Communities around Lake Edward are fearful of the impact of potential oil activity on their livelihoods. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Around one third of the world population of critically endangered mountain gorillas live in the lush volcanic forests of Virunga National Park. There is something about the familiarity of their facial expressions, their familial bonds and the calm, contained power that makes gorilla trekking unlike any conventional animal encounter. Of its eight major volcanic peaks, the highest is Karisimbi, at 14,787 feet (4,507 metres). The presence of these volcanoes has shaped the landscape of the park over the years . The southern sector borders Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park. Most visitors opt to rotate through the different options. East African mountains | mountains, East Africa | Britannica [26] Virunga is an English derived word from its origin word "ibirunga" (comes . Lions are carnivores that consume a wide variety of prey, from wildebeest, impala, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and wild hogs to the occasional rhino, hippo, or elephant when food is scarce. (UK) +44 (23) 9387-7464 [2] Latter controlled the Mikeno sector of Virunga National Park between December 2006 and January 2009. Virunga Mountains: A gem of biodiversity in the heart of Africa Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Though valiant efforts were made to protect the park, the end of the 20. century saw much of the parks wildlife massacred almost to the point of extinction. Learn more about the history of Virunga National Park by exploring the timeline below. These local men and women go through intensive training, risking their lives on a daily basis to safeguard the Parks exceptional wildlife, including the last of the worlds endangered mountain gorillas. The latter organisation is responsible for park management since 2010; about 80% of management costs are subsidised by the EC. Y rt nhiu cu v d dch cha "VN QUC GIA CONGO" - ting vit-ting anh bn dch v ng c cho bn dch ting vit tm kim. Ten years later in 1979, Virunga was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. [39], In April 2020 at least 12 park rangers were killed by militia men attacking a civilian convoy. The inhabitants inside the national park, whether native or refugees, rely on farming, hunting, fishing, logging and producing charcoal for their livelihoods, all prohibited activities. Described by the Virunga park authorities as the Congos real treasure (rather than oil or metals), there are believed to be over 300 of these precious primates within the park. It conserves a diversity of habitats that surpasses any other park on the continent and is tucked along the eastern boundary of the Democratic Republic of Congo, protecting the eastward extremity of the Congo Basin. [32] In 1994, Virunga National Park was entered into the List of World Heritage in Danger. [5][21][49][50], African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) and African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) inhabit the national park's central sector. The gorilla massacres catalyzed a groundswell of efforts to protect Virunga. Though there are innumerable reasons to want to visit Virunga National Park, the potential insecurity in the region is of concern to many prospective visitors. Farther north are the Rutshuru Falls and the Mai ya Moto sulfur springs. The Virunga Mountains, located in the northwest part of Rwanda, contain the country's highest peak, Karisimbi, which reaches nearly 15,000 feet. Mount Nyiragongo in Virunga National Park is one . It is an extraordinary park steeped in a history of tragedy and heroism: primordial and viscerally wild. It includes the Rwindi plains and the Ishasha River valley, and is contiguous with Ugandas Queen Elizabeth National Park to the east. Remains of dicots such as African caper (Capparis tomentosa), Maerua species, wild cucurbits, and nightshades were found in dung balls of African elephants (Loxodonta) that play a significant role for seed dispersal in the grasslands. With a checklist of 706 different species, there are more birds in Virunga than in the entire United States of America. Where Are The Virunga Mountains Located - 2022 March to mid May and September to November are the main rainy seasons. The crowned crane stands at over 3 feet (1 meter) tall, with predominantly grey plumage, white and black wings, a bright red gular pouch, and a crown of golden feathers. The southern sector stretches to the shores of Lake Kivu and encompasses Nyamulagira, Nyiragongo and Mikeno volcanoes with montane forests on their slopes. The ICCN and Virunga Foundation enter into a long term management agreement. The Virunga Mountains rise out of densely populated plateaus that are inhabited mostly by Rwandan cultivators and, in certain areas, by cattle herders. [7], After the Second Congo War was over, confrontations between park personnel and rebel groups continued; 80 park staff were killed between 1996 and 2003. It erupts on average every two years. About Virunga National Park | Facts, History & Conservation This helps to increase understanding of mountain gorilla behaviour, as well as allowing veterinary teams to intervene if gorillas are injured or showing signs of ill health. In 2008, the Congolese National Parks Authority, (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, ICCN), and the Virunga Foundation (then known as the Africa