Gorillas: Kings Of Congo

CNN's Anderson Cooper Visits Endangered Mountain Gorillas

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on Dec. 9, 2007. It was updated on July 3, 2008.

The mountain gorilla may just be the world's most magnificent animal. But there are only about 700 of them left, and conservationists genuinely fear the entire species might become extinct.

Last year, when 60 Minutes first broadcast this report, at least ten mountain gorillas had been shot to death. This year there's no telling how many have been killed, because a civil war in Congo has kept park rangers from getting to most of Congo's gorillas.

Mountain gorillas live in central Africa in a forest that straddles Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a family of gorillas was massacred last summer. CNN's Anderson Cooper and 60 Minutes went to Congo, a desperately poor country, to see why those gorillas were slaughtered, why the surviving gorillas are in jeopardy, and what can be done to save them.

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They act tough, but mountain gorillas are really gentle giants. They are playful, peaceful, highly intelligent, and one of our closest animal relatives. The gorillas live in families, each headed by an adult male called a "silverback" because of its distinctive coloring. Over the years, they've been gradually introduced to people, so scientists can study them, and taught that people won't hurt them. But this year, in Congo, humans have betrayed them. Mountain gorillas are under attack.

"They’re extremely threatened in Congo. Threatened to the extent that we're worried about the survival of the whole population," Dr. Emmanuel de Merode, head of the non-profit group WildlifeDirect, explains. "The whole population could be destroyed. Could be wiped out."

WildlifeDirect helps pay the salaries of Congo's park rangers, who protect the gorillas. Dr. de Merode was with the rangers in July when they made their most gruesome discovery, finding the bodies of four gorillas who had been slaughtered in the dead of night.

"It was a terrible, terrible scene to witness," de Merode recalls. "It was our whole lives. Everything we were working for-that was shattered in front of us."

The dead gorillas were part of the Rugendo family. They were the first gorilla group introduced to humans. "We had spent time with that group. And it was, in many ways, a strong sense of trust," de Merode tells Cooper.

The first victim de Merode found was a female named "Safari."

"She was quite famous in many ways because she had just had a baby," he says. "And we had taken a photo in the days after she was born and that photo had been you know a real symbol of hope for us. And then to find her dead. And her baby nowhere to be seen, was gutting and for all of us."

Safari, de Merode says, had been shot twice through the chest. Her killers then poured fuel on her and set her on fire.

What was the scene like?

"There was a very, very strong smell," de Merode remembers. "Which for all of us will always remain. It went right through your clothes. Went to the back of your throat. It was everywhere. And it stayed with us physically for days afterwards."

The next day they found the body of the family’s leader, a giant silverback named "Senkwekwe."

"We think he may have been shot and then chased into the forest. He had several bullet wounds through his chest," de Merode explains.

Asked if he'd ever seen anything like this, de Merode tells Cooper, "No, I hadn’t thankfully. Nothing prepares you for the horror of a whole group that’s been that’s been massacred."

He calls it the worst day of his life, and so do park rangers.

Augustin Kambale couldn't believe his eyes. "I was thinking that I’m in dream," Kambale tells Cooper. "And still now, it continue to move in my head."

Kambale says he still thinks about the killing. "Still now I don’t understand why people can kill gorillas," he tells Cooper.

In silence, rangers and villagers made stretchers and hoisted the gorillas up on their shoulders. They wanted, they say, to carry them out like kings. "It's to show people that you see how this animal is very, very important," Kambale explains.

So why were these kings assassinated? Simply, it seems, for charcoal. More than a million people in this area, practically everyone, use charcoal to cook their food. It's made by burning the trees in the gorillas' forest. They cover mounds of wood with mud and set it on fire, turning the ancient trees into brittle bricks of charcoal.

[librablue-2009]

I hope that Anderson Cooper''s brilliant report on the plight of the mountain gorillas will make people more aware of just how desperate the conditions are in the DRC and how ruthless these rebels are. Something needs to be done to stop their destructive actions; they are deadly to both humans and animals. These courageous rangers risk their lives everyday in an effort to protect these gorillas, often with little or no pay.

I am very glad that Anderson showed just how gentle and majestic these wonderful creatures are and what a tragedy it would be to lose them. He has truly been a friend to the gorillas for quite some time and has done a number of reports on them. His efforts are greatly appreciated by those of us who love these animals!

[casstech88]

I cannot believe I just watched Anderson Cooper asking a black man to make gorilla sounds on national television for his own amusement. Ed Bradley must be turning in his grave. It''s time for 60 Minutes to get a minority correspondent and return to the business of real journalism rather than vanity pieces such as the gorilla story featured tonight.

