The Disappearance of Mishebere
Several times, the people responsible for the management of the Kahuzi-Biega
National Park have established contact with the warring factions in order
to safeguard the lives of those gorillas ranging across troop positions.
We have been able to follow four out of five gorilla families, who spend
most of their time in the vicinity of Tshivanga ranger post, on a regular
basis. No individuals are missing from these four families.
The fifth family, the Mishebere family, used to be the largest one. It
consisted of 39 individuals, including one adult male, Mishebere, 16 adult
females, one young male, 6 subadults, 6 juveniles and 9 infants. Its home
range was situated between the Mbayo plantation and the Mugaba patrol
post, and was about 20 km long. In October 2002, the family gathered as
usual at the foot of Mt. Kahuzi in the bamboo forest to forage for young
bamboo shoots. At the end of the bamboo shoot season, the family moved
towards Mbayo. Subsequently we were unable to survey this sector because
of security concerns. We lost contact with the family in the beginning
of January 2003. As soon as the warring factions left the park on May
3rd, 2003, we intensified patrols in order to relocate the group.
On August 12th, 2003, at 10.50 am, we finally found Mishebere's bones
under a tree on Kakungu Hill, which is covered with secondary forest.
Some hairs and teeth allowed identification. No flesh was left on the
bones, which had attracted red ants and rodents. Our observations permitted
the following conclusions:
- The murderers were not professional poachers, because they did not recover their loot, the corpse of the killed gorilla.
- The gorilla was shot not far from the Kabona route. The bullet did not damage any vital parts of the gorilla's body.
- We estimate that the crime took place in February 2003.
It will take more time and work to find out more about the other family
members. An increase in numbers of individuals or nests among the other
families has already been observed. Moreover, not far from where the bones
were found, we discovered a nesting site, which is approximately 2 months
old. We have to continue our surveys in order to get a better idea of
how many animals died and how many survived.
Once more we have to pay homage to the park rangers and our guides who
have worked under unimaginable conditions throughout the war years. Day
by day they braved all dangers in order to safeguard the survival of the
gorillas. After several months of occupation of Mishebere's habitat, they
did not hesitate to mount patrols yet again, sleeping in the forest, to
try and find Mishebere. Alas, labour lost! Just imagine their disappointment!
In spite of everything, we continue to fight for the protection of the
gorillas.
Bernard Iyomi Iyatshi and Carlos Schuler
Photo: Carlos Schuler
Bernard Iyomi Iyatshi is a specialist in wildlife
management. He has worked for nature conservation in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo for 22 years, for example in the national parks Salonga,
Maiko and Kahuzi-Biega. In August 2002, he became Principal Conservator
of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
Carlos Schuler first worked as a typographer, then became a windsurfing
and skiing teacher. In 1983, during one of his intercontinental travels,
he visited Bukavu. Two years later he returned and since 1994 he has been
working for the GTZ there.