Animal Friends Pet Insurance | Specialist Cover for your dog or cat

Gearing Up For Gorillas 

In December of 2008, Animal Friends Insurance chose to support the charity Gearing Up For Gorillas, by helping with funding for vital projects in the desperate struggle to save the majestic mountain gorilla in the war torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The UN has declared 2009 to be official "Year of the Gorilla" in order to raise awareness of the plight of these amazing creatures and the tireless efforts of those rangers who risk their lives to protect them. Animal Friends is proud to support this cause and would like to assist in the campaign by spreading the word wherever possible. Just by purchasing your pet insurance policy from AFI, you can be part of this tremendous effort to save animals in crisis, as all net profits are donated to projects such as this around the globe.

G4G works to assist Park Rangers whose "office" is often one of the most dangerous places in the world. Yet they have very limited resources and sometimes even work without pay to protect the wildlife - and the gorillas - they love. The Rangers and their families have recently been living in trenches because of the war. The UN was trying to help them get out but they were all reluctant to leave because they wanted to protect the gorillas. Over the last decade, more than 100 rangers have been killed whilst on duty in DRC. Nine lost their lives during 2004 alone.

The rangers work in five National Parks in DRC, all officially classified as 'World Heritage Sites - in Danger' by the World Heritage Committee. These five World Heritage Sites are the last refuge for many of the worlds endangered and threatened species. In eastern DRC, the Virunga National Park, is home to a host of rare wildlife, not least around half of the last remaining mountain gorillas. The gorillas are under intense threat - as are the rangers who work there. In January of this year a group of rangers was attacked without warning at Mt. Tshiaberimu and Ranger Safari Kakule was killed by their gunfire. This tragic loss is sadly not an isolated incident.AFI has started to provide funding to directly help these courageous Rangers. The pet insurer has also recently funded the feeding and care of 3 orphan baby gorillas at a sanctuary in Goma. Ndeze and Ndakasi are two mountain gorillas. They're kept together now and are growing very well. With all that's going on around them, play is the most important thing for them!

Mapendo is an eastern lowland gorilla confiscated by ICCN rangers last year. She's on her own at the moment in Goma as they don't want to put the two species together and then part them again if/when they go to separate sanctuaries. Mapendo, however, is also doing extremely well after a poor start. She was found with her older brother but he died suddenly & she was very lonely & sad for a long time. However, she's now very happy again with her human care giver, hence not wanting to put her through another parting if she were to go with the mountain gorilla babes.

G4G representative Linda Nunn told Animal Friends:

Animal Friends Insurance is dedicated to preserving and bettering the lives of animals worldwide, and are dedicated to their support of the gorillas in the war ridden Democratic Republic of Congo. With their generous contributions, they strive to protect the lives of the three struggling refuge gorillas, by providing them with the food and medicine that they so desperately need. AFI is thrilled to be able to contribute to such a worthwhile cause to preserve one of the world's most magnificent creatures.

Click on the link to read more about G4G's work in the DRC...

images courtesy of gorilla.cd