IDPE
INNOVATION POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT ET LA PROTECTION DE L’ENVIRONNEMENT
« Association pour la défense de droit des animaux »
Titre:WHO SHALL SAVE THE VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK?
I.INTRODUCTION
The Virunga National Park (PNVi) site of world’s heritage which in various biodiversisty, qualified by some naturalists as the “Paradise” of the earth, is in a critical situation.
However, in spite of considerable progress of peace in the DR.Congo, the North-Kivu province constitutes one of homes where there still reign insecurity because of the presence of the presence of illegal groups acting with guns (rebels) local as well as strange who have, unfortunately, choose the Virunga National Park as they back basis from which they organize they acts of destabilisation.
Thus, in the same way of securizing the regular troops of the ARMY FORCES of the DRC (FARDC), they have taken different positions of defence in the Virunga National Park.
IDPE, as an organisation fighting for the rights of animals has found that imperious and important to make other surveys and investigations on the impact of military activities about the PNVi ecosystem which will concern this report.
In addition to recommendations, this report will be founded on the following points:
- Military positioning
- Numbers of killed animals
- Reasons of PNVi destruction
- Poaching’s consequences
II. MILITARY POSITIONNING
The military positions have transformed the PNVi into a battle field where various soldiers fight against others.
- FARDC are positioned at MABENGA, BUSENDO, VITSHUMBI, KATANDA, KIBIRIZI, RWINDI, KABASHA mountains, TONGO, and in various bays of the lake Edouard (South sector of PNVi).
- The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) are at KISHISHE, TONGO ( South sector of PNVi)
- The dissidents (rebels) of the former Laurent NKUNDA have established themselves at BAMBU and at the North of NYAMUSENGERA, (center sector of PNVi)
III. NUMBER OF KILLED ANIMALS
The following table gives qualitative and the qualitative aspects of killed animals while precising the place and responsible of the killing.
Qualitative and quantitative table
of killed animals
Variety |
Number |
Date |
Place |
Responsable |
Total |
% |
Hippopotamus
(hipopotamus amphibious) |
1 |
28/03/2006 |
Kagezi |
Naval Force |
3 |
4 |
1 |
10/04/2006 |
Rwindi mouth |
Naval Force |
1 |
22/04/2006 |
Thermol water |
FARDC. |
Elephants
(Loxodonta africana) |
1 |
24/04/2006 |
Katanda |
FARDC. |
2 |
3 |
1 |
26/04/2006 |
Katanda |
FARDC. |
Chimpanzee
(Pan troglodytes) |
3 |
07/03/2006 |
Bambu |
Rebels |
10 |
14 |
1 |
12/03/2006 |
Bambu |
Rebels |
1 |
21/04/2006 |
Bambu |
Rebels |
2 |
22/04/2006 |
Bambu |
Rebels |
1 |
26/04/2006 |
Kirumba |
Poachers |
2 |
01/05/2006 |
Bambu |
Rebels |
Babouins
(Theropithecus) |
1 |
14/04/2006 |
busendo |
FARDC |
14 |
20 |
3 |
22/04/2006 |
Busendo |
FARDC |
1 |
23/04/2006 |
Busendo |
FARDC |
1 |
26/04/2006 |
Rwindi bridge |
FARDC |
2 |
28/04/2006 |
Memorial |
FARDC |
3 |
26/04/2006 |
Kibirizi river |
FARDC |
3 |
02/05/2006 |
Rwindi Station |
FARDC |
Buffalo
(Syncerus caffer) |
1 |
27/04/2006 |
Kibirizi |
FARDC |
2 |
3 |
1 |
29/04/2006 |
Kibirizi |
FARDC |
Antilopes
(Cobus vardoni) |
4 |
27/04/2006 |
Kibirizi |
FARDC |
6 |
8 |
2 |
20/04/2006 |
Katanda |
FARDC |
1 |
29/04/2006 |
Katanda |
FARDC |
Pelicans
(Pelicanus rufensces) |
4 |
01/04/2006 |
Bay of Kabale |
Naval Force |
9 |
13 |
1 |
08/04/2006 |
Bay of Kabale |
Naval Force |
3 |
12/04/2006 |
Bay of Kabale |
Naval Force |
1 |
13/04/2006 |
Rwindi river |
Naval Force |
Nil Varran |
2 |
09/04/2006 |
Bay of Kabale |
Naval Force |
9 |
13 |
1 |
11/03/2006 |
Bay of Kabale |
