ANIMAL TRAFIC
Category: Ranger Patrols, community | Date: Sep 29 2008 | By: okapi
The Okapi Faunal Reserve, one of the 5 heritages Site of UNESCO in DRCongo , continues to register some illegal activies. The population migration from North Kivu province, animal poaching …still the main threats of the Reserve.
Are you aware that the endemic specie “Okapi” lives only in this forest Reserve?? Also it has some relatives such: forest buffalos, elephant, leopard, water chevrotain,
Okapi in Epulu zoo accepts to be touched by human being
With an area of 13,700 sq km and a no significant number of rangers, the management established some patrol posts, temporary base … for fighting illegal activities.
Rangers on parade
A week ago, a chimp was confiscated by rangers from Nzaro sector (East side) from a passenger (poacher), and the animal was transferred in Epulu (the administrative HQ).
This animal specie is totally protected by the Congolese Law, so the arrested poacher shall be prosecuted.
Poor chimp in Epulu
Madam Rosie Ruf is the one in charge of animal breeding in captivity , so she has again unexpected task for taking care of the new arrival. She has already building a cage, and struggling for its feeding.
Are you the one coming to assist Rosie??? Any technical or financially help from you?? Please your help needed!!!!
Somba
Technorati : DRC, okapi wildlife reserve
INTELLIGENCE AS BACKBONNE OF ANTI POACHING IN PROTECTED AREA
Category: Ranger Patrols | Date: Sep 26 2008 | By: okapi
The
Virunga
National Park
, an old protected area in
Africa
which was created since 1925 covers different species of mammals and a beautiful landscape
For the last ten years, the park remains under threats of human activity. From illegal establishment, agriculture, wildlife poaching….
To mitigate these illegal activities, the General Direction of ICCN decided to appoint Mr. Emmanuel De Merode from
Belgium
as a Provincial Director of
North
Kivu
Park
.
Emmanuel in action in Rumangabo ICCN Station
The Provincial Direction has set intelligence training as a priority of the moment, so It requested the valuation of Mr. Somba from Okapi Faunal Reserve.
Moreover, a week intelligence training was conducted in Rumangabo ICCN Station near Goma and we remain convinced that the team shall do something to minimize the illegal activity, this means denouncement, searching and so on.
I think a question from a reader who wants to know if really this training shall be sufficient??? Warmly, I can answer by” yes” because for any success, you must begin’.
Mr. Somba in class
Trainers taking note
Thanks
Somba
Technorati : DRC, okapi wildlife reserve
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
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
.
Workers wives during a manifestation in Epulu
Miners arrested by field rangers in deep forest of the Reserve
The technical Director of ICCN welcomed in Epulu
The catholic bishop as stakeholder welcomed in Epulu
Workshop with traditional chiefs of Mambasa
Okapi TATU healthy in Epulu zoo
Senior Warden (bottom) and his assistant strongly devoted.
Thanks,
Somba
Technorati : congo, epulu., wildlifedirect
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.
trainers thinking in classroom
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 : congo, epulu., okapi. wildlifedirect
PATROL OUT IN MONDIAL SECTOR
Category: Epulu, Ranger Patrols | Date: Nov 26 2007 | By: admin
As I expressed in my previous blog , intelligence remains a backbone for conservation in the World. My reason to insist for it is that once you are informed about an illegal activity in a protected area, you decide accordingly, and the result MUST BE positive.
The management was informed about an illegal reinstallation of some miners inside the Reserve , and deployed a section of 4 Rangers who spent 6 days walking and arrested 10 miners . They were conducted at headquarter for judgment.
Illegal exploitation of gold , diamond in the reserve is a threat for Managing, as the Reserve is an inhabitant,….
In this moment, the management decides to create some temporary base where rangers will be shifting, as you know we approch Christmas holliday,people must desturb nature in different forms.
we need your support for purchasing some field equipment for our dedicated rangers especially camping mastress which costs US $ 5 each.We have already 16, but we need 50 of them.
