The Okapi Reserve

Category: Epulu, General, Rangers | Date: Jun 25 2007 | By: admin

In order to keep secure the zone invaded by illegal miners in the Okapi Reserve, some temporary bases were established especially in the West, South-West of the Reserve with the aim of maintening patrols around the region. A temporary base (TB) is a camp where Rangers are not affected permanently but for a period of 20 days, and then shift by another team or group of Rangers. Some important reasons explain the issue. We do not like for a Ranger to be familiar with people (miners) around the region for any attempt of corruption, living far away from his family can affect his work, … so he is there for a period of time, …

We are facing many difficulties to feed the team working in the base. Crossing big rivers into traditional canoes, paying porters from the headquarter to the Patrol Post (80 km.), from the Patrol Post we are supposed to organize other Porters to reach the team in deep forest spending 3 days walking with patrol rations on our backs.  

In fact, the Epulu Rangers deserve motivation. Ready for patroling without complaining. Could you imagine all risks when crossing the Ngayu river: crocodiles, snakes…but the guys are ready to protect the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. By the way, let me tell you some positive information:The Reserve is controlled in 93% (this means regular patrols are deployed all over)

• The animal dungs are discovered even in the former red zone of poachers
• Braconniers are arrested and transferred in court and condemned, …

By the law, hunting with an arrow or spear is not forbidden in a Reserve because it is an open method than metal snare which can catch any specie. the hard work is to let population know that he should select unprotected specie for his subsistance. Below, a villager apprehended with a monkey.

 

Rangers patrolling in different sectors witness that many animals are victims: some of them catch in snares, others died in natural conditions, …

It is our obligation to let you know that maintaining the natural resource of the Okapi reserve depends on your devotion in terms of donation, advance, etc, so your support is needed for safeguarding this paradise of okapis and pygmies.

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Category: Community Work, Epulu, General | Date: Jun 12 2007 | By: admin

By MAN for MAN is the new concept for conservationists. Last time conservation had its strict philosophy, that means “integral conservation ‘’, and local population was not associated for any activity of the Park, but in this century, man remains in the center of conservation. Let me tell you that, especially in Epulu, we start involve community for the management of the reserve; this means the Manager needs input from the community.

The zoning of agricultural, hunting zones continue in some sectors of the Reserve ( Molokay, Epulu, Bandisende , Seti ,…) where community plays key role in the field

The tradition chief sensitizes community about the zoning meaning

Boundary marker of the agricultural zone

Currently, we are trying to conciliate conservation with the normal live of boys and ladies in the Reserve otherwise to see how to pass the conservation message through the football, theatre activities. Sincerely obliges to let you know that the Environmental Education Program of the Reserve which is running by Mr. Marcel Enckoto of Gilman International conservation, Inc is in charge of these activities, and so far I underline as a good way to occupy young men. What he is doing is to buy jersey, balls, soccer boot … With the support of leisure and sport service of Mambasa, football competitions are organized and players from Epulu go to Mambasa, Salate, Banana … The last football match was organized 3 weeks ago (ladies from Epulu against those from Mambasa) and the score was draw, but it was fantastic to see it. The boys from Epulu also played, and 27 minutes later Epulu succeeded to score the first goal, and I can see how people were happy.

Epulu team supported by GIC via Education Program

Both Piloli team from Mambasa and Okapi sport team of Epulu on the ground at Epulu

The DRCongo new Constitution obliges equity gender, so the reserve is also planning to rally ladies around football, and an improvement is seeing. The first match was played against those from Salate village, and Epulu won the game. Mr. Marcel decided 3 weeks ago to select players from Epulu and Salate for a big match against ladies Mambasa’s team.

Mr. Kabala and Marcel advancing players.

Players’ team of Mambasa

Players from Epulu

After the friendly soccer match : a remembering snap

At all, we realize that conserving an ecosystem does not mean a useful of fire arm, but such idea of occupying a group of people can work. The main preoccupation is to not forget your objective, this means organizing meetings and talk about the importance of nature for future generation…

Somba

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Category: Epulu, Mbuti Pygmies | Date: Jun 06 2007 | By: admin

Makubasi and Issa the two pygmie man are more than 70 years old. They are always found and have been leaving together from their childhood. Their fathers George and Faisi were twins.

They used to live in the Bandindikwe area 5km east of Epulu village, next to their Mubila tribe master, called Ngoma. However, a conflict rose between the pygmies and the Babila due to incensuous ritual dance. The pygmies felt diminished and reacted in arrow battle.

Ngoma brought the pygmy clan to Mr. Putnam for sale. Putnam was living in Epulu his house was named ‘Palais’ (palace). He strongly condemned Ngoma for his criminal proposal and warned him that human being can not be sold. Putnma requested George and Faisi to move next to his property for safety.

At that time no bridge was set crossing over the Epulu River. People had to use embarkation.

After the death of their fathers, Makubasi and Issa stayed at Putnam’s property. In 1967 they moved to the Okapi capture station and set up their camp behind the Okapi enclosures and from their they changed again their location back to the forest close to Lelo River area.

Except for the time Makubasi worked in Garamba National Park for one year, feeding monkeys, warthogs and porcupines, he lived with his brother Issa in full harmony.

‘This requires good temper, culture of advising and understanding each other together with forgiveness’. Issa said that they learned it from their grandfahters and fathers. ‘Our grandfathers warned us about conflicts and wars’. They experienced arrow battles and predicted we would see firearm war. And they were very right as we realize it now ’said Makubasi.

George was Makubasi’s father and Faisi Issa’s. In the same coindience of George being elder to Faisi, Makubasi is elder to Issa. Issa keeps revealing this with a lot of respect. It bears the impression that speaking of two pygmy chiefs undermining two clans is not correct.

Analyzing the future harmony of the clan, Issa says their descendants quarrel very often, especially when alcohol is involved. Makubasi and Issa have the heavy task of resolving the conflicts among they young clan members.

How the group shall evolve in terms of mutual respect unity and land use will have responses in the future.

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