Naval Force |
1 |
14/03/2006 |
Bay of Kabale |
Naval Force |
2 |
01/04/2006 |
Nzaro |
Fishers |
1 |
11/04/2006 |
Chondo |
Naval Force |
1 |
15/04/2006 |
Chondo |
Naval Force |
1 |
20/04/2006 |
Chondo |
Naval Force |
Python |
1 |
03/04/2006 |
Nzaro |
FARDC 89e Brigade |
2 |
3 |
1 |
13/04/2006 |
MutimaChang |
Naval Force |
Turtle |
6 |
11/04/2006 |
Bay of Kabale |
Naval Force |
14 |
20 |
1 |
12/04/2006 |
Bay of Kabale |
Naval Force |
3 |
11/04/2006 |
Bay ofMwinga |
Naval Force |
1 |
14/04/2006 |
Bay ofMwinga |
Naval Force |
3 |
16/04/2006 |
Bay ofMwinga |
Naval Force |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
71 |
100 |
Comments: The analysis of the above mentioned table prove that 71 animals were killed in the period of about 35 days ( From march 12, 2006 to April 16, 2006) which the range of 2 killed animals per day. This figure will be superior if we could survey every where in the PNVi. It is not because of its big width but only the inaccessibility in some areas because of insecurity.
The some table shows that the elephants, antelopes, buffalos and hippopotamus have a feeble frequency as successively 3, 8, 3 and 4%. This feeble frequency would be caused by the no exploited varieties as they have be come rare, consequent to the presence guns.
Primates (chimpanzee and babouin) have taken 35%. This is due to the presence of military living in TONGO that is the origin of primate’s predilection.
Besides, the some table show that the aquatic fauna (pelicans, Nile Varan, pithon, turtle) take almost 50% of killed animals that is due to the military Naval Force presence on the lake Edouard.
III.1. REASON OF THE DESTRUCTION
2. Poaching
All that militaries positioned around the PNVi are animals killed some times as they way of living or to get means of wealth. Eason why the traffic of gorilla babies, of trophies like ivories of elephants, hippopotamus teeths, leopard’s leathers, peroquets and other primates have a very profitable and prestigious work.
3 Illegal fishing
The Naval Forces military poisoned at Vitshumbi on the lake Edouard by the misuse of efficient framing have committed themselves to the illegal fishing without any fear. Those soldiers protect the illegal fishers who practise fishing in that bay. Thy provided with cards by paying USD 100 pr week. Reason why the illegal fishing is practiced without any interpellation (see enclosure).
IV. CONSEQUENCES OF THE MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE PNVi
One of immediate consequences of that situation is the poaching done by soldiers from two sides, occurently from the official troops and the insurrected ones. That is the worse situation considering all the destruction of the easten DR.Congo.
When there are poaching operations, more animals die along time after being wounded and sufferings. As an example, we are going to note the wounded elephant in Lulimbi station by the Naval Force militaries.
Without any fear, the alarm clock is there and if there is nothing done in that concern very immediately, the PNVi founa that was rich, with enormous varieties, attractive and heritage of praise all over the world, will become only part of the history. It is in this way that IDPE set the following recommendations.
V. RECOMMENATIONS
- The immediate demilitarization of PNVi in its actual from with the Army Forces of the DR.Congo
- Securising the PNVi by the neutral international troops that, while fighting against rebels, will protect that fauna they could be in permanent collaboration of Nature.
- Established of the international court in charge of the crime against animals.
In behalf of IDPE.
Bantu Lukambo Faustin Nyebone
General Manager In charge of flora and fauna
