Gorilla Slaughter: A Personal Account

These four mountain gorillas were shot dead
in the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 24, 2007.

Most of the MGVP staff were in Kigali for Rwanda's first-ever scientific biodiversity conference when we heard the horrible news: Four or more gorillas had been shot in the DRC, inside the Parc Nationaux de Virungas, and there was at least one new orphan clinging to a young male gorilla.

The baby's mother and the group's silverback had been killed, along with several others. Equally disturbing, these deaths were the result of an ongoing feud between a number of individuals vying for control of the resources around the park, like charcoal production and mining. Ndakasi's mother had been kiilled for the same reason.

We gathered to discuss what to do about the baby. This was a life-threatening, human-induced problem; it was well within our mandate to intervene. But was it safe? David, Jacques and Eddy left right away for Goma, but not before I convinced them to slow down a bit and make proper plans. They needed to make sure the local officials in the DRC were supportive of the rescue effort and would provide security. Simon and the staff of the Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund International in Goma would be ready to help care for the infant. If possible, we also wanted to do necropsies on the dead gorillas.

Dushishoze with a rope snare wound around his wrist.
[Photo courtesy of Veronica Vecellio of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI)]

Soon after, we heard more bad news. Dushishoze, a four year old in Pablo Group, had reportedly been caught in a snare. I debated whether or not to continue with my plan to leave that afternoon for the United States for a break and a much-needed visit to my dentist. "Why does everything happen at once?" I thought. On the other hand, we've got a good team and this is a chance to build everyone's experience.

I checked in with project director Dr. Mike Cranfield in Maryland. He agreed the team should go ahead with our plan. Eliisabeth would check on Dushishoze the next day while Jean Felix gave his presentation at the meeting. They'd both go into the field the following day, accompanied by David on his return from the DRC, to remove the snare if necessary.

Tired and depressed, I got on the plane a few hours later. If the team found the new orphan, it would be the third mountain gorilla removed from the forest in the seven months I've worked for the vet project. The plan all along has been to reintroduce the orphaned gorillas back to the wild when they reach reproductive age. Is this really feasible? I wish we didn't have to try.

Dr. David Gardner-Roberts holds the newest orphaned mountain gorilla, Ndeze,
in the Parc Nationaux de Virugnas, Democratic Republic of Congo.

I checked in with the team as frequently as I could over the next 36 hours as I made my way to Washington, D.C. From the Brussels airport I learned that officials in the DRC had organized a team to go with MGVP staff to look for the infant. They might not allow the necropsies, however because the ICCN park staff wanted to have a mass burial of the dead gorillas. Distressingly, it appeared that other gorillas were missing from the same group.

In Rwanda, the snare around Dushishoze's wrist did indeed need to come off. Since he didn't seem to be in great discomfort, though, the team decided to wait a day in the hope that his mother or the other gorillas might remove it on their own. From the Dulles airport, I learned that the snare was still in place; Dushishoze would have to be anesthetized the next day.

Meanwhile, the new orphan had been rescued, identified as Ndeze, and put in Andres' care. Andres has a magical touch with infant gorillas. Though officially a park ranger, he seems to be spending most of his time these days raising babies. A skilled tracker, he normally works inside the park for the ICCN (Institute for the Conservation of Nature) in the DRC. Fortunately, both he and the ICCN officials have said yes every time we've asked for his help in raising orphans.

Andres Bauma offers Ndeze her first bottle in the field.

Andres had brought a bottle for the baby with him into the field and she took to it right away. This was good news. What would or should happen to her and Ndakasi down the road was a question that kept floating in and out of my mind. It's a decision that really should be made by the ICCN and DRC government officials. Maybe it — and the increasingly urgent matter of the safety of mountain gorillas inside the park — will finally get the attention it deserves. My blackberry was buzzing with emails from friends who'd heard about the recent killings, asking if I was okay.

Though the news about Ndeze was good so far, I worried that she'd suffered considerable stress and might be at risk for a health problem. It was agreed that she would have her own room, separate from Ndakasi's, in the Goma house. Andres and the other caretakers would have to be very careful not to introduce any sort of infection to her. The next few days would be critical.

Unfortunately, Ndeze began to refuse her bottle at the end of the next day. She appeared to weaken as well. Simon, who knows the behavior of the orphans very well, felt she was still adjusting and nervous. David, who'd been in Rwanda helping Jean Felix with Dushishoze (all went well with the anesthesia and the snare was off), rushed back to Goma. He and I exchanged e-mails.

On physical exam, the new orphan appeared normal. We agreed to try something very simple: administer subcutaneous fluids with a little dextrose. Sometimes baby animals, whether mammal, bird or reptile, just need a little boost as they are transitioning to new food and a new environment.

Dr. Eddy Kambale with Andres Bauma and the newest orphan, Ndeze, on July 27, 2007.

Thankfully, the subcutaneous fluids seemed to make a big difference. Ndeze began to take her bottle again within a few hours and continued to improve the next day. She clearly began to bond to Andres, settling down and beginning to play. Eddy returned from the field, where he and Jacques had finished the sample collection from the dead gorillas, and took over the orphan care.

David returned to Rwanda for a rest — we hoped — and I planned to stop reading my blackberry e-mail like a madwoman. Luckily, my dentist understood. We agreed that my job was actually a pretty good distraction for just about anything, including my sore mouth.

