Baraza

News from the WildlifeDirect team

Support WildlifeDirect:
buy branded merchandise

National Geographic launch Gorilla Murders

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jun 12 2008 | By: admin

A year has passed since the gorilla killings in Congo and two items caught my attention today.

rugendo-massacre-5-tn.jpg

Earthtimes online report “National Geographic have announced that On Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, National Geographic Channel’s “Explorer: Gorilla Murders” reports from eastern DRC, one of the most dangerous places on earth, with the full untold story behind the massacre. Central to the story is Stirton, a South African war photographer with a long history in the region. He was on-location when the murdered gorillas were found and returned to the park for National Geographic to investigate who was behind the killings. In addition to the world television premiere, Stirton’s and writer Mark Jenkins’ reporting is the July cover story for National Geographic magazine. With the first Western journalists to gain access to the gorilla sector of the park since the killings occurred, National Geographic presents exclusive testimonials from eyewitnesses, including Stirton, who discuss the hunt to bring the perpetrators to justice and the desperate efforts to protect the remaining gorillas, including one miraculous infant whose family was among those massacred”.

We followed the gorilla killings on our Gorilla Protection blog on WildlifeDirect and were the first on the ground. For more information about Nat Geo’s Gorilla murders show go to earthtimes online and National Geographic TV shows.

Last week at the fourth China International Press Photo Contest (CHIPP) awards ceremony in Shanghai, 78 works by 30 Chinese photographers and 34 from overseas were unveiled. Prizes were presented in 8 categories. Initially attracting 2,456 photojournalists and photographers from 72 countries and regions, the contest received a total of 28,318 entries in its preliminary phase. “Mountain Gorillas Killed in Democratic Republic of Congo,” a photo taken by Brent Stirton from Getty Images, was named the Best Photograph of 2007. In the picture, conservation rangers from a Congo anti-poaching unit work with villagers to evacuate the body of a mountain gorilla killed in mysterious circumstances at the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa.

Share This

Tags: , , , ,

6 Responses to “National Geographic launch Gorilla Murders”

Lisa, California, on 13 Jun 2008

Thanks for the heads up on this show. I can’t believe it’s already been a year since these brutal killings. I wonder how the remaining Rugendo family members are doing. How little Noel is doing. I wonder when the rangers will ever be able to gain access to them again. It’s been a very long year and I’m still so sad about this senseless crime. Lisa

admin, on 13 Jun 2008

I have been in touch with Diddy who says that Nkunda’s guys are still in control of that area, but they are hoping it will end soon. The iCCN is in mourning over the death of their Provincial Director. He was so sad.

Lisa, California, on 14 Jun 2008

Oh, my heart goes out to Diddy and the other Rangers! Sad days are plentyful lately! With dolphins committing mass suicide and the loss of this very important ICCN Director; the very sad and sudden loss of a very beloved American journalist, Tim Russert, right before this historical US Presidential election; the only female breeding Golden Eagle in Scotland poisened, leaving behind a baby that is still dependant on both parents. Sad days for sure! Kusa

Lisa, California, on 14 Jun 2008

And I can’t spell my name! Lisa

PaulaB, on 14 Jun 2008

Lisa, the golden eagle that was poisoned was the only one in the Borders region of Scotland, not the entire country. Thankfully, there are other pairs elsewhere. Still bad news, though.

Lisa, California, on 15 Jun 2008

Oh good, that is a relief to hear that there are other pairs elsewhere in Scotland. Thanks Paula! Lisa

Trackback URI | Comments RSS

Leave a Reply