Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project

The Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project (FVGP) is located in the Loango National Park, as part of Société de Développement et Conservation (SCD). SCD aims to conserve and protect integrally protected species, such as the western lowland gorillas, in the wild. For those orphans victim of the bush meat trade, the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project aims to rescue, rehabilitate and hopefully one day re-introduce some of these orphans back to the wild. During your stay at Evengué Lodge on Evengué Island, learn some more about gorilla conservation and the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project.

Rehabilitation & Reintroduction Programme

Six gorillas are currently part of the Rehabilitation & Reintroduction Programme; they reside in the forest during the day with their keepers to learn wild gorilla behaviour. Prior to their departure into the forest for the day, you can pay a 30 minute visit to outside the enclosed area where the gorillas stay at night.

Sanctuary

The island also serves as a sanctuary for gorillas that have spent their whole life in captivity. At the moment, there are 3 gorillas that reside in a semi-natural captive setting and are fed and monitored by trained local keepers.

To protect your own health and that of the gorillas, no direct contact is allowed. Prior to paying a (45 minute) visit to the Sanctuary, one of the FVGP team members will give you a presentation and inform of the health regulations.

Gorilla's on the Island

The ophaned western lowland gorillas on the island are :

Impressive Silverback "Mabeke"

Mabeke is an impressive Silverback who lived in captivity for 20 years at a research centre in Gabon. In 1980, at the age of approximately 8-10 months, he was brought to the centre since no sanctuaries existed at that time in Gabon.  Like all other orphans victim of the bush meat trade, Mabeke had lost his family, his home and his dignity. In 2001, he was re-located to Evengué Island in the hope of providing him with an improved quality of life. He has been living ever since in a semi-natural setting within an electrified enclosure. Reintroduction will never be possible for Mabeke since he is desensitized to humans and has lost the critical skills required for survival in the wild. Mabeke is an important messenger as an obvious victim of the bush meat crisis. Despite the fact that he has found solace in our sanctuary, he will never have a chance to rekindle with his forest home.

Courageous Gimenu & Keeper Hermann

Gimenu, a male orphan gorilla born in 2001, came to the project in November 2006 in an emaciated and debilitated state. Gimenu was rescued from a local zoo where he had spent 3 years of solitude confined to a small cage. Before this, he was owned by a European family in Libreville. It’s quite likely Gimenu found himself a victim of the live animal trade after losing his family and home. Despite all of this, Gimenu has found the courage to live, and now benefits from being in the forest with other orphaned gorillas. After intense rehabilitation and training in the forest, it is hoped he may one day be reintroduced to the wild.

Keeper Loundou Ibounga Hermann Landry was born on November 2, 1980 in the city of Fougamou in Gabon.  Prior to joining the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project team, Hermann worked seven years for the Edith Stein Institute helping with the care of children undergoing catholic school.  Prior to working for the Edith Stein Institute, Hermann admits that he assisted with poaching activities during his school years to help with purchasing school supplies. 

In February 2006, Hermann was hired by Africa's Eden as a gorilla keeper and rehabilitator.  He believes that God led him to this project to proudly contribute to conserving gorillas and to protecting his country’s vanishing natural resources.  Despite his initial lack of experience with gorillas, Hermann has proven to be a natural conservationist.  His first challenge was to assist with the rehabilitation of a six-year old male gorilla named Gimenu.  Gimenu’s trust in Hermann has enabled him to develop a high level of confidence within the forest and to become easily integrated to two other orphaned gorillas. Hermann has now become passionate of conservation and realizes that conservation will help ensure Gabon’s long-term future for generations to come.  Hermann’s patience, compassion, intellect and sense of responsibility will make of him a leading player within the field of conservation in Gabon.  He hopes to one day become director of a conservation project.  He also hopes to be actively involved at the national and international levels in sensitizing the global community on the importance of preserving Gabon’s natural resources. 

Besides religion, Hermann enjoys playing football and swimming.  He also enjoys listening to religious music and praying.  The Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project is thankful to have such a passionate individual and is confident that he will significantly contribute to conservation in Gabon for years to come. 

Baby Wanga & Keeper Landry

Wanga is an orphaned female gorilla brought to the project in June 2007 at the age of approximately 2 months. Baby Wanga was brought to the project by the Loango National park conservationist who found her on his doorstep. It is thought that some employees from an oil field found her and placed her there, although this remains inconclusive. Like many other great ape infants in Gabon, Wanga lost her family and home. Had she not been rescued, she would likely have died or have been destined for the live animal trade. Wanga will be rehabilitated with Gimenu and the other gorilla orphans in the forest and will hopefully be reintroduced to the wild in years to come.

Keeper Pambo Dibila Landry Charles was born on October 5, 1985 in the village of St-Anne in Gabon.  Landry has always been keen on taking care of animals.  However, due to limited schooling and finances, he eventually resorted to poaching for survival.  

On June 1, 2005, he was hired by Operation Loango as an ecoguide.  He now works for the Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project as a keeper and rehabilitator of orphaned gorillas victims of the bush meat and live animal trades.  It is quite apparent that taking adequate care of these orphans is in his blood.  Landry now regrets his poaching years and prides himself in protecting his country’s natural heritage.  He recognises that not everyone is as fortunate as he is to have found employment within the fields of ecotourism and conservation, a position that has allowed him to avoid poaching.  His goals are to one day become director of one or several conservation projects.  For now, he intends to be fully active in sensitizing national and international visitors on gorillas and their conservation.  He also spends his days within the forest supervising, teaching, and rehabilitating several orphaned gorillas undergoing “forest training”. 

Landry enjoys football and martial arts.  He also enjoys drawing and listening to reggae music.  Most of all, he enjoys making people laugh and brightening people’s days.  The Fernan-Vaz Gorilla Project considers itself very proud to have this young, hopeful individual on its keeper/rehabilitator team.