Conservation Foundation), entered into a partnership to manage the Park. [34], Efforts at nature conservation have had contradictory effects, for example when farms were destroyed within Kibirizi, and soldiers and park guards were sent in to patrol, people migrated even further within the park to land controlled by the FDLR, where they could rent small plots of land. Five rangers and a driver were killed in April 2018. The rapid population surge causes environmental damage, and Virungas Rangers struggle to protect the forests. Senecio and Lobelia species grow on vast clearings and attain heights of up to 8m (26ft). Important Facts About the Virunga Mountains in East Africa The okapi is the closest known relative to the giraffe and looks very much as though someone crossed a zebra, antelope, and giraffe. Some biologists even believe that a fifth subspecies, called the mountain or Virunga buffalo, should be recognised. The grey crowned crane can be found in the wetlands, open grasslands, savannas, and cultivated areas and tropical lowland forests near the Ishasha River and Rwindi River. [2] It is comparable in size to Haiti or the state of . The Grauers gorillas consist of a handful of individuals isolated to the inaccessible Mount Tshiabirimu region of the park. However, taking one taxing step at a time has paid off. This sight is at its most impressive at night, so most opt to camp on the rim of the crater. [41][42], On 22 February 2021, Italy's ambassador to the DRC who was travelling with the World Food Programme about 15km north of Goma, Luca Attanasio, as well as Italian military police officer Vittorio Iacovacci and Congolese driver Moustapha Milambo, were killed in the gunfire when a militia that had kidnapped their convoy, and had brought them into the park, was met by park rangers who managed to free four people. Virunga National Park - Wikipedia Virunga National Park is located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, within the Albertine Rift Valley. You can make a differenceby joining our community of dedicated individuals who aim to protect Africas oldest national park and bring peace and prosperity for the four million people who depend on it. [8][9], There have been plans to drill for oil in the Congo Basin since the 2000s. The park is also home to a diverse array of fauna and flora, including over 200 mammal species and a third of the worlds remaining mountain gorillas. The 8 Virunga Volcano Mountains: The Virunga is a chain of Volcanic Mountains in East Africa that's shared between Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. Oil exploration threatens the Park, sparking deep concerns from the international community. The park is periodically closed when they feel that the situation on the ground is such that security cannot be guaranteed. Corrections? They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. It is also a vital elephant habitat, as evidenced by the unexpected migration of nearly 600 elephants from neighbouring Queen Elizabeth at the end of 2020. There is a place in the heart of Africa where glacier-tipped mountains tumble down into steamy rain forests, where fiery lava lakes bubble, and savannas and grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see. Anti-poaching patrols inside the park were obstructed, and park personnel and wildlife were killed. [24], In the late 1950s, Tutsi herders and their cattle entered the park, destroying natural habitat up to an altitude of 3,000m (9,800ft), which was thought to threaten the park's gorillas. The oldest mountain is Mount Sabyinyo, which rises 3,634 metres (11,923ft) above sea level. Virunga is a biodiversity spectacle but is also a testament to the courage of those that have fought and often given their lives in its defence. (For more on the conservation and social developments by the Virunga Alliance. Albertine Rift - Wikipedia [35], Increasing militarisation of nature conservation has been accused of fuelling armed mobilisation of militias. Virungas southern sector is best known for its montane tropical forests, active volcanoes, and the mountain gorillas that live on the flanks of the dormant Mikeno volcano. However, another creature is arguably Virungas (and Africas) most peculiar offering. They are solitary creatures who remain isolated except when threatened or breeding. It conserves a diversity of habitats that surpasses any other park on the continent and is tucked along the eastern boundary of the Democratic Republic of Congo, protecting the eastward extremity of the Congo Basin. Tullow Oil Plc, TotalEnergies, ENI and China National Offshore Oil Corporation Ltd (CNOOC) were interested in acquiring drilling permissions. The range runs east-west, perpendicular to the rift valley in which lie Lakes Kivu and Edward. The park is home to abundant wildlife, including elephants, whose numbers began decreasing in the late 20th century, and lions, which also face various threats. [19], In 1934, the Institut des Parcs Nationaux du Congo Belge was founded as the governing body for national parks in the Belgian Congo. Despite the global call for protected areas to cover 30% of the earth by 2030, there are still many parks and reserves where the future hangs very much in the balance. Approximately one-third of the worlds population is found in Virunga National Park (the remainder is divided between Volcanoes, Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable national parks in neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda). The Foundation holds the management contract for the Park, which requires it to restore and manage the national park with ICCN. More than 3,000 faunal and floral species have been recorded, of which more than 300 are endemic to the Albertine Rift including eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei) and golden monkey (Cercopithecus kandti). Satellite images showed hotspots at Nyamuragira volcano in early 2017, indicating ongoing eruptions. Virunga owes its existence, at least in part, to the presence of the endangered (, . The 300km-long park is divided into three primary sectors: northern, central, and southern, which together combine to protect an astonishing array of landscapes from alpine vegetation and montane forests to lava plains and wetlands. