ROAD PATROL

Category: Epulu, Ranger Patrols | Date: Nov 04 2007 | By: admin

The road number four is crossing the Reserve, and SINOHYDRO, the Chinese enterprise is fixing it. When Economists are happy for a quick communication from Bunia to

Kisangani
, conservationists are thinking for the future negative impact on the Reserve. Air pollution, poacher’s quick access in the reserve … Still a matter to keep in mind.

The management of the Reserve already set up a team of rangers who were trained on specific skills of a road patrol. Two motorbikes were purchased by UCOP which is in charge of Projects in DRCongo under the Plan Ministry.

Motorbikes allocated for road patrol purchused by UCOP

What the team does is patrolling on the road and organizes an observation point in strategic zones (i.e. village Bandisende, Mamopi Badengaido,) for detecting all suspects people and report to the headquarter.

So far, the result is positive since some elicits activities are apprehended, and last week the team caught a bush meat dealer in East sector of the Reserve.

47 pieces of distinguished antelopes bush meat seized by the team

Once conducted at Epulu (headquarter of the Reserve), the delinquent has passed under interrogation, and then the judge should appreciate the case for fining him? Or transfer him at Bunia.

BC Apamolo Mayi interrogates Mr. Pitchen

Mr. ITOKO Alias Pitchen : bush meat dealer

Far more than, we are only not arresting people, but also to educate them about the rules of the Reserve. As an autochthons of the region, some species as blue antelope ( cephalophus monticola, cercopithecus ascanius ) should be constituted a source of protein for community, but the recent case is a bush meat trade which is forbidden.

More over, we supposed to recruit intellectual rangers who can be able to teach or inform local community about nature and its rules. We also once a year retrain our rangers on some specifics matters (ethics, rules …) . Some budget is needed for yearly retraining of rangers.

Somba

Technorati : congo, epulu., okapi. wildlifedirect, wildlifedirect

4 Responses to “ROAD PATROL”

Lisa, California, on 04 Nov 2007

Well done Somba. Thank you for staying on top of things and catching and educating these poachers. These animals are much more important “alive” to this poacher and his country than he realizes. Educating him is the way to go. I wish those countries that just want to come in and rape the resources there would get the hell out. Lisa

F. J. PECHIR, on 05 Nov 2007

Great work to get out of bisiness that bushmeat trader! Your continued efforts will help in the conservation of that area´s wildlife. Thank you!

Somba, on 06 Nov 2007

Lisa,

Thanks for your comment. we realize that education of this people on conservation is also important despite the poverty vocabulary, and that we know, education is a process.

Somba

Somba, on 06 Nov 2007

F.J. Pechir,

Thanks for your comment. Keep on touch

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