EASTERN LOWLAND GORILLAS - Gorillas slaughtered by DRC military

This Press Release from the DFGFI reveals a disturbing new development for the conservation of Eastern Lowland Gorillas.

On June 7, 2005, military personnel of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) entered into a community forest area in the east of the country and slaughtered four endangered Grauer's gorillas for their meat. The incident occurred in the southern part of the Bakumbule Community Primate Reserve (ReCoPriBa), located in Walikale Territory east of the village of Pinga. This project, which is managed by local people, is protecting a forest area that is home to many endangered species, including Grauer's gorillas, chimpanzees and forest elephants.
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On this particular day, the military entered six kilometers deeper into these forests and came across a group of Grauer's gorillas and opened fire, killing one male gorilla, two female gorillas, and one infant gorilla. One of the female gorillas was pregnant. The gorilla meat was offered for sale to residents from the local community, many of whom refused and reported the incident.