PUBLIC RELATION
Category: General | Date: Jan 29 2008 | By: admin
For a good management of the Reserve, the Manager should have time to contact all stakeholders in different level. Mr. Mapilanga, the senior warden is traveling to Bunia (Ituri District) for meeting, and reporting on the Reserve.
The MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) which is based at moment inKampala is regularly in our region and helps for transport. Madam Rosie Ruf seized the same occasion after spending her 45 days of vacancy in
Switzerland
for coming back for her workplace/Epulu. She is the one running the Gilman International Conservation in DRCongo since 1987, and contributes hardly on the protection of the Reserve
M. Rosy : welcome back in Epulu
M.Rosy welcomed by warden.
Mr. Mapilanga greetings the MAF pilote and takes his seat
People admiring the landing on Epulu airstrip
By this I would like to express in advice my warm gratitude to all of you who shall take this opportunity to finance this activity ( contact with authorities ) which remains important. I stress on it because you know, sometimes local community is destroying protected area by ignorance, so the conservation message supposed to convey it in all levels.
Somba
Technorati : congo, epulu., wildlifedirect
UPDATE OF ROAD PATROL
Category: Ranger Patrols | Date: Jan 25 2008 | By: admin
Rangers are always very good briefed before deploying in the field , with some specific patrol strategies such establishment of observation point in the village with a high concentration of population , questionnaire to drivers ( passengers ).Some checkpoints especially in Epulu , Zungukula patrol post (East Entry), Molokay Patrol Post ( Center ) and Adusa ( West ) were created for registering all population movement in the Reserve; and writing down their provenance, destination, number of passengers,…. these methods help the management to monitor the illegal movement in the Reserve. It is not easy, but we are doing the necessary for minimizing the negative impact on fauna and flora.
.
In case of emergency, the ICCN jeep intervenes with additional rangers
Truck crossing the Reserve from Beni
Illegal traffic of forest products (hiding in truck)
Bush meat discovers in truck
People carrying on bicycles more than 150kgs
The pression is really weighting on managers since the road is fixed. Otherwise we believe with your technical or financial support we shall win the game.
Exactly we do need a monthly budget of US $ 80, 00 for purchasing 1 carton of sardine and biscuit for feeding rangers during patrols.
Somba
Technorati : congo, okapi, wildlifedirect
EXCHANGING WITH MAKOBASI AND ISSA
Category: Mbuti Pygmies | Date: Jan 17 2008 | By: admin
Would you remember the post of Madam Rosemarie Ruf about Makobasi and Issa??? Both pygmies working for long time in conservation. At moment they’re retired men, but they did train their respective boys and daughters for collecting leaves for feeding okapi.
I had time to exchange with them about the new house building which was initiated by Rosemarie Ruf of Gilman International Conservation in Epulu.
Reaching the camp around 3 pm, I met chief Makobasi , Issa and their brother in law Kisobe surrounding fire, this witnesses that those guys become lifeless.
From left: Kisobe, Chief Makobasi and Issa
My concern was to exchange idea with those chiefs’ pygmies on their house. Without delaying, Mr. Makobasi told me that it’s a good idea housing them because they are no longer strong for hunting, and go here and there as their relatives; they supposed to be sedentary.
“They already started sleeping in their house because the sheet metal is already fixed” said Makobasi
“This house is a shelter for me and my sons” Issa added
Mr. Somba in red T-shirt chatting with Makobasi, Issa and Kisobe
In fact , the building activity still ongoing and so far the really face:
those pygmies wives belong to Makobasi and Issa’s generation.
The soil is prepared for distempering the house
This charitable works is the effort made by some donors who judged important to help Makobasi and Issa as retired . Sincere thank to you.
Somba
Technorati : epulu, okapi. wildlifedirect, wildlifedirect
OBITUARY
Category: Rangers | Date: Jan 14 2008 | By: admin
Born in Kindu ( Maniema Province ) on 27th of July 1974, field ranger Rashid Feruzi who joined conservation field on the year 2004 passed away only yesterday after a long sickness in Okapi
health center . I and the Commander Apamolo were out inspecting rangers in West sector of the Reserve. A phone call from Officer Amboya who supervising activity announcing the drama. It’s sad.
Otherwise, the late was married to Jeanette ,father of one boy.
In red blouse,widow Jeannet
During his 3 years working in Okapi faunal Reserve, he was selected among the brave rangers, and each year he was given a special performance accordingly. The late RASHID nicknamed “EKINI” because of his enthusiasm and devotion in football, played as defender exactly on right side. All Okapi team players’ regret this death…
The Reserve is very huge and covers 13,000 square kilometers patrolling only by 63 brave rangers. The calculation demonstrates that each ranger controls 206,3 sq kilometers, but from today we have to share the part controlled by the late to each of us. Really, It is a minus… We shall not forget Mr. Rashid and his effort made for the integrity of the Reserve.
