PARIS – Mountain gorillas living in a war-torn region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have increased in number despite the bloody conflict, according to a new count released on Tuesday.
The census – the first since specialised rangers were expelled by rebel forces from the Virunga National Park 16 months ago – showed a sub-population of gorillas used to humans had gone up from 72 to 81.
These so-called ‘habituated’ gorillas are most at risk of being killed because they do not fear people. They also inhabit regions strewn with snares laid to trap other forest fauna for food. ‘We are relieved to see that instead of fewer gorillas, which we had feared, there are actually several more animals,’ said Marc Languy of the WWF’s Eastern Africa Regional Problem. Fifteen months passed without park rangers being able to monitor the gorillas. But in December forces loyal to Congolese ex-general Laurent Nkunda – arrested last week by Rwandan forces – allowed the rangers to enter the Mikeno sector to resume monitoring. They found more than 400 snares set by poachers targeting small forest antelope. ‘This clearly indicates that conservation efforts must continue to save mountain gorillas which remain threatened, despite the good news brought by the latest count,’ Languy said. – Nampa-AFP
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
