Nindja is Dead
The silverback Nindja died on October 30. Soldiers travelling in a truck
on the main road which traverses the park saw Nindja feeding in the bamboo
and they shot him, about 6 km from the park headquarters at Tshivanga.
There are several versions of Nindja's death. His head and hands were
removed from his corpse. A rumour reports that he was eaten and that the
soldiers kept his skin. The person responsible for instigating the killing
has gone into hiding. In mid-November, the gorilla group was relocated,
and its members were still together, although there is no silverback to
lead them. Nindja had been the dominant male in this group since 1989.
Nindja is the third silverback leader of the gorilla groups that have
been habituated for tourism in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park to die within
the last 4 years. Maheshe was killed in 1995,
and Mushamuka disappeared earlier this year.
Only Mubalala remains of the four famous silverback group leaders. His
group was habituated for tourism in 1986.
Photo:
Armin Heymer
Nindja asleep