Funeral should take place on 13th of January, 2008 in Epulu ( please let’s take a minute in his memorial ).
in front the coffin of late Rashidi
from left: Mrs. Issa( security service,)Tandele ( Police commander)
Marcel (Deputy assistant of GIC), Somba ( Assistant warden), Amboya
( Community in charge)
The procession moves towards the cemetery
In fact, I were obliged to thank all people who accepted voluntarily coming and consolate the family.
Somba
OKAPI UNDER THREAT IN ITURI FOREST ” MAMBASA “
Category: Okapi | Date: Jan 11 2008 | By: admin
The conservation law in DRCongo is clear in matter of poaching, but some selfish people still poaching even rare and endemic animal for their own benefit. The recent case is this one in Teturi village where a female OKAPI was killed by Mr. Kasereka from Beni by a wire snare.
I let you know that in DRC, okapi represents all animals; and flag of ICCN Institution which deal with conservation.
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve Management was alerting by Mambasa Police Commander Captain KUMARAKI who apprehended the poacher.
The poacher KASEREKA in front of the skin of the animal
from left : Cpt KUMARAKI, Police Commander of Mambasa regreating the issue,
croushing : Poacher KASEREKA
During the interrogation, the poacher avowed that he really killed the animal by snare. He sold meat with the ambition to care the skin in Uganda where he got the command . “It costs 500,000 Uganda shillings ($ US 250, 00) for an Okapi skin and leopard’s ( a matter of reflexion ).” I am in this business for a long time ( 7 years) and 8 okapis killed already,and I work in a team of 5 men, I am the team leader, and accept any punishment ” he said
Snares picked up during patrols
Protecting wild life concerns all of us even you. This is a proof of a good relationship between the Police commander of Mambasa city and the Reserve .He deserves flowers…
Please, your financial donation for snares anti campaign is warmly welcomed and we still thinking how to motivate this brave Police Commander.
Somba
Technorati : congo, okapi, wildlifedirect
NEW YEAR 2008 IN EPULU
Category: General | Date: Jan 09 2008 | By: admin
First of all, I address my warm gratitude to all of you who always take your time reading ours blogs and see concerned and do not delay donating money as contribution for safeguarding wildlife in Epulu.
Coming cross of the aim, I would like to stress on the New Year 2008 in Epulu. Really, the day was calm and people enjoyed themselves. They ate, drunk, and dance…
Take your time on these pictures please :
Somba admiring people
Richard’s family enjoying beer
People walking on the road in Epulu city
Somba
Technorati : congo, epulu., okapi. wildlifedirect
OUTCOME OF THE FRIENDLY SOCCER MATCHES ORGANIZED IN OKAPI RESERVE
Category: Community Work, General | Date: Jan 03 2008 | By: admin
As I promised you in my previous post, I still remember you that a series of soccer matches was planned in Epulu (headquarter of the Reserve). Ladies soccer team( Elephant) from Mambasa played against those of Epulu on 20th of December 2007, and Epulu won the game by 1-0, secondly was the
Buffalo
team of Bandisende village ( 40 km) from Epulu and the game was null. The last which opposed the soccer team of Mambasa catholic
Mission
called AMANI 4×4 and OKAPI team of Epulu on 30th of December 2007 on Epulu stadium.Iit was fantastic, and the Okapi team won the game by crucifying AMANI 4X4 with a score of 3 -1.
friendly picture: Okapi ladies team and Elephant team from Mambasa
During their stay in Epulu, the Education Department of Gilman International Conservation ( GIC) organized an opened day during what players discovered the Epulu Zoo where Okapi lives in captivity.
Tour in Epulu Zoo
The organization of such activity (football match) in Epulu for outsiders of the Reserve has the aim of welcoming an important number of visitors (players) who had chance to touch an okapi in Zoo, climb Mont MBIA hill, cross the Epulu river bridge and definitively have the right version of nature protection .This kind of association from football to open days is methodically advice because visitor has opportunity to be teaching in field and all of his queries shall have answer. That we know by organizing this activity, the conservation message was disseminated and reaches an important number of people living outside of the Reserve.
Senior Warden of Okapi Reserve Mr. Mapilanga ( left) with players from Mambasa after visiting
the Administrative Office
Players enjoying to be snaped on rock of Epulu river
Your donation is warmly welcomed for the next organization of this activity in Epulu.
Somba
Technorati : congo, okapi. wildlifedirect, wildlifedirect
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