Looking back on the year, 1998, it is difficult for even the sunniest person to be optimistic about D.R. Congo. Since August, 1998, rebel forces have been waging war against the government of Laurent Kabila. Fighting has concentrated in the eastern part of the country and has been devastating to both people and wildlife. To add to the tragedy, conditions in D.R. Congo had started to recover from the 1996 war. In conservation areas that harbor gorillas, surveillance and research had resumed, park infrastructure was being restored and development activities around protected areas, such as awareness programs, were starting up again. In most areas, the new war brought recovery to a screeching halt.

Virunga National Park

Along with habitat destruction in the southern sector of the Park, home to the Virunga’s mountain gorillas, the war has caused serious security problems. Although rebel forces control most of the towns in the region, other armed groups such as the Interahamwe (Hutu militia) and Mai-Mai are active both inside and outside the Park, putting Park personnel at great risk. Several guard posts have been shut down, and in September, four rangers were seriously injured by Mai-Mai rebels. Since the government stopped paying the rangers’ salaries, NGO’s such as DFGF Europe have been trying to compensate park personnel with emergency funds.

Continued military presence in the Park has also increased poaching. In September, 2 young mountain gorillas in one of the habituated groups were shot dead by poachers who left their bodies and fled.

Foreign visitors have not been spared the violence. In early August, six western tourists entered D.R.C. in the hope of viewing gorillas. They were attacked by gunmen in the forest, probably Interahamwe, and while three managed to get away, the fate of the other three is still unknown. Needless to say, tourism has crashed in D.R. Congo.

Mt. Tshiaberimu

The only region of the Virunga National Park where coordinated conservation activities have carried on, despite the strife, is Mt. Tshiaberimu. A team of 25 rangers has continued to monitor gorillas and other wildlife, collecting basic biological data, mapping locations and movements of wildlife, and running anti – poaching patrols. The Mt. Tshiaberimu Project, with funds from organizations such as BRD, Germany and DFGF Europe, maintains the ranger force by providing financial relief to make up for unpaid salaries, as well as some medical and maintenance expenses.

The gorillas of Mount Tshiaberimu are barely hanging on. There are two groups, one of 8 individuals and one of 6, and about 4 solitary males in this small population. Other activities of the Mt. Tshiaberimu Project include working with local leaders and authorities to create cooperative ties with the communities surrounding the conservation area.

There are several reasons for the persistence of conservation efforts at Mt. Tshiaberimu. These include the remoteness of the region, continued support by funding bodies, and the dedication of the rangers.

Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Since August, 1998, most conservation activities inside and outside Kahuzi-Biega National Park have been curtailed because of security problems. However, park and project personnel who remained in Bukavu have managed to continue some surveillance work, as well as developing local conservation awareness. Combining both goals, they are encouraging traditional chiefs and the local administration to organize mixed patrols made up of both Park rangers and local police.

Surveillance shows that large mammals, especially elephants, have suffered from increased poaching. Luckily, there is no evidence that gorillas have recently been killed.

A major problem in this Park is loss of forest to human use. Soon, Kahuzi-Biega National Park will be two separate pieces as the corridor joining the mountain and lowland regions is destroyed.

To end on a slight optimistic note, the German government has decided to continue funding the GTZ project in Kahuzi-Biega, although with a considerably reduced budget. Nevertheless, salaries for the rangers during 1999 will still be paid.

To conclude, while the present situation in D.R. Congo is dark, it is not without glimmers of light. Against almost insurmountable odds, there is still conservation work being carried out. As long as such will exists, then there is hope

This information was gleaned from the reports of capable and dedicated people based in the D.R. Congo who have continued to work for wildlife conservation despite the difficult, dangerous situation in the country. Among these are:

• Evariste Bararuha Ntayomba. Officer of the rangers in southern sector of Virunga park, Rumangabo, deputy of gorilla monitoring
• Vital Katembo Mushengezi. Project leader for Mt. Tshiaberimu, and field assistant for DFGF, Europe.
• Mbake Sivha, and ecologist and bioilogist working with GTZ at Kahuzi-Biega National Park in puiblic awareness and primate research
• Benjamin Ndakazi Lola, officer of rangers monitoring the Mikeno gorillas
• Claude Sikubwabo Kiyango. Since 1995 working for IGCN