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [27][28][29][30], By 2016, four hydropower dams were constructed that provide electricity to small businesses and benefit more than 200,000 rural people. The Virunga Mountains are home of the critically endangered mountain gorilla, listed on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species due to habitat loss, poaching, disease, and war (Butynski et al. Tree heath (Erica arborea), heather and mosses cover humid slopes up to 3,700m (12,100ft) elevation. Flora/Vegatation in Virunga national park - Gorilla Safari Tours Mountain gorillas (, ) are a subspecies of the critically endangered eastern gorilla, and there are believed to be just over 1,000 remaining. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). It is headed by Andr Bauma, a man who has become almost as famous as his gorilla charges. [50], The Semliki River provides habitat for Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). These, in turn, keep the lions of the park suitably satiated. The orphanage is named for a silverback killed in a devastating poaching incident in 2007 that claimed the lives of seven members of the Rugendo family. The female, with a wingspan of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters), is larger than the male. In addition to buffalo, the plains support several ungulates, including topi, Ugandan kob, waterbuck, warthog, and red river and giant forest hog. [49] All of the topi (Damaliscus lunatus jimela) cluster to the south of Lake Edward in the Ishasha Flats region, and regularly cross the border into Uganda. The six volcanoes of the centre and east are extinct. At a height of 16,761 feet (5,109 meters), the Rwenzori mountains feature the largest glaciers left on the African continent making this area, populated by glaciers-fed rivers, waterfalls and lakes, one of Africas most beautiful alpine landscapes. Poachers murder four mountain gorillas, making this the first time in 10 years that a mountain gorilla had been poached within Park borders. The range runs east-west, perpendicular to the rift valley in which lie Lakes Kivu and Edward. The connection between man and gorilla can be further explored at the Senkwekwe Centre, the only mountain gorilla orphanage in the world. 2003). Okapis are shy and solitary animals that resemble zebras but are more closely related to the giraffe and are endemic to the DRC. Both the highest and lowest recorded rainfalls in the republic occur within the parks boundaries: while annual rainfall at Lake Edward is some 20 inches (500 mm), the west slope of Mount Ruwenzori, less than 47 miles (75 km) away, receives more than 118 inches (3,000 mm). [61][62] Ndakasi, a gorilla from the park, was featured in a few television series and movies, including the Netflix documentary.[63]. The endangered eastern lowland gorilla, also known as the Grauers gorilla, is a sub-species of the eastern gorilla that resides in the lowland tropical rainforests of eastern Congo. [43], Virunga National Park is located in the Congo Nile watershed area. Together, these three protected areas form the core of the Greater Virunga Ecosystem. At 14,557 feet (4,437 meters) Mount Mikeno is the second highest peak in the Virunga mountains and the 13th highest mountain of Africa. and wallow in the various rivers, and bongo antelope have been spotted in the parks northern reaches. In elevation, it ranges from 680m (2,230ft) in the Semliki River valley to 5,109m (16,762ft) in the Rwenzori Mountains. Though there are innumerable reasons to want to visit Virunga National Park, the potential insecurity in the region is of concern to many prospective visitors. The most visited section is the southern sector, dominated by dense montane forests home to a vital population of Africas remaining mountain gorillas. The most recent eruption occurred in 2021 and had catastrophic consequences for the human residents of the city of Goma. 689 men and women standing fearlessly to protect Virunga, Critical training and support for widows and children of fallen Virunga Rangers, The world's only facility caring for mountain gorilla orphans. