Gorilla and Chimpanzee Observation

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Ok, I'm making my note up front here for a reason: this is a FIRST DRAFT of the first report I'd written for the W.W.F. while doing my 3rd Peace Corps year in the Congo Rainbasin of the Central African Republic. It's bee written by a guy who had been using Arabic and French as his major languages for the previous two years, and it's not the best I'd done. It's the only thing Ihave left, though; there were probably 6-8 other repots, and all more finished than this, we got chased out of the country by a coup, leaving in the dead of night floating down river trying to avoid being detained... but that's another story (all true). Some definitions: saline = salty area where wildlife, especially elephants, like to gather Brazza = DeBrazza monkeys BaAka = name of local pygmy tribe pirogue = canoe earthwulf





WEEKLY OBSERVATIONS: WWF PRIMATE ADVENTURES

WWF Gorilla gorilla gorilla and Pan trogloditis habituation

Dzanga-Sangha Game Reserve, Central African Republic



Trail: Soumbou Date: 9-10 May 1996



Observers: Jason Fink, PCV; Molongo, BaAka Tracker; Mokedi, BaAka Tracker



OBJECTIVES: *This is to be an informal write-up, done on a weekly basis, to discuss observations, make suggestions, evaluate the progress of the project and provide general commentary on whatever seems appropriate (or even inappropriate, at times). Essentially it is an attempt to create as thorough a record as possible. THIS IS NOT A DEFINITIVE SERIES OF DOCUMENTS – IT IS STRICTLY THE VIEW OF THE AUTHOR, BIASED, NOT NECESSARILY SCIENTIFIC IN NATURE, STRICTLY SPEAKING.

*At present, to the best of my knowledge, the objectives stated for “WWF Primate Adventures” are as follows(For more details, please refer to 18 Oct. 94 project proposal:

(1) To begin the habituation of the local western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and the chimpanzee (Pan trogloditis, Trogloditis trogloditis) for the purposes of tourism, primarily and scientific research, secondarily. This project has a 2-3 year timeline.

(2) The primary goal is to habituate these primates in order to expand the possible eco-tourism and tourism bases in the Dzanga-Sangha area.

(3) To study the habits of the gorilla and chimpanzee, in both social and individual contexts.

(4) To create a readily accessible environment for future research, as needed or desired (i.e. in depth genetic, dietary, or psychological studies, etc.)



OBSERVATIONS, ETC:

As a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer working in Bayanga, I have offered to assist in the latest World Wildlife Federation endeavor to study larger primates. I am acting in the capacity of research assistant, as well as scouting possible site locations for the permanent camp. Ir. Allard Blom, WWF/CAR Technical advisor, is the project director and coordinator, Kpanou Jean-Bosco is logistician and research assistant.

In this, the first week of study, I have begun what is essentially the set-up phase of the project. I’ve started scouting a potential camp site in the first two days, and will expand my search over the coming weeks.

This week (The two days we worked), we stayed on the path I’ve chosen to call Soumbou (“chimpanzee” in the local BaAka dialect). The first day we were extremely lucky in that we found the skull of a male gorilla, as well as coming across a group of chimps. Popular opinion has it that the gorilla had not been poached, due to the fact that the upper teeth were largely intact, save one canine (left was missing). The lower mandible was not in the vicinity; in fact, one femur, one humerus, and one half of a rib were the only other bones present.

We were able to observe the chimps for about ½ an hour, though I think it was because they wanted to observe us. They stayed in one set of trees, jumping and climbing around them as we (“we” consisted of Mokedi, Molongo and myself) scrambled around underneath in order to observe them. At one point, the largest (possible the dominant male)charged down from the canopy, stopping halfway down the tree directly above our heads, shook a smaller treetop violently, while screaming loudly at us. The females (there were at least six chimps: 1 adult male, 2 adult females with infants – age and sex unknown – clinging to their bellies, and one possible adolescent, age/sex unk) would periodically throw things at us (twigs, seeds nuts, faeces), hitting Mokedi with a wet wad of dung.

Our objective was the site of a former camp, a very old one though I’m not sure what research/business was based out of it. It’s the first campsite possibility for the project. I’d been told it was relatively close, but by the end of the first day, we’d traveled 2 miles (approx. 3.2 km – the pedometer I have is, unfortunately, calibrated in miles and 1/10 miles), we hadn’t reached the bridge (the indicator of the camp in question).

The 2nd day was much less eventful, though we had an almost close-encounter with a gorilla or small gorilla group; they’d crossed our path about 5 mins before. Plus, at one point, we were followed by a group of Brazzas. Although we were told that we must have been extremely close to the bridge, we didn’t find it until 2 miles later. Unfortunately, by the time we did fin it, we had to turn around so that we could make our rendez-vous with the car. The advantage of having a camp (or a car) is that you won’t be under time constraints.

I was able to do some quick scouting of the area; it looks good, flat, on the crest of a small hill, and sandy (good drainage). It’s near a readily available H2O source, and the trackers said that there is a nearby saline, which would make a good tourist site if WWF wants to go ahead with its plane to build overnight miradors. They have also said that there are many gorilla groups in the area. The bridge is in major disrepair, and there really isn’t a road to speak of. Essentially, it would require rebuilding everything.



PLANS AND SUGGESTIONS:

Over the next week, we will do a more extensive survey of the campsite, as well as possibly scouting another. I would suggest beginning the cutting of the road immediately, so as to be able to set up camp and have easy access to it as soon as possible. Even if that particular point is not chosen for the primary site, it could be used for a secondary or stocking point later on.

Also, within the last week I have been told that immediately across the river from Bayanga, gorillas are plentiful, if a tad aggressive. Granted that this may seem unwanted at first, but I have been told that aggression is one of the phases of habituation – thus we may have an easier time habituating those groups, since they are used to living in such close proximity to the local human populace. Not only that, but it’s closer to Bayanga, and more easily accessible to tourists (granted you’d have to pirogue across, but that is low-maintenance and inexpensive, esp. when compared to the cost of auto transport). If this project’s primary focus is the habituation of tourists, why not start with an area that has gorillas that have already begun the project?