Rangers return to protect Congo mountain gorillas
11/21/2008, 10:06 a.m. PST
The day after I posted the petition, the rebels retreated and the rangers returned to guard the gorillas! I believe it was the Karma of the 201 people who signed this petition that protected the Gorillas. YES WE CAN --- YES WE DID!!!
EMAIL ME TO CELEBRATE-- tobyd@portland.quik.com
Thank you each and every one!
The Associated Press
GOMA, Congo (AP) — The director of Congo's Virunga Park says rangers who fled fighting between rebels and soldiers are returning to protect its endangered mountain gorillas.
The park headquarters in eastern Congo had been seized by rebels on Oct. 26.
Director Emmanuel de Merode says all parties in the conflict have accepted the return of the rangers from the refugee camps they fled to. They began doing that on Friday.
De Merode says, "It is a huge step that all sides have agreed that the protection of Virunga as a World Heritage Site and its mountain gorillas is of sufficient priority to transcend political differences."
He says the rangers are neutral in the conflict and should be allowed to do their job.
War has ravaged The Conga for years, but thank God the gorilla's in the Tanya Gorilla Reserve have been spared for the most part. However, this week (November 20,2009) rebels forces have entered and taken control of the National Park dedicated to preserving one of the planets few guarded Gorilla habitats. The Park Rangers have fled for their lives and the fate of the Gorilla's remains tonight in LIMBO!
This petition has a simple purpose. We are asking that the U.S. Government use its State Department resources to contact the rebel leader , Mr. Mukunda, and give him this message: "KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF THE GORILLA'S !!! IF YOU HARM THE GORILLA'S INTERNATIONAL SHAME AND INVOLVEMENT BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS WILL BE INEVITABLE. RETREAT FROM THE TANYA GORILLA RESERVE IMMEDIATELY. DO THE MORAL AND DECENT THING! DO NOT HARM THESE HELPLESS AND MAGNIFICENT CREATURES - THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING YOU."
Dear Secretary Rice,
The petitioners signing this petition are kindly asking you to direct the resources in the State Department to contact the rebel leader in The Congo and plead for his mercy towards the GORILLA Population in the Tanya National Park. This is an extremely urgent matter that requires your immediate attention.
We all sincerely thank you for taking action and pray that the GORILLAS will be saved.
Signed,
Toby Dittrich, Vancouver Washington
