The Okapi Reserve

Support WildlifeDirect:
buy branded merchandise

Confiscated Grey Parrot

Category: Epulu, General | Date: May 06 2008 | By: admin

I am obliged to denounce this illegal detention of a protect bird as gray parrot in Bandisende village. I let you know that gray parrot is listed on the appendix one of CITES as a protected bird /or animal because it is the only specie which has the ability to imitate man.

epulu-bird-1.jpg

Poor confiscated parrot

Rosy which is dealing with conservation for 20 years in DRCongo especially in Okapi Reserve is the one taking care of this parrot. A part the new arrival parrot, 3 passionate are under her surveillance for years in her house. It is nice when working and hearing some talking from those birds, but sometimes I am annoyed of them because it usually comes and seats on my shoulder when working on my computer in Rosy’s house, it can bite when suspecting you as estrange person, isn’t??

epulu-parrot-2.jpg

Mm.Rosie Ruf (left) exchanging with Senior Warden of the Reserve

epulu-parrot-3.jpg

A passionate parrot on branch of tree in Rosie’s house

epulu-parrot-4.jpg

On my shoulder, it seats and disturbs me.

The new arrival bird was confiscated from a villager at Bandisende a week ago. Until now, it is not familiarized as others in Rosie’s house. Only palm nut constituted its food.

For several years, Rosie is spending money for feeding these parrots. In captivity, she usually feed them with palm nut, maize, …and this can be evaluated US $150, 00/month for 3 birds.

By the way, we supposed to tame, and feed it accordingly. We are facing an unexpected situation, so we need more budgets 0f US $ 100, are you a volunteer???

Somba

7 responses so far

UPDATE ON FIVE MOTORBIKES GIVEN TO 5 TRADITIONAL CHIEFS IN OKAPI RESERVE

Category: General | Date: May 02 2008 | By: admin

I unfortunately did not show you the five motorbikes given to local chiefs who are working hand by hand with the Reserve managers. So, with your permission let me show you those five motorbikes called “SENKE”.

As I underlined in my previous blog, these motorbikes should help chiefs for running their activity in their respective area, and also attend meetings in Epulu. Each has a reservoir with a capacity of 9 litters

epulu-bike-1.jpg

on front :the five motorbikes

epulu-bike-2.jpg
from left: Mr. Mapilanga ( Okapi Reserve commander), Kebe Abdallah ( Administrator of Mambasa)….

epulu-bike-4.jpg
The number 1 of Mambasa signing the minutes document

Please, your financial contribution is really needed as a running cost of those motorbikes.

Somba

2 responses so far

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

DSCF3038.JPG

M. Rosy : welcome back in Epulu

DSCF3025.JPG

M.Rosy welcomed by warden.

DSCF3027.JPG

Mr. Mapilanga greetings the MAF pilote and takes his seat

DSCF3034.JPG

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 : , ,

2 responses so far

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 :

DSC02620.JPG

Somba admiring people

DSC02628.JPG

Richard’s family enjoying beer

DSC02623.JPG

People walking on the road in Epulu city

DSC02629.JPG

Somba


Technorati : , ,

2 responses so far

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.

Picture 002.jpg

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.

Picture 023.jpg

DSC00695.JPG

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.

Picture 006.jpg

Senior Warden of Okapi Reserve Mr. Mapilanga ( left) with players from Mambasa after visiting

the Administrative Office

DSC00711.JPG

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 : , ,

4 responses so far

2007 OVERVIEW IN OKAPI RESERVE

Category: Community Work, General, Mbuti Pygmies, Ranger Patrols | Date: Dec 28 2007 | By: admin

In 96 hours, the 2007 year is about to end, so I would like to visualize you on snaps some achievement in Okapi Reserve. This, of course should motivate you for any help for safeguarding the home of the charismatic animal “OKAPI” and its relatives living in the Reserve.

So, please take your time

.DSC01475.JPG

Workers wives during a manifestation in Epulu

DSCF2526.JPG

Miners arrested by field rangers in deep forest of the Reserve

DSCF2199.JPG

The technical Director of ICCN welcomed in Epulu

DSCF0876.JPG

The catholic bishop as stakeholder welcomed in Epulu

DSCF2295.JPG

Workshop with traditional chiefs of Mambasa

DSCF2837.JPG

Okapi TATU healthy in Epulu zoo

DSCF2829.JPG

DSC02609.JPG

Senior Warden (bottom) and his assistant strongly devoted.

