Mountain Gorilla Orphans Receive Annual Exams in DRC

After insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo prevented the Gorilla Doctors from traveling to Rumangabo for the annual mountain gorilla orphan exams in Februrary, the docs were recently able to make a day trip to the Senkwekwe Center to examine the only three mountain gorillas living in captivity in the world. Maisha, Ndakasi and Ndezi are each doing well and continuing to thrive under the health care of the Gorilla Doctors.

Ndakasi

Ndakasi was born into the Kabirizi family in 2007 and named after cherished Virunga National Park ranger Benjamin Ndakasi Lola, who had passed away earlier that year. The youngster was less than two months old when armed assailants attacked the Kabirizi family and shot adult female and mother Nyiransekuye. Soon after the attack, a group of park rangers trekked into the forest to search for the surviving individuals of the group. They found Ndakasi alive, still clinging to her deceased mother’s body. Ndakasi, being severely weak, dehydrated and close to death herself, was rescued by tracker Andre Bauma, who carried the infant out of the forest and brought her to the Gorilla Doctors for medical care. Andre has served as Ndakasi’s foster parent and primary caregiver ever since her violent ordeal and has grown into a healthy six-year-old subadult female mountain gorilla.

For more on Ndakasi’s story, please go to http://gorilladoctors.org/orphan-guardianship/ndakasi.html

Dr. Eddy’s Exam Report on Ndakasi:

Drs. Dawn, Mike, Martin and myself completed Ndakasi’s annual exam at the Senkwekwe Center in Rumangabo, DRC on April 4, 2013. During the annual health check, where Ndakasi was under general anesthesia, we completed a full physical examination, blood and fecal sampling, TB testing, vaccine and drug administration and an exam using the newly donated Toshiba portable ultrasound unit. Ndakasi weighed 48 kg at the time of this annual exam. 

Dr. Eddy uses the new Toshiba portable ultrasound unit during Ndakasi's annual exam.

To prepare Ndakasi for her exam, she was injected with anesthetic in her left arm at 11:42am. Within 10 minutes, she was under the influence of the anesthesia and brought out of her enclosure to our exam table. Upon closer inspection, her upper incisors appeared to be worn on their internal side.

Docs examine Ndakasi's teeth and gums.

Her heart, lungs, abdomen, skin/hair, muscular/skeletal, lymph nodes, and neurologic exams were within normal limits. We took samples of blood, feces, urine, hair and took swabs of her nose, throat, rectum and vagina for future testing. We also took a punch biopsy on her right arm for germplasm cryopreservation.

A punch biopsy was taken on her right arm for germplasm cryopreservation.

Atipamezole was administered at 12:30pm to reverse the anesthesia. By 12:42pm, Ndakasi was back on her feet with a good disposition. From the examinations performed on Ndakasi, we can conclude that her general health is good. However, we are investigating an anemia due to a possible nutritional deficiency. 

Our plan for Ndakasi is as follows:

1. Increase daily protein intake to prevent protein deficiency anemia.
2. Give supplement of multivitamins + minerals on a daily basis to prevent non regenerative anemia. 
3. Give second deworming treatment of Ivermectin after two weeks (April 17, 2013)
4. Maintain and reinforce quarantine regulations and policies: maintain basic hygienic condition in the facilities and avoid circumstances of stress.
5. Weekly assessment of weight progress.
6. Feed as much as needed. 

Maisha

The early years of 11-year-old Maisha’s life is largely unknown, but we do know that she was born in Virunga National Park during a period of serious conflict in the region when rebels still used the park as a hideout and the forest was being cleared by farmers at an alarming rate. In December 2004, 3-year-old Maisha was poached from the park and brought to a cave in Rwanda where she was kept tied up inside a sack for two weeks and fed only corn and sugarcane.

