Conrad Aveling visits Gorillas 15 years on
Category: General, Logistics, Mountain Gorillas | Date: Mar 26 2007 | By: admin
Conrad Aveling spent the night at Camp Karema and set out with us early in the morning to see the Gorillas for the first time in more than 15 years. Conrad, who was the old FZS project manager, came to Congo in 1984 to habituate Mountain Gorillas and chimpanzees for tourism. Four years later he moved on to manage a large EU project, building patrol posts and toursit lodges throughout the entire park and developing critical conservation initiatives. This was the first time he has been back, and he was able to meet up with a few old buddies
This is Conrad, me and Urbain
Just after this photo was taken we came across two Gorillas mating! It happened to be a black back who was doing it on the sly while the Silverback, Kabirizi, was out of sight. The Rangers get to see this happen about once every six months, so we felt pretty privilaged. Photo censored!
Conrad and Gorilla of the Kabirizi family
Gorilla close up
Gorilla reaching out
I think this male black-back gorilla fancied his hand at a spot of photography. Shortly after I took this photo he made a grab for the camera.
Technorati : bukima, camp karema, congo, drc, mountain gorilla, virunga, wildlifedirect
-
100% of your donation, minus a small bank fee, will go to your intended purpose.
Donations made here are safe.
15 Responses to “Conrad Aveling visits Gorillas 15 years on”
chris in USA, on 27 Mar 2007
Thank you for that amusing update! I chuckled out loud when I read about the blackback who was “on the sly”… and while I never condone that for human beings, I find it wonderful for gorillas to help the population
Emmanuel, on 27 Mar 2007
wonderful post rob. reminds us how incredible it is that the gorillas are still around after the fifteen years that we have been through…
Ian Gibb, on 27 Mar 2007
I met Conrad in the Volcano National Park in Rwanda in 1981 on my first visit to the Gorillas.
I am very interested in the Eastern lowland Gorilla. I was a zoo keeper at Chester Zoo UK and looked after 2 which had been featured in the National Geographic magazine in January 1960.Can you get your compatriots in their area to join your first class blog
Best wishes
Mickey J Barczyk, on 27 Mar 2007
First time I see a monkey that close and I must say that the monkey have some fat fingers
Martin Aveling, on 01 Apr 2007
I think I was there for the previous visit! This blog is a brilliant idea Robert.
Gorilla Protection » Blog Archive » Rugendo the Wanderer, and his Gorilla family, on 05 Apr 2007
[…] Mountain Gorilla family was first habituated back in 1985, and so is very relaxed in the presence of humans. Rugendo (who actually used to be […]
Rob, on 06 Apr 2007
Hi Martin, your dad proudly showed me a photo of the young Aveling clan meeting the gorillas all those years ago! Any plans to return? Great sketching material…
Rob, on 06 Apr 2007
Hi Ian! I am sure that Emmanuel and the WildlifeDirect team have plans to ‘export’ the blog out west to support some impressive efforts to try and protect the mighty lowland gorillas! In fact we actually have a small population of lowland gorillas in the north of the park which may soon be the subject of an upcoming blog?? Watch this space I guess…!!
Martin Aveling, on 06 Apr 2007
I most definitely am planning on returning at some point! Just need to scrape the funds together..
Gorilla Protection » Blog Archive » Karateka: Will he always be Solitary?, on 17 Oct 2007
[…] finger in a metal snare. The lack of circulation eventually made the end of the finger drop off. Conrad Aveling helped us cure […]
Phil Sirois, on 17 Oct 2007
Hi to Conrad: I was 1 of the first tourists to visit the djomba gorilla tourism project in 1987…did a video that got on US PBS…. sent copies to conrad, roz & the kids…. think i may have met Innocent’s dad sylvester…hope to get back… have been working in TV on mt. gorilla issues since 1987…
best to all in trying times, phil sirois
Bailly Anne, on 28 Oct 2007
In french: ai rencontré Conrad et ses gorilles au tout début, ai connu Martin TOUT petit, ai visité avec Conrad les gorilles avant que le groupe soit apprivoisé, je garde de très beaux souvenirs, de très belles photos des gorilles et de la famille Aveling; ça me fait bien plaisir d’avoir lu ces nouvelles encourageantes pour les gorilles malgré tout; que de chemin depuis lors; j’embrasse tout le monde.Anne
Bailly Anne, on 28 Oct 2007
I’ve forgotten to tell about Thomas, Martin’s brother and Roselind; I hope all of you are happy; I know that Marcel, the old gorilla,the first chief was dead, what a shame! I am very happy that Conrad returned in the Virunga park.Sorry for my english,I do my best.Best regards.Anne
Deborah Betts, on 09 Jan 2008
We first hiked to the gorillas with Conrad in the mid 80s and are delighted to hear he’s been back. Camilla has just been to see the group in Nkuringo, Uganda and the magic is the same.
uhpfcmjx zauxkt, on 28 Mar 2008
pujdck wlcoibu rjlvya fyjrq rnsk dozfqvl gsjuipz
Trackback URI | Comments RSS
Leave a Reply