[indy1123]

I thought the issue here was the gorillas, not Anderson Cooper. I guess it shows how much we really care.
I hope there is an answer for the gorillas and other animals that are being killed.

[librablue-2009]

Excellent point indy1123! Any report that sheds light on this horrible situation is desperately needed and more than welcome. In my opinion, Mr. Cooper has done a fine job!

[melizah72]

First, I must say "thank you" to Anderson Cooper and CBS for bringing this tragedy out in the open by airing this segment. Anderson Cooper, please do an entire show on this topic. Yes, I too thought it was a bit bizarre for Anderson Cooper to ask a black man to make gorilla sounds, but we must not look at everything with negativity. Perhaps, it was just so that we could understand the great lengths these rangers go to in order to protect the gorillas, and how close they are to the gorillas. The gorilla story is not a vanity piece as one blogger mentions. It is a vitally important piece that sheds light on what is happening in the DRC not only to the gorillas, but the people as well. The US, and many European countries have created this mess by partnering with corrupt governments. The issue is much deeper then the 60 Minutes segment about gorillas. There is currently fighting in the DRC taking place at this very moment which is causing the displacement of thousands of people. I could go on and on...
Suggested reading: The Congo: Plunder and Resistance
AND go to wildlifedirect.org for more wildlife updates.
Peace to all!

[jmljr2]

This area of the world sounds like an excellent place for our ''jungle special forces'' to train....hunting down the gorilla killers while doing so.

[kevin-808]

Bottom line - if we were to give just a little time and a little $ a day to help either the people buy necessities to heat home and water, instead of cutting down habitat for coal, or pressuring our leaders to divert funds from OUR taxes to help innocent animals and educate locals on their importance, instead of funding war for Oil we would help to save something truly great. I will give up a mere $2 a day for the next 3 months to donate to help the gorillas cause and I am your typical nobody. If everybody did this we could really help.

If you think you are better/smarter/righter than me, save your words, turn your competitive nature into money, and donate it to a cause that will help the gorillas.

[popfutures]

A compelling story. Thank you Anderson Cooper and 60 Minutes.

Two weeks ago I launched a Social Entrepreneurial Venture aimed at raising funds for Mountain Gorillas. Fully $5.50 from the sale of each $10 collectible card featuring a photo of a Mountain Gorilla will be sent to organizations working on the front lines to save Gorillas. Details at www.popfutures.com.

[librablue-2009]

kevin-808 you are so right! Bush doesn''t care about the conditions over there much less the animals. It is up to "we the people" to speak out about these things. I donate what I can; this Christmas I "adopted" two gorilla infants from DFGFI. If everyone did something, even just call their representatives about this issue maybe something would be done to end this war between the army and the rebels over there and conditions for humans and animals alike would improve. However, if journalitsts like Anderson didn''t report on it many people would remain unaware of the situation. Let%u2019s give credit where credit is due.

[cathy-ca]

I would urge anyone unfamiliar with Wildlife Direct to view their website. Every dollar donated goes directly to these endangered animals and the men who risk their lives to safeguard them. You can interact with the rangers and read current info coming directly from the DRC and the conservationists who are on the front line. There is also great concern for the displaced people of the DRC who are caught in the middle of this civil war. Plans are being drawn up to deal with the humanitarian crisis that has erupted since this piece was filmed. Every voice counts so please contact your
senators and representatives and let them know you care.
A million thanks to Anderson Cooper and CBS for putting this tragedy into perspective. I just hope it isn''t too late.

[cathy-ca]

A million thanks to Anderson Cooper and CBS for raising public awareness. It is our job to pressure our government into caring about this issue before it is too late. For anyone who has not visited the Wildlife Direct website, I would urge you to do so. 100% of your donation will go to supporting these rangers and you will learn more about what is really going on in the DRC than you possibly could from any other form of news. The rangers and conservationist (located in the DRC )provide daily interactive updates on several different blogs and I know of no other charity that functions this way. It is a phenomenal group--those in the Congo--and those of us who do what we can from home. Write to your congressmen/women and senators and tell them how you feel. Get everyone you know involved before it is too late.

[pish07]

Wonderful journalism, as usual, however four dead gorillas compared to Darfur:

Date 2003%u2013present
Result Humanitarian catastrophe (est. 200,000-400,000 dead and 2,500,000 refugees)


This should be on the news every night.

[solaranswers]

What about finding a fuel source besides charcoal? How about solar power? Solar technology is relatively simple, and there is an abundance of available sun power in this area. This cause just needs a champion - Oprah, Bill, Warren - are you listening?

