June 15th, 1998

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Mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) and her baby.
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Nairobi.- Since October 1996, the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), ex-Zaïre, has suffered from civil unrest. Media reports on the advance of Laurent Kabila's Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo/Zaïre (ADFL) have described the dramatic events in the region. The enormous refugee camps established on the border of the Virunga National Park, Africa's oldest national park and World Heritage Site, were emptied in a matter of days, with many refugees fleeing deeper into the forests. The impact on the park and its wildlife, as well as the national protected area authorities responsible for its protection, has been devastating.
Throughout this period, the International Gorilla Conservation Programme has continued to work closely with the national protected area management authorities for the long-term protection of the mountain gorilla and its afromontane and high altitude habitat in Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. IGCP is working with the relevant authorities in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, the Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda and the Parc National des Virunga in DRC. The International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP) is a coalition of 3 conservation organisations: the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Fauna and Flora International (FFI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). In Congo, with financial support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and WWF-Netherlands, IGCP has been able to implement an integrated emergency programme for the conservation and rehabilitation of the southern sector of the Virunga National Park where the endangered mountain gorilla is found.
IGCP is working towards meeting its goal at a number of different levels, including the institutional level, species and habitat level, regional level, local community level and policy level. Towards this end, IGCP has developed and is implementing a ranger-based monitoring programme in all three countries and is working towards strengthening regional collaboration between the parks spanning the international borders. Through the support of IGCP, much has been achieved to ensure the protection of the gorillas and their habitat.

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Mountain gorilla suckling her baby
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The large numbers of births in habituated mountain gorilla groups is testament to this continued and effective protection. Since the onset of civil unrest 18 months ago, ten gorilla births have been recorded. Many of these are in families who have been violently upset in the past 3 years. In mid 1995, the silverback male Luwawa was killed. His family group was taken over by a new silverback male called Kabirizi. In this group alone, 5 babies have been born since March 1998.
Despite the enormous problems in the region and the challenges facing the protected area authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is evident that with continued technical and financial support, conservation efforts are making a difference and the mountain gorillas are continuing to survive.
For more information please contact:
Annette Lanjouw
Regional Coordinator - IGCP
c/o African Wildlife Foundation
P.O.Box 48177
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254-2-710367
Fax: 254-2-710372
E-mail: alanjouw@awfke.org