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

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.

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Emmanuel de Merode, the director of the Virunga National Park was quoted by the Associated Press as saying “demilitarizing Virunga National Park remains our greatest and most difficult challenge. The Congolese National Army has taken the first step, which represents a major breakthrough at a time when the threats to the park have never been greater.”

There are only about 700 mountain gorillas left in the wild, and Virunga National Park is thought to provide homes to around 72. The threat to their survival is ever-present as ten mountain gorillas were killed last year. Park staff have been unable to monitor the gorilla population ever since Nkunda’s rebel group has entered the park. Nkunda and his followers claim to protect several minority groups, and began to operate four years ago after the end of one of Africa’s largest wars.

I don’t claim to personally know much about the details of this conflict in Congo. With that said, I think it’s fantastic that the government has chosen to put conservation ahead of fighting at least as a public explanation. Maybe there’s more to it than I know. Let’s hope that Nkunda’s group also does their part to help protect the gorillas and the park’s other resources.

Read More Stories Involving Virunga National Park on the Green Options Network:

• Polar Bears, Mountain Gorillas Under Continued and Increased Threat
• Eco-Friendly Kids’ Books: Looking for Miza: The True Story of a Mountain Gorilla Family
• War… Not Healthy for Gaia

Photo Credit: mrflip on Flickr under a Creative Commons license

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