After hearing rumors about the infant, Volcanoes National Park staff and the Rwandan police organized a sting operation: on December 18, 2004 they confiscated Maisha from the poachers, and she was turned over to Gorilla Doctors for treatment. Upon arrival she was thin and her nutritional state was very poor. No wonder: three-year-old gorillas still need milk to keep them healthy and the poachers had not given her any for many days. In collaboration with staff from the Fossey Fund’s Karisoke Research Center and caretakers from Volcanoes and Virunga National Parks, Maisha was nursed back to health and slowly recovered from the terrible trauma of her ordeal. While she had suffered greatly at the hands of humans, Maisha grew inseparable from her new human caretakers. She also became obsessed with eating, and to this day she jealously guards the best pieces of food at mealtime.

For more on Maisha’s story, please go to http://gorilladoctors.org/orphan-guardianship/maisha.html

Dr. Eddy’s Exam Report on Maisha:

Drs. Dawn, Mike, Martin and myself completed Maisha’s annual health check and while Maisha was under general anesthesia, we completed a full physical examination, an exam using the Toshiba portable ultrasound unit, blood and fecal sampling, TB testing, vaccine and drug administration. Ndakasi weighed 71 kg at the time of her exam.  

Dr. Dawn uses the newly donated Toshiba portable ultrasound unit during Maisha's exam.

Maisha was darted with anesthetic at 9:05am in her right hip. After twenty minutes without any signs of the drugs affect, we made the decision to prepare a second full dose and dart again.  At 9:30 am, Maisha was darted in her left back side . She was fully under anesthesia at 9:47am, allowing us to carry her out to the exam table.

Carrying Maisha to the exam table after the anesthesia has taken effect.

We noticed an irregular heart rate during Maisha’s examination. Her lungs were normal and clear to auscultation. Her abdomen was within normal limits, soft and half full. Skin and hair, as well as lymph nodes and neurological exams were within normal limits. 

Docs listen to Maisha's heart during her annual exam.

Blood, feces and urine samples were collected for testing, as well as swabs of the nose, throat, vagina and rectum. We did notice that Maisha had a significant number of strongle type eggs in her feces. Ivermectin was administered to help fight this.

The anesthesia reversal was given at 10:33am and she was back on her feet at 10:58am, making her total time under anesthesia at just about 1 hour.

The general health of Maisha appeared good: bright, strong and active with a good appetite. Her heart and breathing rates during anesthesia were irregular, however. Her TB test was negative. 

Our plan for Maisha is as follows:

1. Increase protein intake in daily diet to prevent protein deficiency anema.
2. Give supplement of multivitamins and minerals.
3. Increase daily water intake to strengthen kidney function.
4. Give second deworming treatment of Ivermectin after 2 weeks (April 17, 2013)
5. Maintain and reinforce quarantine regulations and policies, maintain basic hygienic condition of the facilities and avoid circumstances of stress.
6. Weekly assessment of weight progress.
7. Feed as much as needed. 

Ndeze

Virunga National Park’s Rugendo family welcomed a new mountain gorilla into their family group on February 17, 2007. The infant of female Safari and silverback Senkwekwe was named Ndeze after a local chief who had died two days earlier. Her birth was celebrated in the international media as a hopeful sign for mountain gorillas in the park: just a month earlier, the park made headlines when two mountain gorillas were killed by rebel soldiers.

On July 22, criminals associated with the park’s illegal charcoal trade shot and killed 5 members of the Rugendo family, including Safari and Senkwekwe. After the massacre, the blackback Mukunda rescued baby Ndeze from her dead mother and made off with her to safety. Because Mukunda was a male and could not produce milk to feed Ndeze, the Gorilla Doctors, along with the Congolese Park Authority, made the decision to dart Mukunda with an anesthetic drug so that they could recover Ndeze and bring her into captivity.

Ndeze joined the younger orphan Ndakasi and caretaker Andre Bauma. Despite the trauma of the attack and being severely dehydrated, Ndeze quickly recovered. Ndeze proved to be an easy patient: she was sturdy and healthy and easily accepted medication for her common infant disorders like a sore throat or mild diarrhea.

