Trying to find info on forest clearings around Virunga volcanoes in Zaire. These clearings are supposedly called "mazoukus" and they are areas where CO2(?)from the volcanoes pools. Animals come to these clearings and are overcome by the gas and die.I'm trying to confirm a good deal of information about this for a National Geographic Television special on Virunga National Park. Could you help me find someone who knows this area and could comment? Thanks!

rocky Jim Enzinna

Dear Jim,

I have sent your request to the U.S. Geological Survey's expert on the Virunga volcanoes. Hopefully he will contact you.

I have not found a reference to "mazoukus" in the geologic literature nor have a seen a reference to gas causing animal deaths in Zaire.

Until then here are some other volcano researchers that have worked on Virunga volcanoes: Ndontoni Zana, Centre de Recherche en Geophysique, B.P. 10336, Kinshasa, Zaire; Hiroyuki Hamaguchi, Observation Center for Prediction of Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions, Faculty of Science, Tohiku University, Sendai 980 Japan; and, Jacques Duriex, Groupe D'Etude des Volcans Actifs, 30 rue Henri Barbusse, 69008 Lyon, France. You might try to contact them.

You might contact the Dian Fosse Gorilla Fund in London.

An article in Science (6 July 1973, p. 51-53) describes methane in Lake Kivu but does not describe any animal deaths by gas or ponding of the gas in low areas.

Good luck.

Steve Mattox, University of North Dakota

Update:

Reply to the question posted by Jim Enzinna about toxic gas emanations in the Virunga volcanoes of Zaire. This was documented in the book by Bourliere and Verschuren (1960) "Enquetes sur les grands mammiferes du parc national Albert". Published by the Institut National des Parcs Nationaux. In those days the park had plenty of wildlife; Jacques Verschuren observed animals, including hyenas and elephants, killed near gaz emananations which were sporadic and well known by his pygmy guides. Jacques is still alive, 72 years old, and if you can't find his 1960 book with Bourliere you can write to him at Dr Jacques Verschuren,82 Avenue Atlantique, Bruxelles 1150, Belgique. His phone No. is Belgium 02-7708636. His book has great photos of these gaz vents and dead animals around. I suspect all this area has been deforested and certainly has no wildlife left unfortunately. I could photocpy this and even scan some pictures if needed and e-mail them to you if there was a special urgent need.
Cheers
Dr Eric Wolanski
http://ibm590.aims.gov.au

Other Categories        Other Questions

To VolcanoWorld