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Virunga is the continents most biologically diverse protected area and a national park embarking on an ambitious development programme known as the Virunga Alliance. Alongside this essential conservation work, the Park is committed to supporting local communities. Virunga is the continent's most biologically diverse protected area and a national park embarking on an ambitious development programme known as the "Virunga Alliance". Much of the parks central region is occupied by Lake Edward. This articles lists and explains more about the . Show map of Democratic Republic of the Congo, List of mountains peaks in the Virunga Mountain Range, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Virunga Mountains | Location, Description, & Facts", List of countries where Arabic is an official language, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Virunga_Mountains&oldid=1133900401, Mountain ranges of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, World Heritage Sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from August 2018, All articles needing additional references, Wikidata value to be checked for Infobox mountain, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 January 2023, at 01:48. However, this is no idle volcano. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Virunga-National-Park, UNESCO World Heritage Centre - Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa). Lake Edward is a vital resource for local fishermen. [12] Local and global groups, such as Greenpeace, are warning about the social and ecological impact of devastating the forest for oil production. The Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers nearly 100,000 ha in western Uganda and comprises the main part of the Rwenzori mountain chain, which includes Africa's third highest peak (Mount Margherita: 5,109 m). Description of the Virunga Mountains Chattering troops of flamboyant eastern b, There are four recognised subspecies of the African buffalo in Africa and two of these the Cape and forest are found in Virunga. Seven mountain gorillas from the Rugendo family are murdered. They are situated in the same region at the borders of the three countries. Tourism remains a cornerstone of the parks conservation efforts, and to that end, all of the lodges within the park are non-profit, with all proceeds fed back into keeping the park protected. The region's glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make it one of Africa's most beautiful alpine areas. Hippo numbers increase to over 2000 for the first time in 20 years. The camps of various armed factions are dismantled in the Central Sector of the Park. In 1926, Derscheid headed the first Belgian mission to map Albert National Park, which encompassed an area of 500km2 (190sqmi) around the extinct volcanoes Mount Karisimbi and Mount Mikeno. Virunga Mountains: the virunga mountain ranges mountain The main crater of Nyiragongo is about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) across and contains a liquid lava pool. Safaris, discussions & donations that make a real difference in Africa. In 2007, the mass killing of the Rugendo family of gorillas catapulted the parks plight onto the world stage, and the global attention spurned increased funding and conservation measures. Illegal hunting inside protected areas increased. [2], The northern sector of Virunga National Park is contiguous with Uganda's Semuliki park, the Rwenzori Mountains National Park, and the central sector with Queen Elizabeth National Park. editors@africageographic.com Also known as: Birunga Mountains, Mufumbiro Mountains. The word Virunga is and English word derived from Kinyarwanda word "Ibirunga" to meat "Mountains" The volcanos forested lower slopes are home to a variety of animals, including chimpanzees, monkeys, and bushbuck. In the wake of serious security issues, including the murder of park rangers and the kidnapping of tourists, park management announced in June 2018 that the park would be closed to tourists until at least the end of the year. [16][18] Between the late 1930s and 1955, an estimated 85,000 Rwandophone people were moved to nearby Masisi in North Kivu. [10][11] To improve the country's economic situation the government undermined that very protection by auctioning oil exploration blocks inside the park by the end of July 2022. Virunga National Park is home to around a third of those gorillas, which reside in the dense forests on the lush slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. The Viringa Mountains are composed of up to 8 Volcanic summits including two active volcanoes of Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira located in DRC in Virunga National Park. The okapi is the closest known relative to the giraffe and looks very much as though someone crossed a zebra, antelope, and giraffe. While sightings of these animal oddities in Virunga are few and far between, they were spotted in the northern sector before the arrival of the militia. The park also encompasses savannas, peat bogs, marshes, lava plains, eastern steppe vegetation, and various types of forests, including tropical rainforest and bamboo. Focussing on three key areas: hydropower, sustainable agriculture and fisheries, and tourism, Virunga National Park is working to economically transform the region creating jobs and reducing poverty rates. Virungas most prominent mammals include forest and savanna elephants, hippos, okapis, lions and mountain gorillas. The Virunga Mountains also popularly known as the Virunga Volcanoes range are a chain of eight volcanoes created by violent eruptions in the Albertine Rift region. We rely on Global Rescue to assist our clients. The national park's central sector encompasses about two thirds of Lake Edward up to the international border with Uganda in the east. It was the first national park to be established on the continent of Africa, primarily to protect the mountain gorillas living in the forests of the Virunga Massif. Shoebills