[DRC, Rwanda, July 27, 2007. Pictures: Jacques Inyanya, Simon Childs/MGVP | Veronica Vellocellio/DFGFI ]

Comments

[Sheryl]

Thanks again, Dr. Spelman, for a fascinating report on the orphaned gorilla babies and the people who care for them. Andres is The Man!

Have a safe trip back to Rwanda.

s.

[Linda Nunn]

Hi Dr. Spelman,
All at G4G are avidly watching Ndakasi & now Ndeze's progress. Thanks for these blogs - they really do help spread the word so well. I feared for Ndeze after being with her brother (bless him) for so long but fingers are all crossed. Andres obviously has a gift!

With every wish for their futures
Linda

[Roxy]

Dr. Spelman:

I am absolutely apalled that any human being would be that cruel and heartless. I believe that people get what they deserve. I truly hope that the individuals who killed the mountain gorillas pay for their atrocities. The internet link was an eye-opener. I hope you get the funding you need to continue this valuable and important work! These beautiful creatures need your help.

Roxanne

[Ann]

thanks for all the great updates and i hope you and your staff will have time to keep the updates coming, periodically. the news you print fills in a lot of the holes about the care of the rescued gorillas that the wildlifedirect team cannot know.
thanks again, and i hope your funding is good!

[Bill Sloan]

I am but one. Starting today.... In Las Vegas. Bought the website: savethesilverbacks.com on Aug 4. Will build it. Link it. Start to organize locally to raise money for you all, and to save those precious few. I could use some support, locally, if anyone is out there? I could use some photos. All the best to you all. Everyone take action. Do not waste precious time. There are so few remaining. God Bless

[Bill Sloan]

I am but one. Starting today.... In Las Vegas. Bought the website: savethesilverbacks.com on Aug 4. Will build it. Link it. Start to organize locally to raise money for you all, and to save those precious few. I could use some support, locally, if anyone is out there? I could use some photos. All the best to you all. Everyone take action. Do not waste precious time. There are so few remaining. God Bless

[Annie]

I have looked at all the stories on this site........wow you guys have such a huge job to do! The gorilla babies are absolutely adorable!!!!!!!! I was heartbroken to hear about the senseless killings of some of the older gorillas in the last few months.........thank you for doing all you can to help protect all God's creatures.........Africa and its people and animals have suffered so much! It takes wonderful, caring people such as yourselves to help them. I was excited to see that the younger children are learning that they must also help in the fight to save them from extinction! God Bless, Annie

Texas, USA

[Annie]

I have looked at all the stories on this site........wow you guys have such a huge job to do! The gorilla babies are absolutely adorable!!!!!!!! I was heartbroken to hear about the senseless killings of some of the older gorillas in the last few months.........thank you for doing all you can to help protect all God's creatures.........Africa and its people and animals have suffered so much! It takes wonderful, caring people such as yourselves to help them. I was excited to see that the younger children are learning that they must also help in the fight to save them from extinction! God Bless, Annie

Texas, USA

[Lisa]

Thank you Dr. Spelman for being there to look after these beautiful creatures. I am completely heartbroken by these tragic events. Stay strong and know that many people are wanting to help anyway they can. Lisa, California

[Deidra]

It's so heartbreaking to hear about the kind of atrocities people can commit (and for what?), but it's uplifting to know that there are people out there like you and your team that have made such a big commitment to protecting and observing animals.

[Jenn]

Dr. Spelman-- Thanks so much for this updated piece of information. I have been trying to get as much of it as I can. I recently spent a month in Africa, Rwanda was where I spent most of my time. The gorillas will never be far from my mind.... they were such amazing and beautiful, gentle creatures. You can imagine the shock I felt while sitting in the doctor's office, only home a week, and seeing the recent Newsweek cover - the breaking news of the latest gorilla slaughter. It absolutely broke my heart. Thank you and your team for doing your part to keep them as safe and healthy as they can be. Would love to hear more... thanks again! -- jenn.

[Tom]

I hope they find and some way prosecute the murderers. Yes, I wrote murderers.

[adam]

What you are doing is essential for the planet to continue to function. Without people like yourself we would be truly lost.

[adam]

What you are doing is essential for the planet to continue to function. Without people like yourself we would be truly lost.

[Rosie]

This is so horrific. Moreover, gorillas can develop PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). Michael, who was the companion to the famous gorilla Koko, had nightmares even years after his family was killed by poachers and he was orphaned. He was able to communicate his terror to the humans around him even though his sign language vocabulary was not as developed as Koko's.

[Wes S]

Big deal!!! 5 million people killed, millions tortured in Congo. And you care about a few gorillas. Biiiiiig deal!!! It's a joke.

[Linley]

This is horibal i mean these gorillas are indagdered speacies and more are getting killed that is just wrong!!!

[Jenny]

Hi, I am a new reader. The new-ish report on ebola in the western lowland population caught my eye and I started reading up on gorillas again (an interest of mine that was much better attended-to when my own life was less hectic). It's really appalling the situation the mountain gorillas are in, for all the worst reasons, and I think it's wonderful what you and your team and the rangers are trying to do. I'll spread the word! Good health and good luck!

[Peggy]

How is Ndeze doing, I don't see any information about him.

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I hope they find and some way prosecute the murderers.
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