For more on Ndeze’s story, please go to http://gorilladoctors.org/orphan-guardianship/ndeze.html

Dr. Eddy’s Exam Report on Ndeze:

6-year-old Ndeze was quickly visually examined before administration of anesthesia and she appeared to be in good general health with a good body condition. She was alert, responsive and active.  At 10:52am (half dose) and again at 10:59am (half dose), we injected anesthesia into her right arm and back, respectively. The anesthesia quickly took effect, and we were able to weigh her to begin her exam. 

Weighing Ndeze during her annual exam.

Ndeze’s skin/hair, lymph nodes, urinary/gonads, muscle/skeleton, heart/lungs, abdomen and nervous system were all within normal limits. Blood and fecal samples were taken, as well as swabs of her nose, throat and rectum for future testing. Ndeze was given Ivermectin for deworming, a tetanus and rabies vaccination as well as tested for TB (which was negative). 

Dr. Dawn taking samples during Ndeze's annual exam.

The anesthesia reveral Atipamezole was administered at 11:30am and she was back on her feet at 12:01pm with a good disposition after recovery. 

Ndeze waking up from the anesthesia in her night house with her caretaker.

Here is our plan for Ndeze:

1. Rangers keep close contact with Gorilla Doctors team to report health changes.
2. Give second deworming treatment of Ivermectin after 2 weeks (April 17) and recheck after one month to confirm that the deworming was successful.
3. Maintain and reinforce quarantine regulations and policies: maintain basic hygienic condition in facilities and avoid circumstances of stress.
4. Continue annual examinations and routine fecal analysis as part of preventative medicine program.

You can follow the Gorilla Doctors health monitoring efforts on our Facebook page, where we post photos and notes from our monthly visits.

Please consider supporting us by making a secure online donation. Every dollar you give goes to directly supporting our gorilla health programs and One Health initiative. Thank you for your generosity.

DRC's Bageni Group is Assessed by Drs. Eddy and Martin

On Thursday, April 11, Drs. Eddy and Martin trekked to Bageni group in Virunga National Park to assess the groups’ overall health and check on male infant Kagera, who was previously reported to have a skin lesion similar to the herpesvirus. 

Bageni group split from Kabirizi group almost two months ago. Although some groups may split off and then come back together, this separation seems to be permanent. The two groups have been avoiding each other, choosing new home ranges accordingly. Currently, Bageni’s home range is about three kilometers from Kabirizi. Kabirizi group formerly had thirty six individuals. Twenty gorillas (eight females and seven infants) left with silverback Bageni when the group split. Sixteen gorillas remained with older silverback Kabirizi.

Silverback Bageni, who now leads his own group after splitting off from Kabirizi group in Virunga National Park.

Currently, the Mikeno Sector of Virunga National Park holds seven gorilla groups. Five groups are located near the Bukima/Gatovu patrol posts (Kabirizi, Bageni, Rugendo, Huba and Munyaga) and two groups are located at Jomba and Bikenge (Lulengo and Mapuwa, respectively). 

Here is Dr. Eddy’s report:

“We visited Bageni group from the Bukima patrol post. Our team started trekking to the group at 7:40am, leaving the patrol post under light rain, walking along the park boundaries and going through villages. We entered the forest at 8:20am. At 10:04 am, we found the groups’ night nests and heard the gorillas nearby, feeding, breaking branches and climbing trees. 15 night nests were counted before we moved on to observe the group. 

Observation began at 9:15am. Dominant silverback Bageni was stable, appeared peaceful and was resting with three females and their young infants. They were periodically grooming one another and when Bageni began to move to feed, the females and infants followed.

Bageni resting with a couple females.

A female, with her infant riding on her back, grooms Bageni.

We were able to check on adult female Rubaka and her infant Kagera, who was reported to have a skin lesion on his upper lip and had lost the eyelashes on both eyelids. From the observation, the skin lesions on the infant had disappeared but there was some dried skin on his chest. The baby was behaving normally, breast feeding and appeared to have no major health problem. 

The herpes-like lesions on Kagera's face have cleared up.

Dried skin on infant Kagera's chest.

We were able to observe and count 20 gorillas and all appeared to be in good health. Virunga National Park trackers will continue to monitor the infants for any other skin issues and report back to Gorilla Doctors about progress and any new cases.

