Wildlife Direct Update: June

No Comments | June 30th, 2007 | Trackback

The Wildlife Direct team, working for conservation in Congo, has been busy since the last update I posted at the end of May. The first thing you might notice is that they have a new website, which features a variety of conservation blogs from volunteers, staff or researchers working in or near Congo as well as videos and a handy index of the latest posts.

The blog that caught my eye during this latest visit did so because of a post called How many bonobos have you seen? None!…until two days ago. The author admits not having seen any of these elusive animals in his 18 months in Congo (though, as I understand it, he has only just started working specifically in bonobo conservation, so maybe that is not so bad). Fortunately, he points out, you don’t need to see them to protect them…you need to know they are there and know what threatens them.

I’m looking forward to reading more of this blog as it seems to touch on a number of widely relevant issues like fundraising and dealing with bureaucracy…and the corruption that sometimes goes with that bureaucracy.

If you are wondering about Atamato, whose station in Ishango was attacked by rebel Mai Mai forces in May, things are tenuous but calmer, he reports in a post from the middle of June. Wildlife Direct was able to assist in coordinating donations for those injured and for more supplies to facilitate additional patrols. It’s clear that the park rangers and advance force rangers face quite a challenging situation these days nonetheless.

Finally on the Manioc Valley blog – that focused on the work of volunteer Wildlife Direct staff – there have been a number of recent posts about and/or links to other projects in the area, included a micro program organized by the Association of Women Against Hunger and Malnutrition and the blog of a young man who built a windmill at the age of 14 to provide power for his family.

There are now more than 15 conservation-oriented blogs – have a look around to see which you like.