Dried gorilla foods I study what gorillas eat.
Amy responded with “gorilla foods.””Dried gorilla foods I research what gorillas eat.” We hurriedly said goodbye, grabbed our luggage with two big trunks full of plant specimens and study data, and ran madly through the subway in the height of the chaotic evening rush hour. When we arrived at Victoria station, we saw a fast growing throng in front of the British Airways counter where authorities said they would not be selling tickets until the following morning.
We so grabbed our spot in line and alternated sleeping on the side walk near our possessions. One day before London’s times had asked for our ideas on the future of the mountain gorilla. Our honored hosts wined and dined with us.
But our dancing dresses became rags on Victoria Station’s chilly concrete when midnight arrived. Our position at the front of the line was all that counted. The cut off for half price tickets dropped seven spaces behind us the following morning, and we grinned as we got on our plane back home.
Two big trunks set us apart from other US customs queue visitors at JFK. The customs official examined our appearance—longish hair beard—while also looking at the torn trunks—field boots well used. He requested to open the first trunk, then stood in astonishment at the exposed cache hundreds of little plastic bags loaded with dried plant stuff, chiefly leaves and stems.
And what are we here for? Another agent who had joined us intervened. In the Bronx Zoo are gorillas. You may save the African trip by learning about their diet there. Actually, the Bronx Zoo is a member of the organization funding my study.
Amy generated export licenses from Rwanda claiming none of her more than one hundred plant species as endangered. Given their dried, crumbled condition and many of the plants did resemble marijuana, this would have been hard for anybody to verify. But the agent determined we were unlikely drug runners after a few decent chuckles over the sacks of dried excrement accompanying the plant samples and let us go.
On our way back to Madison, Wisconsin, we expected a letter from the Wildlife Conservation Society. We have told WCS that we want to go back to RWANDA and made a very meager request for further funding. Their answer caught me off guard. We were advised that WCS would not support our suggested cooperation with the MGP and commended for our efforts. We were also praised on our accomplishments.
While one official did clarify that the organization considered its mission as supporting research, not applied management, a phone call to New York altered nothing. We had hoped to persuade WCS to occupy its proper role in the Mountain Gorilla Project Consortium; however, they would not even support our own effort. At this news, our families were really glad. Enough three and half years of life in Africa.
Ideally in the US, they hoped we would complete our degrees and land “real” employment. We were heartbroken; we phoned Sandy Harcourt right away to explain our situation. He was very worried about us not being able, at least not quickly, to go back to Rwanda. Sandy returned forty-eight tense hours later to ensure that the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society would support our work. Up from $300 for the ensuing eighteen months, they would even give us the magnificent stipend of $500 each month. We felt both relieved and delighted.
Bill really had more reasons for excitement. Amy was unable to complete any of her analysis under field settings in Rwanda; so, we still require her final findings for management needs and to fulfill our responsibilities to ORTPN. Bill went back to Rwanda while we decided she would register for the autumn semester and complete her work in Madison.
Our whole adult lives, we had been together for nine years and were twenty-eight years old. Our past work in Rwanda had needed multiple weekly or two-week separations. Four months were now under view. We decided on a Christmas date after one more tearful night and left our own ways.