You can follow the Gorilla Doctors health monitoring efforts on our Facebook page, where we post photos and notes from our monthly visits.

Please consider supporting us by making a secure online donation. Every dollar you give goes to directly supporting our gorilla health programs and One Health initiative. Thank you for your generosity.

Aging Silverback Kabirizi Moves His Group Further up Mikeno

By Dr. Eddy Kambale

On Friday, April 12, I trekked to Kabirizi group for a routine health check, along with Dr. Martin, one Virunga National Park ranger and one tracker. We left the Bukima patrol post at 7:05am and walked along the park boundary through several villages. We met with the other team from GATOVU at 9:10am and then entered the forest from the Gisiza torrent, where intensive rebel fighting occurred last month. The gorillas’ trails led us up the Mikeno Mountain and we located the group at 10:08am, in the Murukore area of the forest. The gorillas were feeding on wild celery, Drogesta and Urea and moving up in elevation as they fed.

Adult females and an infant feed alongside dominant silverback Kabirizi.

A juvenile gorilla feeds on the roots of a dead tree.

We observed several females with their infants, moving behind dominant silverback Kabirizi. The leader of the group, who normally charges us during our visits, just watched us peacefully while he fed on celery. 

We were able to observe the young silverback Masibo, whose black hair has just recently turned to silver. We hope that he is now the second dominant male in the group and will be able to help the aging leader Kabirizi protect the group during interactions with other gorillas. With Kabirizi’s aging, it appears that he has lost all of his canine teeth, an important element in interactions and self-protection. 

Dominant silverback Kabirizi

Currently the group is staying far from the Bukima patrol post and instead, trackers are monitoring the group from the Gatovu patrol post. We suspect that Kabirizi, in his aging and weakening state, is ensuring that his group remains far from Bageni group, which is undoubtedly the most challenging group in the area. 

All 16 gorillas in Kabirizi group were observed and all appeared to be in good health. We left them at 11:33am, as the group continued to make their way further up Mikeno Mountain. 

You can follow the Gorilla Doctors health monitoring efforts on our Facebook page, where we post photos and notes from our monthly visits.

Please consider supporting us by making a secure online donation. Every dollar you give goes to directly supporting our gorilla health programs and One Health initiative. Thank you for your generosity.

Drs. Eddy and Martin Assess Mikeno Sector's Humba Group

After 12 months of instability in the Mikeno Sector due to the occupation of the M23 rebel group in the gorilla’s habitat, the conflict seems to be coming to a close, allowing our veterinarians safer access to the mountain and Grauer’s gorillas in Virunga National Park, DRC. Dr. Eddy and Martin traveled from Goma to VNP last week to assess three mountain gorilla groups, Humba, Kabirizi and Munyaga. Here is his report:

Humba Group

On Wednesday, April 10, Dr. Martin and I performed a routine health check of the Mikeno Sectors’ Humba group. We were also interested in rechecking two gorillas, adult females Gashangi and Gato, who had previously exhibited a skin rash and eye problems.

We left the Bukima patrol post at 7:50am and entered the forest with two trackers, one ranger and the Bukima Patrol Post Monitoring Officer. At 8:29am, we reached the area where the trackers had left the group the previous day. After another 15 minutes of tracking, we located the group in the Rutamuriro area of the park. However, their night nests were never located.  

Our team encountered dominant silverback Humba first. The old male was resting on the ground with two females and an infant. Around the dominant male, we counted 7 gorillas. Most were feeding on Urera and climbing high in the trees. 

Dominant silverback Humba

Adult female Gashangi was among the little group resting, and her chronic skin rash on her upper lip was still present. The skin lesion appears to be growing slowly. She was observed feeding well, but was only using one side of her mouth when putting vegetation in it. 

Adult female Gashangi with a skin lesion on her upper lip.