[amahoro]

While I understand that it is important to preserve the magnificent gorrilas, I am disturbed that no mention is made of people, human being like us who through no fault of their own live in terror everyday. Unspeakable things are happening to women living through the conflict in the DRC(Democratic Republic of Congo) and airtime is given to gorrilas! Shame on us all.

[travelina-2009]

Cheers to Anderson Cooper and CBS for airing this important story. For more on the Virunga gorilla massacre, and for the websites of organizations that are helping to protect mountain gorillas, check out the National Geographic short video and their How To Help page:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2007-12/gorilla-massacre/gorilla-massacre-video.html

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2007-12/gorilla-massacre/how-to-help.html

[librablue-2009]

The first hand accounts given by the rangers on Wildlife Direct%u2019s Gorilla Protection Blog are both sad and frightening. It keeps us up to the minute on what is going on over there. I highly recommend it!

In regards to amahoro%u2019s comments, Anderson has done many reports on the suffering of women and children in Africa and he did mention the human suffering in this report and many of the comments, including one of my earlier ones, mentioned it as well. Although I respect your opinion I think your judgment is too harsh. These animals are endangered and their situation deserves to be discussed as well.

[travelina-2009]

Cheers to Anderson Cooper and CBS for airing this important story. For more on the Virunga gorilla massacre, and for the websites of organizations that are helping to protect mountain gorillas, check out the National Geographic short video and their How To Help page:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2007-12/gorilla-massacre/gorilla-massacre-video.html

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2007-12/gorilla-massacre/how-to-help.html

[travelina-2009]

@amahora: 60 Minutes did mention that the rangers as well as gorillas have been killed in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Perhaps this gorilla story will help focus more attention on conditions in the DRC, which are, as you say, especially horrific for women:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/the-world-continues-to-look-away-dont/2007/11/23/1195753310737.html

[sklarg]

The need for cooking fuel is driving the Gorillas plight in this case. Check out these simple solar ovens which the website indicates are used in India and elsewhere. There should be many companies making such products http://www.solarcookers.org/index.html

[carmen52-2009]

for those that are touched by this story and would like to help the gorillas/rangers/displaced congolese people. please go to wildlifedirect.org and give what you can. there are blogs that give an account of the desperate situation from those involved in saving the gorillas from extinction. their efforts are truly heroic. please take some time to read the blogs, and contribute whatever you can. it is tax deductable also. much thanks to 60 minutes and anderson cooper for shedding light on this situation.

[nathan8804-2009]

Just clone them!

[carmen52-2009]

help the gorillas and your also helping the people of the congo. the point is the fighting has got to stop. it''s killing both the gorillas and the people near the gorillas. the same atrocities that occur in darfur occur elsewhere in africa. like the congo. we should be concerned about it all. including the remaining 700 gorillas. when 10 peace loving gorillas are killed it is a big deal. just like when 10 people are killed. or when thousand are killed. or when children are taken from their parents and trained to kill. the "rebels" take them and train them to be killers. the "rebels" rape the women from the villages. their offensives displace all the people. they also kill the gorillas. if calm should ever return to the area tourism can greatly benefit a very poor people like it has around the parks in rawanda.

[travelina-2009]

@amahora: 60 Minutes did mention that the rangers as well as gorillas have been killed in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Perhaps this gorilla story will help focus more attention on conditions in the DRC, which are, as you say, especially horrific for women:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/the-world-continues-to-look-away-dont/2007/11/23/1195753310737.html

[travelina-2009]

@amahora: 60 Minutes did mention that the rangers as well as gorillas have been killed in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Perhaps this gorilla story will help focus more attention on conditions in the DRC, which are, as you say, especially horrific for women:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/the-world-continues-to-look-away-dont/2007/11/23/1195753310737.html

[eeepluke]

Thank you so much for airing this segment! It was very thought-provoking and informative. I hope that a solution to the problematic reliance on charcoal will be funded so that there is a better chance of peace in that area. This is such a great topic because there is a convergence of so many issues here, all of utmost importance. I look forward to more great episodes of 60 Minutes. Great job!

[jlittlefield]

It is criminal what humans have done to all animals. It is particulary repulsive how we treat the great apes who are undeniably much like us. Yet better as they lack the ability to kill without conscious as humans can. We are the true terrorists and we need to end this carnage. I applaud Anderson Cooper and 60 Minutes for bringing this heartwarming yet disturbing story to the public.

[oleander8]

Travelina: your repetitious posts are very annoying and defeat the purpose of your message.

