Virunga National Park
The
Virunga National Park (formerly
Albert National Park) lies from the
Virunga Mountains, to the
Ruwenzori Mountains, in the eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering
Volcans National Park in
Rwanda and
Rwenzori National Park in
Uganda. Covering 7,800 km² it was established in
1925 as Africa's first National Park. It is also the second in the world after Yellowstone, and 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 (ICCN).
The
national park covers the western shores of
Lake Edward, known for its
hippopotamuses (now badly depleted by more than 95%)while elsewhere,
marshland,
grassland plateau and
plains dominate the park. The
Rwenzori 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, successful conservation work has secured the remaining populations. In fact, they increased during the years of political upheaval in the region (1994-2004). 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 has challenged the park authorities to the limit, but most rangers have remained active. 92 rangers have been reported killed in action protecting the park from illegal poaching and land acquisition.
*
UNESCO Virunga National Park Site*
UNESCO Natural Site Data Sheet