While checking on the group, we found the second ranking silverback, Nyakamwe, resting with female Magori, subadult Kanyarunka and three other juveniles playing around on the ground. Trackers have reported that second ranking silverback Nyakamwe is beginning to challenge dominant silverback Humba and that Nyakamwe has come out on top in recent fights. Nyakamwe is young and strong and seems to be successfully managing a smaller subgroup at this time. We would not be surprised to find that this subgroup splinters off to become it’s own group in the future. Of course, it is still likely that Humba could one day chase the young silverback out of the group or that Nyakamwe would succeed in overtaking the older male and becoming the leader of the entire group. 

Second ranking silverback NyakamweAdult female Magori, resting with her offspring.

Adult female Gato has had chronic eye discharge for some time now. She was observed feeding with her new infant. Her eyes appeared to be bright and clean compared to the observation of our previous visits. 

During our observation, 17 gorillas were seen and all appeared to be in good health, with the exception of Gashangi’s skin lesion. We left the group at 10:35am when it began raining and the gorillas moved into thicker vegetation to feed.

You can follow the Gorilla Doctors health monitoring efforts on our Facebook page, where we post photos and notes from our monthly visits.

Please consider supporting us by making a secure online donation. Every dollar you give goes to directly supporting our gorilla health programs and One Health initiative. Thank you for your generosity.

Concern Mounts for Grauer’s Gorillas in DRC Following the Rescue of Two Poached Infants

PRESS RELEASE

September 24, 2012

Concern Mounts for Grauer’s Gorillas in DRC Following the Rescue of Two Poached Infants

IsangiMusanze, Rwanda – Gorilla Doctors and the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN) are increasingly concerned about the survival of Grauer’s gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the rescue of two poached infant gorillas in separate confiscations on September 13 and 20. Civil war and illegal resource extraction by armed militias in the areas where Grauer’s gorillas live have made it extremely difficult for Gorilla Doctors, ICCN, and other conservation groups to monitor and protect this endangered species.

“In order to obtain an infant gorilla to sell in the illegal pet trade, poachers typically kill the infant’s mother and any other gorilla trying to protect it,” says Dr. Mike Cranfield, Co-Director of Gorilla Doctors, a veterinary team dedicated to saving Grauer’s and mountain gorillas through life-saving health care. “The confiscation of two infant gorillas from different groups indicates that numerous wild Grauer’s gorillas may have been killed recently.”

In the last four years, 10 Grauer’s gorilla orphans have been confiscated from poachers, and authorities investigated numerous other reports of illegally-held gorillas. Closely related to the more famous mountain gorillas, Grauer’s gorillas, also called eastern lowland gorillas, are one of four gorilla subspecies, and can only be found in Eastern DRC in Kahuzi-Biega, Virunga, and Mikeo National Parks and isolated forest reserves. The population size of the species is unknown but most experts believe there may be fewer than 4,000 remaining.

Dr. Martin with IsangiThe infant confiscated on September 13 was brought to the Kahuzi-Biega National Park headquarters at Tshivanga, South Kivu Province, by the community conservation group Jeunesse Pour le Conservation de l'Environnement (JPE). The group claimed to have been given the baby by the Raiya Mutomboki, a rebel group active in the region. Gorilla Doctors veterinarians Dr. Dawn Zimmerman, Dr. Eddy Kambale, and Dr. Martin Kabuyaya, who were in park that day working to release two human-habituated Grauer’s gorillas of the Chimanuka tourist group from poachers’ snares, examined the approximately nine-month-old female infant and found her to be in relatively good condition. The ensnared gorillas were later released by the Gorilla Doctors, the first-ever successful interventions to treat ensnared Grauer’s gorillas. 

Gorilla Doctors coordinated with the Tayna Center for Conservation Biology and ICCN authorities to bring the poached infant to the Senkwekwe gorilla sanctuary at Virunga National Park headquarters in Rumangabo, North Kivu Province. Despite recent fighting between the M23 rebels and the Congo army around the park, the headquarters has remained a safe haven. The gorilla was named “Isangi,” after the village where the rebels handed her over to JPE.