[triselina]

Anderson, Thank you so much for doing this show. You did an outstanding job of shedding some much needed light on the plight of the Mountain Gorilla in DRC. As an dedicated blogger at Wildlife Direct, I am so proud of Innocent, Diddy and Augustine. They are my heros and I want nothing more than for them to be able to get back out there and protect these beautiful gorilla families. Thanks to you more people now know what is going on and maybe more help will come to the DRC and to the Rangers. Sincerely, Lisa, California

[bsb2007-2009]

Having visited Virunga Park in 1987, I had the opportunity to experience these extraordinary gentle creatures in-person. The execution of these gorillas is a sad, sad by-product of the neglected and ongoing tragedy in eastern DRC. I commend 60 Minutes and Anderson Cooper for bringing the plight of the gorillas - true global treasures - to light. Now we must act. (Whether moderating a Presidential candidate debate, reporting from a war zone, or raising awareness about an environmental crisis, Anderson adds a professionalism and credibility to television reporting that few others are able to do.)

[travelina-2009]

@oleanderb: Sorry! I didn''t know my comments were going to be posted multiple times!

[cu_rpcv]

This stuff is absolutely heart rending.

You know, it wouldn''t be too hard to get charcoal shipped into the area. Charcoal is readily available in the West. Charcoal is available without ravaging forests.

And the East Africans are already USED to charcoal. Even if Africans are to be shifted over to butane (and I TRUST that that is the preferred course), there is no reason that we could not get underway with technology that is already comfortable to the people. Transitions can come later, but let''s protect the gorillas first.

In FACT, the people who NEED charcoal probably know who was involved in the slaughter. If handled adroitly, it should be possible to discover who participated and round them all up.

But identifying criminals, rounding them up, and bringing them to justice, can only be carried out by members of the community--respected authorities. These abuses cannot be settled apart from cultural traditions in the region. I wish we had all learned that lesson much earlier--long before there was any blood on the floor, anywhere around the world, on account of our involvement.

Still and all, there is a lot of organization and funding that could be carried out over the Internet--just like this Web posting.

Any takers?

Thank you for your attention. And my commendations for Anderson Cooper for his outstanding journalism. By the way, Mr. Cooper, if any of my suggestions take root, there may well be a follow-up story somewhere down the road.

Thanks again.

CU_RPCV

[aubreyhackma]

thank you for your coverage on the the gorillas- the more people know the more they will do to stop this horrific problem

[aubreyhackma]

thank you for your coverage on the the gorillas- the more people know the more they will do to stop this horrific problem

[Jalust--2008]

This is another reason for the UN or someone to move in and move the gorillas to Rwanda. Then they must be declared "World Treasures". Rwanda has made money by allowing people to see the gorillas. This kind of thing could be done all over the world with various plants and animals. Thanks to CBS for another eye-opener.

[eeepluke]

Thank you so much for airing this segment! It was very thought-provoking and informative. I hope that a solution to the problematic reliance on charcoal will be funded so that there is a better chance of peace in that area. This is such a great topic because there is a convergence of so many issues here, all of utmost importance. I look forward to more great episodes of 60 Minutes. Great job!

[gizami]

I have been a fan of AC for some time..his in depth studies and his wealth of compassion with his reports. Keep it up!! This was very disturbing and needs more press. AC you are wonderful!, bf

[sambo1047]

I saw a piece on the Documentary channel, which profiled a wonderful African woman who has introduced solar cooking to areas of Africa. The stove is simple, comprised of cardboard and reflective panels, which can be used over and over. The women simply mix their food in a dish, cover, and put outside in the cooker. The food is safely cooked within hours, thereby eliminating the need for charcoal, which saves the people lots of money to spend for other things, which they like. In the program I saw, the people had used up every available twig, so were forced to come up with an alternative method, which the solar cooker provided.
I thought the gorilla segment was execellent. Thank you, Mr. Cooper.
I hope the beautiful gorrilas can be saved.

Cooper''s story was heavy on "problem" and light on "solution". Similar experiences during three development assignments in Ethiopia and South Africa compel my comment.

Only one solution was offered: "alternative fuel, butane for example. "But butane requires special stoves"

First world solutions like non-renewable-fueled HIGH-TECHNOLOGY stoves won''t work --donor and government resources are simply inadequate. Education and APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY may work.

Three viewer comments mentioned an appropriate technology - solar ovens. Rocket stoves are another effective alternative for the Central African cultures. Constructed from local materials (firebricks from clay, cement, broken pottery, sawdust), rocket stoves efficiently burn abundant, renewable small sticks, not large firewood or wastefully-produced charcoal, with up to 90 percent fuel savings. Many adaptable ''rocket stove'' designs are on Google.

