards writer was FriendlyTM label (http://wildlifefriendly.
– Tour Operators engaged to translate the best practice org/gorilla-friendly-tourism/) as a way
– Drivers & Private Guides guidelines into auditable standards. to identify and confirm that a business,
– Travel Agents For each standard extracted from the park, or product they are supporting as
– Park-edge Community Products best practice guideline, an informed a consumer meets or exceeds stand
These are complimented with a full decision was taken after consultation ards. In the meantime, individual tour
suite of documents – certification of experts and stakeholders in regards ists can take the Gorilla FriendlyTM
manual and audit forms, as well as to which standards were required, and Pledge at www.gorillafriendly.org and/
a brand manual. While these were which standards were recommended. or provide feedback on your experi
developed specifically for mountain Certified Gorilla FriendlyTM went one ence at the same site.
gorillas, Certified Gorilla FriendlyTM is step further and identified those re We strongly encourage all authori
a voluntary ecolabel and the standards quired standards considered to be Crit ties, private operators, and conserva
were developed so that they can ical, for which non-compliance would tion organizations involved in gorilla
be applied to tourism of any gorilla subject the entity to exclusion or sus tourism to reach out to IGCP or the
subspecies. pension of the designation of Certified Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network to
The pursuit of an ecolabel to create Gorilla FriendlyTM. initiate an audit against the standards,
a market-driven incentive mechanism Through the process, the IUCN best and to seek certification if eligible. We
to maintain best practices is not new, practice guidelines which were difficult are actively seeking pilot sites, opera
but the application of an ecolabel to to reconcile with current practices in tors, and facilities. While we focus on
15 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018GORILLAS 16 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018
GORILLAS
17 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018GORILLAS
tourism, it is important to recognize that References ern lowland gorillas occur in the are
any human–gorilla interaction – wheth Gilardi, K. V. et al. (2015): Best Practice as surveyed” (Maisels et al. 2016). Al
guidelines for health monitoring and disease
er by tourists, researchers, park and control in great ape populations. Gland, though at face value, the new estimate
security staff, or illegal/legal resource Switzerland: IUCN SSC Primate Specialist seems higher than previously reported,
users – can contribute to habitat de Group we already knew that gorillas were also
struction, behaviour change, and dis Macfie, E. J. & Williamson, E. A. (2010): Best living in the parts of their geographic
Practice Guidelines for Great Ape Tourism.
ease transmission if not carefully man Gland, Switzerland: IUCN SSC Primate range that had not been surveyed –
aged. It is this improved management Specialist Group we just didn’t know how many. Now we
and monitoring, and the constant pur have been able to “fill in the gaps” and
suit of better practices across all man come up with the most accurate popu
agement activities, which will help se New Global Population lation estimate to date.
cure the future for mountain gorillas. Estimate for Western We did this by first identifying the
About to visit gorillas or know some Lowland Gorillas various factors (explanatory variables
one who is? Here are some pointers: in statistical parlance: guard presence,
1) Make sure your visit is an authorized In a paper published in the journal previous occurrence of the Ebola virus,
visit and you have an original receipt Science Advances, Samantha Strind canopy height, various human pres
from the appropriate authority. Cor berg, Fiona Maisels and 52 coauthors sure variables, etc.) that previous re
ruption is the biggest threat to any provide the most comprehensive as search had shown to influence great
tourism as a conservation tool. sessment to date of western lowland ape density. Subsequently, using data
2) Avoid any tour operator or product gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and from all sites where surveys of western
– even if on offer by the relevant central chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes lowland gorillas and central chimpan
authority – which promotes longer troglodytes) populations (Strindberg et zees had taken place, we fitted statisti
stays (more than one hour). al. 2018). Here, we wish to explain in a cal models that reflect the relationships
3) Follow park authorities’ guidance little more detail the approach used in between great ape density and the ex
and observe gorillas from a safe this first ever rangewide assessment of planatory variables. These multi-varia
distance (minimum distance of these two great ape taxa, in which we ble models allowed us to find the com
7 m/23 feet if wearing a mask, or examined the weight of each potential bination of explanatory variables that
10 m/33 feet if not wearing a mask), driver of their density, which allowed best described the survey data, that is,
and only take and share photos that us to estimate abundance across their to identify the model best reflecting the
respect this principle. geographic range and refine their real world system. For each taxon, we
Observing gorillas from a safe distance: distribution map, as well as investigate selected the model that best explained
1) Approach slowly, together, until the population trends in time. Prior to this density and distribution in the areas
gorillas come into view. analysis, no one had assembled time surveyed, and then used these same
2) Viewing will not always be perfect – series data from survey sites located models in conjunction with explanatory
appreciate that there may be across the entire range of either variable values to produce “predicted
branches and other vegetation be subspecies. This assessment was an density” layers across the entire ge
tween you and gorillas. essential component of a strategic ographic range (one for each taxon).
3) Move slowly, deliberately, and to planning process and builds on work The abundance estimates were ob
gether – do not disperse. carried out in 2005 and 2013 (Tutin et tained from this density surface, which
4) Be patient where you are, and only al. 2005, IUCN 2014) [for background, also defines the distribution of these
shift after the gorillas do, keeping see Gorilla Journal 50, 20–21]. great apes.
in mind that some gorillas may be In the paper “Guns, germs and trees We estimate that almost 20 % of
behind you. determine density and distribution of western lowland gorillas were lost be
If your guide does not respect these gorillas and chimpanzees”, we esti tween 2005 and 2013, and that they
principles, please leave this as a mate that in 2013 around 360,000 go are continuing to decline at an annu
com ment in the guest book, inform rillas were living in the forests of West al rate of 2.7 %, mostly due to poach
a park manager, and/or register your ern Equatorial Africa (WEA). The IUCN ing for bushmeat, disease, and habi
experience through the feedback sec Red List entry for western lowland go tat loss and degradation. By 2020, the
tion of www.gorillafriendly.org. rillas states that “extensive surveys total number of western lowland go
Anna Behm Masozera carried out since the mid-2000s have rillas will be around 300,000, and 25
suggested that 150,000–250,000 west years from now, the current population
18 Gorilla Journal 56, June 2018You can also read
