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
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
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 : epulu., okapi, okapi. wildlifedirect
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 : epulu, okapi. 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
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.
ABDUL ( driver) on motorbike struggling on the road under fixing by Chinese enterprise SINOHYDRO
.
In middle, Somba with the Administrator of Mungbere and traders’president
Somba and the traditional chief of Manvu collectivity Mr. Augustin
Rangers building their new position in Nduye sector under pression of armed poaching of okapi, elephant
A monkey ( cercopithecus l’hoesti) killed by pygmies ( Amisi ,…) in North-Eastern region of the Reserve
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 : epulu, okapi, 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
Your help needed
Category: Community Work, Epulu, Mbuti Pygmies | Date: Nov 13 2007 | By: admin
Makubasi and Issa who worked for us for over ten years collecting leaves for the Okapis are retired today and have a big dream. I would like to help them to make that come true. Issa who is widower and Makubasi divorced have no longer the much needed support which woman in Africa’s society provide to their spouses and society. Although they are still living with their clan the life condition is very sad. This is the reason why I will help them to get their own house and to make sure they will never get wet again. When raining the roof has to be of good material such as corrugated iron. To buy all the building material and hire some people for construction I would need US$ 500.- You can read more about them here.
This are the traditional Mbutie houses
Makubasi with his grand children
This is Issa with his grand children. The house in the background is what I have in my mind. The roof would be irrogated iron and not Mangungu leaves which have to be replaced every couple of month.
Difficult to believe but this is where they sleep today. The only luxury they have at night is the mattresses I gave them a while ago. The last years of their lifes should be more comfortable they deserve it.
Rosie
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