Orphaned Grauer's gorillas in DR Congo on Jan. 5, 2008
Recently we've been struggling with a new challenge: caring for two orphaned Grauer's (eastern plains) gorillas confiscated from poachers in DR Congo. On Jan. 3, MGVP Congo field vet Dr. Eddy Kambale and vet tech/caretaker/ICCN ranger Andre Bauma traveled by plane to the ranger station in Mutsora, near Virungas National Park, to evaluate the orphans and help stabilize them.
The young gorillas are weak and thin, and the older one has severe diarrhea and an old wound on his left forearm. At first, we worried that neither would live. We also needed to work out where to house them. Even if they were strong enough to survive the 12- to 15-hour drive to Goma, they cannot share living quarters with Ndeze and Ndakasi, which would potentially expose the mountain gorilla infants to new diseases.
Where to house orphaned gorillas from DR Congo is not a new challenge for MGVP and our main partner in orphan gorilla care, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Together we set up a facility in Kinigi, Rwanda, which now houses six Grauer's and two mountain gorillas. We've also done all we can in recent months to create suitable housing for the infants Ndeze and Ndakasi in Goma.
Meanwhile, we're working with ICCN (park) officials to establish a sanctuary in DR Congo for orphaned gorillas — but that's far from a reality as yet.
The orphans, Mapendo (left) and Vumilia (right), eat banana stems and ficus leaves.
On the fourth day of treatment, the new Grauer's gorilla orphans began to show signs of improvement. Eddy and Andre have done a terrific job with the help of ICCN staff who work at the ranger station in Mutsora, aided by phone calls and emails relaying ideas and support from the rest of MGVP staff.
The photos shown here, documenting the orphans' progress, were made possible by Emmanuel Merode at Wildlife Direct, who has helped with all sorts of things, including Internet access at Mutsora so that Eddy can transmit the digital images he takes daily.
Mapendo
The smaller orphan, a female named Mapendo, is approximately 3 1/2 years old, though she is so thin that it's hard to judge her age. Fortunately, she has not been afflicted with diarrhea and seems calm around people.
Andre is working with her patiently, trying to get her to take a bottle of milk, but so far she has refused it. On the positive side, she's eating some of the vegetation offered, likes bananas and also takes an oral rehydration solution fairly well. Given his experience, if anyone can establish a routine with her, it's Andre.
Dr. Eddy Kambale treats Vumilia
The larger gorilla, an approximately four-year-old male named Vumilia, is recovering from severe enteritis (watery stool). He is weak, but strong enough to put up a bit of a fight with the doctor. Eddy and Andre have worked out a way to restrain him briefly for treatments of subcutaneous fluids and antibiotics. Now the challenge is to get Vumilia to take his medicine orally and to drink and eat enough so that he will no longer need fluid therapy.
Andres Bauma offers the orphans oral fluids: Mapendo
takes a bottle and Vumilia drinks from a shallow bowl.
Finding appropriate forest food for confiscated gorillas is another challenge. Thanks to the efforts of everyone at Mutsora station, the orphans are now receiving some fresh vegetation — banana stems and ficus — to stimulate their appetites, but we need a better, long-term solution.
A major criterion for the orphaned gorilla sanctuary we hope will one day be established in DR Congo is proximity to their natural habitat so that forest food can be collected easily. In time, the new orphans will learn to eat fruits and vegetables from the market, but they don't recognize these items as food yet and the selection is limited in the Mutsora region.
Gorillas are highly social animals. We know from experience with orphaned gorillas that their behavioral and psychological health is as important as their physical health. While we can stabilize them medically, we cannot treat the stress specifically. Although their location in Mutsora is less than ideal, the decision to keep them there for now has given the orphans time to bond with Andre, and establish a drinking and eating routine.
Given that both gorillas are eating and tolerating their treatments, it's time to consider next steps regarding their housing. For the present, they will stay in Mutsora and — we hope — continue to gain strength.
[Rwanda, Jan. 14, 2008. Pictures: Dr. Eddy Kambale/MGVP]
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