Karisoke Research Centre – Safari Vacations & Travel Services

Karisoke Research Centre Rwanda is in Volcanoes National Park, in the northwest of Rwanda. The research center is in between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. Thus, the center derived its name from the two mountains as it combines their two names.

Karisoke Research Centre is one of the major attractions in Volcanoes National Park. This is especially because it is one of the living memories of Dian Fossey. She was an American primatologist and conservationist who undertook studies and research about mountain gorillas and advocated for their protection.

Brief History

Dian Fossey established the Karisoke Research Centre on 24^th September 1967. She started it with two small tents which were headquarters for anti-poaching patrols. Today, it has grown into a world-class scientific and conservation institution. It is where primatologists conduct long-term studies about gorillas. It also educates about gorillas and plays a part in the protection of the primates.

Relevance of Karisoke Research Center

Karisoke Research Centre conducts patrols around Volcanoes National Park. These aim at curbing poaching and other illegal activities threatening the life of mountain gorillas and interfering with their behavior. This has helped in the protection of the gorillas and has largely contributed to the increase in the population of the gorillas in the region.

People from communities near the Virunga region illegally access the parks and set traps targeting other mammals there. However, sometimes it’s the gorillas that fall into these traps and snares. They also carry out other activities such as cutting down trees, encroaching on the land, and entering the park to collect firewood. Those and some other activities put the lives of the gorillas at risk.

In collaboration with the Dian Fossey Fund International, the Karisoke Research Centre combines efforts with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It takes on joint and independent patrols to protect the gorillas in the Virunga conservation area. Karisoke Research Centre collects relevant data around the area to help in the conservation of the gorillas. The Data the organization collects includes health, demographic, and behavioral data.

A visit to the Karisoke Research Centre is one of the best things you can do at Volcanoes National Park. There is a museum with exhibits which have much more information regarding conservation and biology. Also, there are videos about the customs of mountain gorillas.

Dian Fossey- The founder

Dian Fossey used to live in the tents that the research center started with for about one year and a half. This was before a cabin was built for her by her European friends. After ten years, they set up eight more cabins and tents. Dian Fossey later on invited Dr. Leaky to send her students for assistance in 1969. This laid a platform for this place to be a ground for students all over the world. That was for students to experience the field and opportunism for research.

During the time of the 1994 Rwanda genocide and other civil wars, people abandoned a lot of things from the research center. It was later on reconstructed and destroyed again and finally relocated to Ruhengeri.

Dian Fossey devoted herself to the conservation of mountain gorillas because she was worried that they would be extinct by the 20^th century. Unknown people murdered her in 1985 and dropped her body near her cabin. Meanwhile, her conservation effort provoked conservation organizations to get involved in the protection and conservation of endangered mountain gorillas. Even after her death, the work is still going on to date.

Today, Karisoke Research Center uses modern technology in conducting several activities. Also, it partners with conservation organizations and local authorities. thus, they both strengthen the conservation work of the endangered mountain gorillas. The center started using GPS to monitor the movement of gorilla groups. Also, there was mapping of gorilla habitat in the park using hyperspectral remote sensing imagery.

Karisoke Research Centre habituated golden monkeys in the park works. It also works with the University of Rwanda and provides field research opportunities for research purposes.