can be found in the swamps and marshes of Virungas Central Sector near Lake Edward, the Ishasha River, and the Rwindi River. Baumas love for his primate family endeared him to the audiences of the Oscar-nominated film, Mountain gorillas aside, Virungas great ape collection also includes, While the apes may be the stars, the supporting cast of around 19 smaller primate species is deserving of a special mention. Park protection efforts were militarised in the following years to deter armed rebel groups and poachers from operating inside the park. The northern sector is characterised by the dramatic Rwenzori Mountains, with sharp peaks and plunging valleys that descend to the Semuliki River valley. Mass killings of nearly 400 hippos are orchestrated by local militia who are suspected of eating and selling the meat and removing teeth for ivory. Its northern sector encompasses part of the Semliki River basin, as well as savanna and montane forest of the Albertine Rift. Updates? The lake lies over 3000 feet (916 meters) above sea level and covers a surface area of 224,083 hectares, making it the 15th largest lake in Africa. This savannah-like section offers the best chance to spot the more traditional safari animals, including elephant, lion, and buffalo. Learn more about the Okapi Conservation Project, a project working to protect these unique mammals in the DRC, as well as the forests and creatures of Okapi Wildlife Reserve. Photo credit: Greg Homel/Natural Encounters Birding, Photo credit: Brad Clement/Spindrift Adventures, Virungas Rangers are awarded National Geographic Explorer of the Year, The mountain gorilla population is no longer critically endangered, All militia groups removed from Central Sector. Oil exploration by an English company only added to threats facing the already beleaguered park. The mountain range consists of eight major volcanoes. Virunga Mountains - Virunga Volcanoes, Virunga Mountain Ranges The Parks visitor accommodation at Mikeno Lodge welcomes new guests seeking to visit Virunga. Flora/Vegatation in Virunga national park; Virunga's strategic location at the frontier between various biogeographic zones offers it an upper hand to protect both tropical rainforest and eastern steppe species and its range of altitudes adds to the habitat variety.The diversity in flora includes: bamboo and Hagenia forest on the mountains; equatorial forest along the Semiliki; wooded . Ethnic groups living in and around Virunga National Park include: The documentary Virunga documents the work of Virunga National Park rangers and the activities of British oil company Soco International within the park. It is headed by Andr Bauma, a man who has become almost as famous as his gorilla charges. Disorder spreads across the Park's Southern Sector. Learn more about mountain gorillas in our story on these gentle giants. Hippo numbers increase to over 2000 for the first time in 20 years. Every family comes with its dynamics, characters and stories, and the rangers have kept track of it all you can read more about their histories and present breakdown here. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The 2002 Nyiragongo eruption destroyed much of the nearby city of Goma, Congo, leaving thousands homeless. Which mountain in Uganda has snow? - 2023 Like humans, chimps communicate with facial expressions, gestures, and sounds. Virunga staff are caught in the fighting, but maintain their presence and eventually negotiate Park access to protect the mountain gorillas. There are four recognised subspecies of the African buffalo in Africa and two of these the Cape and forest are found in Virunga. Rwanda These savannas and woodlands contain many different types of grasses and trees. Most visitors access the park via Rwanda and pass through the border at Goma. Virunga is the only site on earth to have three types of great apes the mountain gorilla, eastern lowland gorilla, and eastern chimpanzee. Virunga National Park is a national park in the Albertine Rift Valley in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Virunga is the continent's most biologically diverse protected area and a national park embarking on an ambitious development programme known as the "Virunga Alliance". They have significantly shaped the national park's diverse habitats and wildlife. [47] Virunga mountains in DR Congo Two active volcanoes are located in the park, Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. (For more on the conservation and social developments by the Virunga Alliance, have a look at their website.). [56], Of the Albertine Rift's endemic birds, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, Archer's ground robin, red-throated alethe, Kivu ground thrush, collared apalis, mountain masked apalis, dusky crimson-wing, Shelley's crimsonwing, red-faced woodland warbler, stripe-breasted tit, blue-headed sunbird, regal sunbird, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, handsome spurfowl and strange weaver were recorded in Virunga National Park's southern sector during surveys in 2004. [48], The montane forest between 1,800 and 2,800m (5,900 and 9,200ft) in the southern sector is dominated by Ficalhoa laurifolia and Podocarpus milanjianus with up to 25m (82ft) high trees. Each offers a different view of the lush vegetation and exquisite vistas. Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years.
Nurses Role In Patient Safety Ppt,
Best Time To Drive Uber In Orlando,
Cindy Sommers Obituary,
Articles W
