Macibiri was one of the victims of the Rugendo Family massacre in July 2007. At the time of the massacre we did not find her body, but we found her remains 4 weeks later.

I, Innocent, was personally was responsible for finding and collecting Macibiri’s bones. Here she is pictured on the right with 1 of her 3 children Ntaribi.

Macibiri was actually Dian Fossey’s nickname in Rwanda - if you go to Rwanda and say “NYIRAMACIBIRI” they will all know that you are talking about Dian Fossey. It was Dian Fossey who showed the world that gorillas are not dangerous and that they need to be protected from man. In a way it is thanks to her that today I work protecting mountain gorillas and all of us here in Virunga are grateful for her enormous accomplishments.

May Macibiri rest in peace with Senkwekwe, Mburanumwe, Safari, Neza and Ntaribi.

Here is Innocent with some of Macibiri’s remains at Bukima Patrol Post.