Green Options » Virunga National Park

Soldier Killed by Hippo While Fishing Illegally in DR Congo Park

Rhishja Larson — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:35:52 +0000

A Democratic Republic of Congo soldier was killed by a hippo while fishing illegally in Virunga National Park’s Lake Edward.

Despite the ban on fishing in Lake Edward, a member of Democratic Republic of Congo government forces, along with five others, were poaching fish from the lake when a hippo overturned their boat.

Read more of this story »

One-of-a-Kind Kadogo: World’s Only Bald Gorilla

Jace Shoemaker-Galloway — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:49:40 +0000

Move over King Kong – there’s a new primate in town who is creating quite the “buzz” in the jungle! Kadogo is not your average silverback gorilla. At birth, it was apparent Kadogo was different. He was much smaller than other gorillas and was born bald. Yes, bald.

Read more of this story »

Mountain Gorillas Birth 10 New Babies While War Wages in the Congo

Bryan Nelson — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:09:52 +0000

In an inspiring testament to the resiliency of life even amidst war and conflict, the Congo’s critically endangered population of Mountain Gorillas increased over the last 16 months, including 10 new births.

The new babies were part of an overall population increase of 12.5% in UNESCO-listed Virunga National Park, where habituated Mountain Gorilla numbers jumped from 72 to 81 since the region’s last census in 2007. The report brings hope to the troubled nation, which has been wrought with bloodshed and political turmoil for decades.

But despite the encouraging news, serious threats still remain. In the months leading up to the last census, 10 of the Park’s apes were slaughtered by unidentified poachers during a violent insurgency. Some of the dead were discovered shot execution-style in the back of the head. It was the bloodiest year on record for the gorillas since famed primatologist Dian Fossey first began her efforts to save them in the 1960’s.

Read more of this story »

Protection of Virunga National Park and Mountain Gorillas Trumps War in Congo

Levi Novey — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:19:36 +0000

Yesterday, Congo’s government chose to withdraw more than 1,000 troops from an area in eastern Congo near Virunga National Park. Despite an ongoing conflict, the military has agreed to depart in an effort to help protect the park’s valuable natural resources, which include the endangered mountain gorilla. Last week the army engaged a rebel group led by Laurent Nkunda in communities near the park’s borders. Nkunda’s group is still residing in the park, and has been there for almost a year now.

Read more of this story »