Thanks,

Somba


Technorati : , ,

4 responses so far

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR FESTIVITY IN EPULU

Category: General | Date: Dec 26 2007 | By: admin

As Christmas and New Year 2008 approach, the Education Program one of the GIC department, organized a series of football matches.

Ladies soccer team named “ELEPHANT” from Mambasa town reached Epulu and played against the Okapi team of Epulu. For your information, both teams are sponsors by GIC/ Education Department .Finally, Epulu ladies scored 1 - 0, but it was really very good organized in terms of facilities and…..

During the 15 minutes of halp-time, the theatre team intervenes with a small sequence of conservation message:

On 23trd, the soccer team from Bandisende played against Epulu boys team and the finally score was null. The next soccer match shall take place on 1st of January 2008.

Somba


Technorati : , ,

2 responses so far

YOUR DONATIONS

Category: General | Date: Dec 18 2007 | By: admin

Dear readers,

With all sincerity, we are obliged to take this opportunity to inform you that all your moral, technical, or financially donations for the safeguard of the Okapi Reserve are warmly welcomed. In the end of this year 2007, we sincerely push away conservation enemies( poachers, ellegal miners,….). We still maintaining 90% of all evacuated mining camps, rangers have enough patrol food, okapis in Epulu Zoo are healthy…

Below, some recorded photos to witness the effort made during the year with your support.

Okapi in Zoo accepts easily to be brushed by Ranger

Recent dung of elephant in deep forest observes by the patrol team

Ivory task and fire arm confiscated from poacher

The Reserve ecosystem: attractive point of tourism

Somba


Technorati : ,

2 responses so far

RETRAINING OF PATROL LEADERS

Category: General, Ranger Patrols | Date: Dec 13 2007 | By: admin

Patrol Leaders who conduct patrols in different sectors of the Okapi Reserve undergone a retraining in specifics modules from 23 to 26 of November 2007, and from 10th to 12th of December 2007 in Epulu ( headquarter of the Reserve).

Matters consisted on Professional ethics of patrol ranger, patrol organization, Power and Authority, Communication and Military penal code…. 7 days were concentrated for the course, and practical session was planned accordingly.

This allows the management to cover some gaps, and prevent rangers from many compromising during their primordial mission which is to kick out all illegal activities.

Gilman International Conservation ( GIC ), one of the partners of the Reserve sponsored the session, and I can witness that this refreshment is very important for our Rangers. Madame Rosemarie Ruf who is leading the Project still confirming her support for organizing other sessions next year.

DSCF2536.JPG

trainers thinking in classroom

DSCF2535.JPG

DSCF2539.JPGDSCF2532.JPG

Rangers in school

Moreover, this initiative helps in terms of management of the Reserve. Rangers supposed to be educated and accomplish his work without complaining. Community should also have support from Rangers.

Somba


Technorati : , ,

2 responses so far

TOUR AROUND THE RESERVE

Category: General | Date: Dec 03 2007 | By: admin

From 27th of November to 2nd of December 2007, I was out inspecting patrol post around the Reserve, and collect some strategic reports from informers. Really, the trip was okay, and those are some photos illustrating the contact with some stakeholders, illegal activities recorded, construction of patrol post or temporary base by rangers. At all, the tour took us 7 days on motorbike in very bad rood. 590 km were the distance covered.

DSCF2589.JPG

ABDUL ( driver) on motorbike struggling on the road under fixing by Chinese enterprise SINOHYDRO

.CPA_Mungere(a droite),C. Somba et President FEC_Mungbere.JPG

In middle, Somba with the Administrator of Mungbere and traders’president

DSCF2604.JPG

Somba and the traditional chief of Manvu collectivity Mr. Augustin

DSCF2621.JPGDSCF2622.JPG

Rangers building their new position in Nduye sector under pression of armed poaching of okapi, elephant

DSCF2607.JPGDSCF2609.JPG

A monkey ( cercopithecus l’hoesti) killed by pygmies ( Amisi ,…) in North-Eastern region of the Reserve

DSCF2619.JPG

A baby of 4 months playing with a confiscated baby baboon of 2 months.

In sum, the tour was fine, and we took opportunity to meet some strong stakeholder’s surrounding the reserve. We realized that some illegal activities are done by population especially by pygmies because of the misinformation, and the irregularity of the management in different zones in and outside of the protected area.

We still need your financially help for paying some volunteers who should help us building houses of rangers in position , so rangers should have only his task fighting poachers in forest,….

Somba


Technorati : , ,

5 responses so far

Older Posts »