Rare mountain gorilla shot dead in DR Congo reserve
Sun Jun 10, 12:14 PM
KINSHASA (AFP) - A rare protected mountain gorilla has been found shot dead in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga nature reserve, fuelling fears that rebels are targeting endangered species, conservationists said Sunday.
"The body of Rubiga, an adult female, was found yesterday by guards. A two-month old baby was clinging to the mother and was tranferred for treatment to Goma," said Paulin Ngobobo of the Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN).
"We think she was killed Friday, after residents reported hearing gunfire. We set up patrols and the guards found her Saturday," Ngobobo told AFP.
The central African country is home to three of the world's four great ape species: gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos -- pygmy chimps whose population has been decimated over the past 15 years.
Conservationists say endangered gorillas are increasingly under threat from Tutsi and Hutu rebels who have taken refuge in the huge eastern nature reserve. Two silverback gorillas were killed and eaten by rebels in January, they said.
Park rangers have also been targeted. Mai Mai rebels last month killed a park ranger and critically injured three in an attack on the reserve.
"Rubiga was part of a group of 32 individuals, the biggest of the five groups in the sector which over the years have grown accustomed to humans," Ngobobo told AFP.
He added that the sector of the park where she was found is home to 84 of the some 700 gorillas living in the reserve, near the mountainous border with Rwanda and Uganda.
"It was an act of sabotage, against tourism, against research," he added, dismissing the involvement of poachers who would not have left the body in the forest with an infant, given their value on the black market.
"The guards have found traces of blood in the forest and we hope no other gorillas have been wounded or killed. We are looking for the group which has completely dispersed after the attack," he said.
Virunga, Africa's biggest national park and classed as a World Heritage Site by UNSECO, is sometimes used as a refuge by rebel groups to evade patrols by the regular army.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
This makes me sick... this was the first thing I saw when I woke up this morning.
Poachers kill one of last two white rhinos in Zambia
Tue Jun 12, 9:57 AM
LUSAKA (AFP) - Poachers have shot the last two white rhinos in Zambia, killing one and wounding the other, in a night operation at the Mosi-Oa-Tunya national park in Livingstone, an official said Tuesday.The shooting of the two endangered animals in a heavily-guarded zoological park near Victoria Falls in Zambia's tourist resort town of Livingstone took place last week.
"I can confirm that one of the white rhinos was shot dead by suspected poachers. The other one was wounded and is undergoing treatment," said Maureen Mwape, spokesperson of the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), which would be investigating the shooting.
The dead female rhino's horn was apparently removed.
Zambia's white rhinos were all killed by poachers but the government managed to acquire six from South Africa in 1993, of which the injured male is the last to survive.
Tue Jun 12, 9:57 AM
LUSAKA (AFP) - Poachers have shot the last two white rhinos in Zambia, killing one and wounding the other, in a night operation at the Mosi-Oa-Tunya national park in Livingstone, an official said Tuesday.The shooting of the two endangered animals in a heavily-guarded zoological park near Victoria Falls in Zambia's tourist resort town of Livingstone took place last week.
"I can confirm that one of the white rhinos was shot dead by suspected poachers. The other one was wounded and is undergoing treatment," said Maureen Mwape, spokesperson of the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), which would be investigating the shooting.
The dead female rhino's horn was apparently removed.
Zambia's white rhinos were all killed by poachers but the government managed to acquire six from South Africa in 1993, of which the injured male is the last to survive.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Stevie Nicks shares 'Visions' with Chris Isaak
Oh my god! I am so happy that Stevie is making a stop close to us! I have always wanted to see her!!!!Stevie Nicks shares 'Visions' with Chris Isaak
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Eddie Vedder comes through for me once again!!
Today I went to check the mail and finally received my LP Single from Pearl Jam's fan club Ten Club. www.tenclub.com I am so excited but now have to figure out a way to play since technology has moved on to the cd and mp3's!! It contain's "Love, Reign O'er Me" from the motion picture Reign Over Me www.sonypictures.com/movies/reignoverme/ starring Adam Sandler. On the b side but hardly a B song is "Rockin' in the free World" which was recorded with Bono of U2 fame in Australia, 2006.
Raptors
Went to the Toronto Raptors game last night which they won 92-85 against Orlando Magic. It was a good time and the $9.25 beer went down smoothy!! I still think I enjoy the mascots a little too much though, "Raptor" is very distracting to a girl like me when the game is on!!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
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