Coordinated grass-roots education and technical assistance combined with highly-visible, visionary leadership would overcome the cultural inertia that creates charcoal demand. Substitute new local woodlot/ceramic/firebrick/rocket stove businesses to meet the needs of people now dependent on charcoal made from gorilla habitat.

Mr. Cooper should broadcast a charcoal solutions segment next month to inspire donors and governments to fund appropriate technology education and assistance.

[funkiemunkee]

Thank you very much for your coverage on the the killing of mountain gorillas on 12/9/07. I am working on my undergraduate degree in primatology. I hope to someday conduct field research on free-living primates, if they still exist when I am finished with my studies. I have volunteered my time giving educational tours to the public at local sanctuaries. Responsible, animal-friendly television coverage can reach as many people in one short segment as I can educate in one year. Thank you again for making a difference.

[d2or3]

Yes, let''s do what Bill Gates is doing to fight AIDS in Africa, and let''s get out the word on solutions, such as solar stoves, that will abate the slaughtering of the most majestic animals on the face of the earth...gorillas. I can''t get my mind around the cullings and the type of people who''d rather murder than to come up with alternatives solutions to their problems. PLEASE SAVE THE GORILLAS!

[simonerey]

Why not use solar ovens in the jungle so people are not destroying the gorilla habitat to create charcoal to cook with. This seems more natural than using butane or propane.

[burtonway]

Great story to open our eyes.

BUT: what about Blood Diamonds?

What about Tower #7 during 9/11? Google Tower #7 and see for yourself, it is coverup and concealment of human massacre (American Massacre).
So for all CNN and Cooper and CBS report, they leave SO much more covered up as the human race continues to suffer in bondage. Gorilla''s have a better fate than the greedy humans (including media) that exploit other humans. IN the end we all reap what we sow, and humans are trapped in greed and hunger and confusion. I will pray for the deceased Gorilla''s and pray that the truth will come out.

CNN: Half the truth, All the time.

[grimmartist]

Thank you for your coverage of the Mountain Gorilla''s plight. Your story reminded me of an article in the fall Special Edition of "Smithsonian" magazine (page 16). A young engineer, Christina Galitsky and a team from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have invented a portable, very efficient cookstove for women in Darfur. Would this stove help reduce the need for charcoal in the gorilla''s homeland?

[netlady33]

The story that you reported is heart breaking. The gorillas in Africa is in danger of been extirpation. We are human often think how speciall we are, but the animals like gorillas, dolphin, and penguins, dogs and all are the real soul that we all searching for. We need to do something about it to save as much as we can, we can''t just sits there and watching they are been slaughted. What will the planet look like when one day we don''t have any animals around. That will be the end of the world. Don''t that sound scared? Animals are part of the human society, and we are part of them. Now, this is the time we can give back for what we took.

[judytravis]

Cooper please follow up with a solutions oriented segment! An African company named Chardust Ltd. is making charcoal briquettes from sugarcane waste (bagassee). Director is Matthew Owen, PO Box 24371, Karen 00502, Nairobi,Kenya. Tel: [phone]. They are in need of funds and supportive regulation to make their operation more cost effective in order to compete with the illegal charcoal mafia who trade without tarifs. 50-60 million people worldwide use this low tech fuel. Imagine the positive impact on Gorilla habitat and humans by substituting sugarcane waste for fuel instead of trees! Please take action to help the Mountain Gorillas now-time is of the essence!!!

[motherearth4]

Thank you for the Kings of the Congo. One solution to one aspect of the problem is to replace charcoal for cooking with solar cookers. This is alternative is successfully making its way into Somalia and Darfur. See the link:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=edg8KPb6SS4&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Yz_a6sCP0Ww&feature=related

It may not solve the problem of greed but we can pray.

[bhamkaren]

Anderson, I missed the original broadcast of this story but was deeply moved when I saw Kings of the Congo when it aired tonight. Are there organizations we can support or actions we can take as individuals to help protect these magnificent animals? Thanks for your fine work. Best Regards.

[jerrygrow]

Several people have mentioned the obvious solution -- solar stoves. They are cheap to make, easy to maintain, and require only the sun for fuel. Giving every villager a solar stove would virtually eliminate the need for charcoal, and, hence, the need to cut trees in gorilla habitat. The charcoal mafia would have to find another line of "work."

[rg21426]

Bio-Digester from Latrines can be used to generate Methane gas. Here is a link of it being done in Kenya. Another solution would be to give the Rebels free fuel to sell to in place of Charcoal.

http://playgreen.org/Wiki/BioLatrinesKenya

[clancy01]

send in seal team six.