On September 20, Virunga National Park Gorilla Sector Warden Innocent Mburanumwe and other ICCN and local officials successfully undertook the sting operation following a tip-off by local community members, and confiscated a four-month-old female Grauer’s gorilla orphan from men attempting to sell her in the city of Goma. Her captors claimed to have taken the baby from the Walikale area, an insecure region where numerous armed groups compete for control over mines. After the men were arrested and transferred to the court authorities in Goma, the infant was moved to the sanctuary in Virunga National Park where three trained carers provide her with 24 hour care.  Gorilla poaching is considered a serious crime in Congo and can lead to a lifetime prison sentence.

Dr.Eddy with Baraka and Isangi.“The baby gorilla was very dehydrated, weak, and hungry,” said Dr. Eddy Kambale. “We gave her a banana, oral rehydration solution, and subcutaneous fluid. With the help of Virunga National Park and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI) we were able to quickly transport her to the Senkwekwe Center. The next morning she drank baby formula and appeared to be stable.”

Dr. Dawn with Isangi.The infant was named “Baraka,” meaning blessing in Swahili. Both Baraka and Isangi will remain at the Senkwekwe Center for now. Agencies and organizations involved in the conservation of Grauer’s gorillas in DRC including Gorilla Doctors, ICCN, DFGFI, TCCB, and the GRACE Center for Rescued Gorillas will meet soon to discuss the orphans’ futures.

“We all hope that by publicizing the stories of Grauer’s gorillas affected by poaching, the public will have a greater awareness of this little-known species and the threats against its survival,” says Dr. Kirsten Gilardi, Co-Director of Gorilla Doctors. “The Gorilla Doctors and our partners are dedicated to saving Grauer’s and mountain gorillas, which we do through generous support from people from around the world.”

Here is a video of Isangi's confiscation and transfer to Virunga:

Editor’s Notes

Download hi-res images here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mz1enf0u5vnllsv/nPTnPtG9Bt?m

Blog with detailed story about the infant Isangi: http://gorilladoctorsblog.org/field-blog/2012/9/20/gorilla-doctors-help-rescue-orphan-grauers-gorilla-poached-b.html

Blog with detailed story about the infant Baraka: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/69yxajhai424hum/ZPnPVJfpWW

About Gorilla Doctors

Founded in 1986 at the request of the late gorilla researcher Dian Fossey, the Gorilla Doctors’ veterinary team is dedicated to saving the lives of Central Africa’s endangered mountain and Grauer’s gorillas through health care. Powered by the nonprofit Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, Inc. and the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center, Gorilla Doctors treats wild human-habituated gorillas suffering from life-threatening injury and illness, aids in the rescue and treatment of orphaned gorillas, conducts gorilla disease research, and facilitates preventive health care for the people who work in the national parks and come into close contact with the gorillas. www.gorilladoctors.org

About Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park, Africa’s oldest national park (established in 1925) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, is home to approximately 200 of the world’s mountain gorillas and a small population of Grauer’s gorillas. Formerly known as Albert National Park, Virunga lies in the Eastern DRC and covers 7,800 square kilometers. The park is managed by the Congolese Wildlife Authority, known in French as L'Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN). Some 273 park rangers protect Virunga National Park in a region affected by a 12-year civil war and political instability. More than 130 rangers have been killed in the line of duty in last 15 years. www.gorilla.cd

About Kahuzi-Biega National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site located in South Kivu, DRC, Kahuzi-Biega National Park is one of last remaining strongholds of the Grauer’s gorilla and the only place where tourists can view them in the wild. A 2010 census found evidence of 181 gorillas in the 600-quare-kilomter highland sector park, up from 168 individuals in 2004. The population of the less secure 5,200-square-kilometer lowland sector of the park is unknown. Kahuzi-Biega is managed by the Congolese Wildlife Authority, known in French as L'Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN).

For more information, please contact:

Molly Feltner, Gorilla Doctors Communications Officer:

mollyfeltner@gmail.com or +250 0783 885 168 (after Sept. 24 call +1 857 719 9258)

Dr. Mike Cranfield, Co-Director of Gorilla Doctors:

cranfield.mike@gmail.com or + 410-917-7666