Turmoil in the Congo - War, Conservation and Gorillas

 

The Guardian of the Gorillas, by Robert E. Whitehead, Xlibris, 2025

     This is a fascinating biography of Adrien Deschryver, an extraordinary Belgian who lived through the trying times of Congolese independence and mercenary incursions in eastern Congo, later to evolve into a conservationist, researcher, habituator and protector of the rare gorillas of Kahuzi-Biega Park.   Although related to and written down by author Robert Whitehead, the story is told in the first person, in Deschryver’s own words.

    The tale begins with his migration as a youth to eastern Congo, near Bukavu, in the 1950s where Deschryver’s parents bought a quinine plantation. In the company of Batwa tackers, the boy began to know the nearby forest, home of gorillas.  In the 1960s eastern Congo burst into flames, first with independence and then off and on for the next six years engulfed in vicious internal rebellions accompanied by bloody mercenary incursions. As a young man Deschryver was caught up in all of this. He defended his family and friends and walked a tightrope balancing his – often violent – actions against the need to maintain credibility with the new authorities.  More than once, he had to flee for his life.  Ultimately, he cobbled together a truce that enabled him to remain in place.

    As planter prospects diminished on account of nationalization, Deschryver turned his attention to conservation. He was named director of Kahuzi-Biega forest and presided over it as it became a national park.  Deschryver was determined to get to know the elusive gorillas of the forest and spent months devising methods to observe them.  He realized early on that if the park was to maintain its integrity and pay its way, gorillas must become a tourist attraction. Patience, trial and error resulted in success.  Kahuzi-Biega became the foremost location for gorilla viewing.  Although Deschryver’s methods were sharply criticized by Dian Fossey who eschewed tourism, the formula worked for Zaire.  Deschryver rightly deserves a place among the pantheon of primatologists.

    This book captures the tension, the squabbles, the violence, the intrigue and the relationships of a volatile man as he confronts the challenges set before him. His tale is well written, well-paced and well worth reading.