The Last Stand of the Gorilla

Customs and Police offices, which drew attention to the smug- gling of apes and, importantly, had photographs of juveniles of these species. The posters were in Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, English and French. Pocket-sized cards, with similar informa- tion for law enforcement officials, were also produced in Eng- lish and French.

The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES took place in Qatar from 13 to 25 March 2010. Delegates ap- proved a recommendation by the CITES and GRASP Secretari- ats that such missions should also be conducted in relation to gorillas and that representatives from INTERPOL and WCO should participate.

INTERVIEW

“ We have to do something for protecting gorillas ”

Radar Nishuli Chief Warden, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, DRC

I am the chief warden of Kahuzi Biega National Park and it is twenty five years ago since I have been working in the park. For me the UN Year of the Gorilla was very, very good because you know, around the world, each day is dedicated for one person or one group of persons, but for gorillas the United Nations decided to dedicate one year, a full year, for gorillas. For me, it was a thing I can’t know how to express. It was a big joy in my heart, to hear that gorillas can have one year for him. So I think it’s like a lesson, that the United Nations want to show to people that we have to learn something from gorillas. If you see how gorillas live in the forest, people must learn from that kind of living and try to make many efforts to protect them.

Most people have somebody who can protect them but gorillas don’t have anybody. So we decided to be the protectors of goril- las. It’s why we are there. Despite the war, or other problems, we have to do something for protecting gorillas. My hope is to be here every morning, to send the guards in the forest to monitor, and to see them safe every day. And another thing – I ask for all the world to support this together. Even the means, like financial means to see if we can, together, protect the gorillas.

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