Rangers conduct miners at the Reserve headquarter
The arrested miners carrying their exploitation tools on hand
Okapi in Epulu zoo says ” your donation is warmly welcomed for the protection of my home” Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Somba
Technorati : congo, okapi. wildlifedirect, wildlifedirect
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
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PATROL IN BASIRI SECTOR
Category: Ranger Patrols, Rangers | Date: Nov 01 2007 | By: admin
The Okapi Reserve overlaps in 3 Administrative Territories Mambasa, Watsa and Wamba. It has neighboring with Beni ( in South), Bafwasende ( South -West ) , Isiro ( North ), Komanda - Yedi ( East ).
Since some years, the Reserve is under pression of poaching from neighboring zones. The management organized a mixture operation with the Government military from Mambasa (Rangers and Soldiers). It is not easy to organize such operation, but fortunately the Congolese Institute of Nature Conservation (ICCN) signed a convention with the Military Region of Kisangani. Patrol ration, Medicare care, and bonus were allocated by the Reserve.
.
Rangers and soldiers ready for moving in the bush
After the operation, Captain Mayala praying in front of his team
Since some years, the Reserve is under pression of poaching from neighboring zones. The management organized a mixture operation with the Government military from Mambasa (Rangers and Soldiers). It is not easy to organize such operation, but fortunately the Congolese Institute of Nature Conservation (ICCN) signed a convention with the Military Region of Kisangani. Patrol ration, Medicare care, and bonus were allocated by the Reserve.
However, the South sector was swept and the pression from
Beni
tries minimizing, but we still noticing some incursion of poachers from West sector of the Reserve. Last week, a patrol conducted by Mr. Kembo was out, and succeeded to catch a professional poacher named LOYEMBE alias Zembra with an AK 47. He is under interrogation and we are quietly waiting for the last decision of the prosecutor.
Professional poacher Zembra under prosecution
It is a great effort done by the brave Patrol Post Commander Kembo Lualaba and his team. Any kind of your donation for the protection of this natural Reserve; the only home of the endemic specie okapi ( okapia Johnstoni) is warmly welcomed.
Somba
Technorati : congo, epulu., okapi. wildlifedirect
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A NEW JEEP FOR SURVEILLANCE OF THE RESERVE
Category: Ranger Patrols | Date: Oct 28 2007 | By: admin
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve still remember the drama done by soldiers of former Zaire in the year 1997. It was so sad since the Reserve was systematically looted by the ex FAZ soldier. More than 12 vehicles, motorbikes, computers,communication equipment ( fax,… ) were looted in few days .
Ten years ago, the Reserve gets chance for having a NEW BRAND JEEP for surveillance of the Reserve. This surveillance vehicle was purchased by UNESCO as one of the partners of the ICCN/RFO Site.
.
On the way from Beni to Epulu
This vehicle shall always help for the transport of patrol ration, to deploy rangers in strategic zone…..
Rangers enjoying their new jeep in Epulu Station.
In short, Rangers thank very much UNESCO for this donation which should facilitate the management of the Reserve.
Somba
Technorati : congo, epulu., okapi. wildlifedirect
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A NEW JEEP FOR SURVEILLANCE OF THE RESERVE
Category: Ranger Patrols | Date: Oct 27 2007 | By: admin
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve still remember the drama done by soldiers of former Zaire in the year 1997. It was so sad since the Reserve was systematically looted by the ex FAZ soldier. More than 12 vehicles, motorbikes, computers,communication equipment ( fax,… ) were looted in few days .
Ten years ago, the Reserve gets chance for having a NEW BRAND JEEP for surveillance of the Reserve. This surveillance vehicle was purchased by UNESCO as one of the partners of the ICCN/RFO Site.
.
On the way from Beni to Epulu
This vehicle shall always help for the transport of patrol ration, to deploy rangers in strategic zone…..
Rangers enjoying their new jeep in Epulu Station.
In short, Rangers thank very much UNESCO for this donation which should facilitate the management of the Reserve.
Somba
Technorati : congo, epulu., okapi. wildlifedirect
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