August 2009

Success Story: Species

Since the May 2008 earthquake that devastated southwest China's Sichuan Province, WWF and our humanitarian partners have been caring for pandas on the impacted reserves and lessening the suffering of the neighboring communities. We've been rebuilding infrastructure and equipment within the panda reserves and providing monitoring and patrolling equipment. We have also supplied technical and financial support during field surveys and helped set up temporary monitoring posts within the hardest-hit reserves.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a recent count showed that the number of mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park increased over the past 16 months despite the war being waged in and around the area. Although this is good news, we remain vigilant as this critically endangered species is under constant threat. WWF continues to work with partners in the region, helping to reduce the poaching, habitat encroachment and other threats to gorillas.

- Carter S. Roberts