INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE WWW.IUCN.NL

Man and Nature in Virunga National Park

A Testament to the Lives of the People who Call

Lake Edward their Home

Birds of different species that live along the shores of Lake Edward near the Rutshuru River. These birds

depend directly on the lake, feeding mostly on small fish.

Innocent Mburanumwe, ICCN Southern Sector Warden (mountain Gorillas and volcanoes) is standing in front

of a graveyard at the Rumangabo base of the ICCN. As supervisor of the zone, they have to cope with many

challenges everyday, Virunga park being constantly under threat. Photo: Jan-Joseph Stok

Lake Edward on the Kyavinyonge beach, in Beni territory, North Kivu province. Two fishermen who are

arranging their nets and fishing gear before heading back to work.

Rangers of the ICCN on patrol in Virunga National park, near their headquarters in Rumangabo. Rangers

are working with special trained dogs, Bloodhound, having special skills (by smell) to track and apprehend

poachers. Photo: Jan-Joseph Stok

Lake Edward near the banks of the Ndeze-Nyakakoma fishery in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu province. It

shows Nyakakoma fishermen returning from fishing in the early morning, they are fixing and sorting their nets.

View of the Virunga National Park from the ICCN Headquarter in Rumangabo. Photo: Jan-Joseph Stok

Public parking area for fish carriers and sellers in Nyakakoma in Rutshuru territory, North Kivu province. A local

hero from Nyakakoma named Lukonga Mbale, who works in the trade and transport of fish using a motorcycle

from Nyakakoma to Goma.

Senkwekwe Orphan Mountain Gorilla Center at ICCN Headquarters. The young Gorilla's are under

supervision after bad experience in the park happened to them. Photo: Jan-Joseph Stok

Lake Edward, in the deep waters of Bhirwa, located upstream of Kyondo, around two hours away from

Nyakakoma through Vitshumbi. Fishermen wearing impervious rubber in a canoe on Lake Edward while

withdrawing the fish caught in their nets and rearranging the nets.

This elephant is an orphan because his family was killed by armed poachers while he was still very young ; now

this animal lives alone and is trying to integrate into another elephant group. The photo was taken at the

Mabenga patrol post near Virunga National Park.

Entire communities are living of fishery on the Lake Edward. Photo: Jan-Joseph Stok

Credits

All the photographers are local observers from the

Enanga.org platform. They captured personal stories

from Lake Edward in Virunga National Park.

Participating photographers:

• Daniel Machozi Mupanza

• Paul Carecca Sivaminywa

• Gautier Misonia

• Isaac Mumbere Wikerevolo

• Israel Kambere Wangusu

• Espérance Simpenzwe

• John Lumoo Hangi Photographs from Photograper Jan-Joseph Stok noted by name