The Virunga National Park (formerly Albert National Park) lies from the Virunga Mountains, to the Rwenzori Mountains, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda. Covering 7,800 square kilometres (3,000 sq mi) it was established in 1925 as Africa's first national park. It was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1979. In later years it has become known for its mountain gorillas, although poaching and the Congo Civil War have seriously damaged its wildlife population. The park is managed by the Congolese National Park Authorities, the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature or ICCN (ICCN) and receives vital funding from the European Union. In August 2008, Dr. Emmanuel de Merode was appointed Director and Chief Warden for the park, commanding a ranger force of 680 men.
The national park covers the western shores of Lake Edward, known for its hippopotami (depleted by more than 95 percent in 2006[1]) while elsewhere, marshland, grassland plateau and plains dominate the park. The Ruwenzori Mountains lie on the Ugandan border and rise to alpine meadows and a glacier, while Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira are both active volcanoes with substantial associated lava plains.
Although mountain gorillas are now extremely rare and listed as one of the most critically-endangered species, successful conservation work has helped to secure the remaining populations. Their populations actually increased during the years of political upheaval in the region (1994-2004), but renewed military conflict in the park (October 2008) including the seizing of the park headquarters and expelling of park rangers, poaching, and rampant deforestation for illegal charcoal production once again cast doubt on their future [2]. It is believed that both savanna and forest elephants and chimpanzees can still be found in Virunga, along with Okapi, giraffes, buffaloes and many endemic birds. The neighbouring Mount Hoyo area was managed with the park and is home to a population of Bambuti Pygmy people, caves and waterfalls, but since the civil wars, the park has suffered somewhat. Land invasions and intense poaching have challenged the park authorities to the limit, but most rangers have remained active. Since 1994, about 120 rangers have been killed in the line of duty protecting the park from illegal poaching and land acquisition.[3] Amongst other military activity, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda or FDLR has been using the park as a safe location when they have come under sustained attack, such as Laurent Nkunda's offensives against them in April-May 2007.[4] The park was occupied by Nkunda's forces on 26 October 2008, during the Battle of Goma.
See also
References
- ^ Hippos Butchered by the Hundreds in Congo Wildlife Park (National Geographic article)
- ^ Mark Jenkins: "Who murdered the Virunga gorillas?" National Geographic Magazine July 2008
- ^ Gorilla Warfare (Newsweek article)
- ^ International Crisis Group, Congo: Bringing Peace to North Kivu, Africa Report No.133, 31 October 2007, p.11
External links
- Official Website of Virunga National Park
- UNESCO Virunga National Park Site
- National Geographic Channel
- UNEP-WCMC Natural Site Data Sheet
- UNEP-WCMC info on Virunga National Park
- European Union in Virunga National Park
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Categories: IUCN Category II | World Heritage Sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | National parks of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | Ramsar sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | Virunga National Park | Protected areas established in 1925 | World Heritage Sites in danger
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Doctors of Pop Culture
Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GM
Support the . Virunga National Park. ! Support the . Virunga National Park. ! The gorillas and the rangers need your help!!! Blog Archive. 2009 (1648). July (220). Jul 24 (3). We were told we'd be blown away by Katie Holmes da. ...
