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- PATROLS – rangers go out on regular patrols lasting several days at a time, in groups of three or four. They locate, watch and report back on the gorilla groups, their movements and any unusual or noteworthy incidents or occurrences. Snares and other traps are destroyed. It is during this work in particular that the rangers are at most danger from militia groups at large in the forest.
It is during this work that they need:
Uniforms – being identified as genuine Park staff should help protect them from being shot by the militia groups at large. Jean Pierre is concerned that they are often mistaken as merely another group of armed militia
Cameras / binoculars – poorly equipped, they rarely are able to take vital photographs that would permanently record the activities of the gorillas and other information - ‘Pictures paint a thousand words’…..
Camping equipment – out in the forest for days or weeks at a time, tents & other camping gear would help the rangers immeasurably. Particularly during the wet season, regular and heavy downpours make life pretty damp and uncomfortable. Keeping dry and being able to eat and sleep in some degree of comfort would help morale as well as their physical well-being!
- REPORTING BACK TO HQ – This is a very important part of their work! Everything noted whilst out on patrol has to be written down and taken to head quarters. ‘Taken’ to head quarters is also absolutely correct. Without computers, the rangers have to drive to HQ to hand in their hand-written patrol reports. HQ keeps a record of all the reports and from them can determine if particular work needs undertaking or if special projects might be needed. Records of gorilla movements and activities (births, deaths, illness, changing groups etc) are all put into the central computers at HQ.
It is during this work that they need:
Laptop computers – This is possibly the most important part of the ‘Gearing Up for Gorillas’ project. Rangers spend long periods of time traveling to and from HQ to hand in paper reports. To be able to compose their reports on a laptop computer, including attaching digital photographs, at home or in the local office base and emailing the report to HQ, would save them huge amounts of time and effort. The ability to email would immeasurably improve the speed of communications between those at the sharp end on the ground and HQ. It would vastly increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their work. Patrol frequency could increase and patrol groups around this immense Park could keep in touch with each other. Information on the suspected whereabouts and activities of the roving militia groups could be passed effortlessly around the Park, improving safety on a daily basis.
- EDUCATION – around the world our school children are the future adults who will take over the care and protection of our natural heritage. With this in mind, Jean-Pierre and his rangers go into schools giving talks on the gorillas and undertaking projects with the children. This is desperately important work, trying to ensure that tomorrows’ adults understand the habitat and needs of the gorillas, their highly endangered status and the dangers that face them – almost entirely from humans. The ultimate fate of the mountain gorillas will be in their hands.
It is during this work that they need:
Desktop computers – As I’m sure we would all appreciate, the children in DRC (and the Rwandan and Ugandan sections of the Park) are not able to have access to computers, in the way most UK children do. The tremendous benefits that computers could bring to the children hardly need describing. One aim of this project, hopefully lasting well into the future, is to link schools here in the UK, with schools in the DRC. Exchanging emails and information would greatly enhance knowledge and understanding between the children of our different countries – perhaps they might even get to meet each other one day….
Other school equipment/materials – Jean Pierre will be suggesting items that would help the rangers in their work within the classrooms. This may be simple items such as paper, card, paints and so on. Funds from the ‘Gearing Up for Gorillas’ account could be used to purchase these materials locally.
- LOCAL COMMUNITIES – In conjunction with some of the agencies already assisting the work of the rangers, such as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, projects involving working with the local people aim to offer alternatives ….
- TOURISM – Some of the rangers are trained to take visitors out into the forest to view the gorillas. Such ‘green tourism’ makes substantial contributions to the local economy and helps support ongoing work in the Park.