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Mount Nyiragongo in Virunga National Park is one . These savannas and woodlands contain many different types of grasses and trees. The oldest mountain is Mount Sabyinyo, which rises 3,634 metres (11,923ft) above sea level. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. La Fondation Virunga Belgique was incorporated in 2015 to support Virunga National Park through fundraising and public outreach. [3][47] Nyiragongo are rewarded with a view of the worlds largest lava lake as it churns and bubbles. Visitors who brave the climb to the summit of Mt. However, another creature is arguably Virungas (and Africas) most peculiar offering. The park is a crucial habitat for giant and tree pangolin, crested porcupine and even Lord Derbys scaly-tailed squirrel (a rodent with a very similar design to flying squirrels). Harnessed bushbuck (T. scriptus) and giant forest hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni) are present in the southern sector. The slopes of Mount Mikeno play host to a number of Virungas critically endangered mountain gorilla families. 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. Even the air is redolent with the scent of rich soil, and intrepid visitors find themselves besieged by butterflies and ebrious with delight at the natural life on show. [40] Again in January 2021, armed men killed at least six rangers and wounded several others in an ambush in the national park. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Virunga-Mountains, Virunga Mountains - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Virunga Mountains - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). 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. However, another creature is arguably Virungas (and Africas) most peculiar offering. Today, they are probably the parks most famous residents. Senecio and Lobelia species grow on vast clearings and attain heights of up to 8m (26ft). 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. Two active volcanoes are located in the park, Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. Throw in nocturnal displays of volcanic ambivalence, and the Virunga experience is far beyond the average escape from the humdrum of city life it is an exhilarating embrace of everything that makes Africa truly wild. The ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature) is the branch of the Congolese government tasked with the protection and conservation of protected areas in the DRC. It is an extraordinary park steeped in a history of tragedy and heroism: primordial and viscerally wild. The six volcanoes of the centre and east are extinct. Communities, such as the Mbuti, which previously relied on the lands included in the park for food and shelter have been forced out, or risk being arrested or killed by armed park rangers. The Parks governance structure is strengthened, and newly appointed staff negotiate access to the gorilla sector despite it being controlled by rebels. It includes the Rwindi plains and the Ishasha River valley, and is contiguous with Ugandas Queen Elizabeth National Park to the east. It is an extraordinary park steeped in a history of tragedy and heroism: primordial and viscerally wild. Over 90% of refugees settle within walking distance of Park borders. Seven mountain gorillas from the Rugendo family are murdered. Also known as: Birunga Mountains, Mufumbiro Mountains. From north to south it extends approximately 300km (190mi), largely along the international borders with Uganda and Rwanda in the east. (UK) +44 (23) 9387-7464 Virunga National Park is one of the five UNESCO protected areas that fall under the jurisdiction of the ICCN. Still, military and rebel forces remain in eastern Congo and continue fighting as well as poaching and cutting down trees. Virunga National Park is placed on the list of endangered World Heritage sites. Baumas love for his primate family endeared him to the audiences of the Oscar-nominated film, Virunga. The word Virunga is got from a local word "Ibirunga* the Kinyarwanda word for "mountains". Virunga National Park (covering an area of 790,000 ha) comprises an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes to the snowfields of Rwenzori at an altitude of over 5,000 m, and from lava plains to the savannahs on the slopes of volcanoes. Virunga National Park is a national park in the Albertine Rift Valley in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.It was created in 1925. Virunga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its spectacular biodiversity, with over 2,000 plant species, 706 bird species, and nearly 200 reptile and amphibian species. For decades, the people of the DRC have struggled through war and instability that has killed millions of people. Naturally, the park authorities are aware of this, and they take the safety of their guests extremely seriously. The Virunga Mountains: 8 Related Volcanoes - Uganda Safaris Virunga mountains, Volcanoe ranges - African Birding Trips Discounts at Africas best lodges and on our hand-made packages subscribers only, STORIES & DISCUSSIONS Only one mountain of the 8 is an active volcano that is Mount Nyiragongo found in DRCongo. Take a Thrilling Adventure in Uganda Hiking the Sabyinyo Volcano [47] The Virunga Mountains : 8 Related Volcanoes. The Virunga mountains are the most hike in DR Congo and they include Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira which are active volcanoes, and lastly Mount Mikeno which is a dormant volcano. As is inevitable, this tableau of human suffering has spilt over into the conservation of the countrys natural resources, and Virunga has found itself in the middle of countless conflicts. [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. Oil exploration by an English company only added to threats facing the already beleaguered park. Shoebills can be found in the swamps and marshes of Virungas Central Sector near Lake Edward, the Ishasha River, and the Rwindi River. The park is periodically closed when they feel that the situation on the ground is such that security cannot be guaranteed. Here dedicated keepers have raised the young survivors of anthropogenic cruelty (poaching and snaring), as well as rehabilitating eastern lowland gorillas. [45], The climate in the Albertine Rift is influenced by the movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the El NioSouthern Oscillation. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Notable species include the prehistoric-looking shoebills, dashing Rwenzori turacos, mind-blowingly cryptic African green broadbills, and bizarre red-collared mountain babblers whose closest relative forages the slopes of Mt Jupe in Cameroon. HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC: We're the Africa Geographic editorial team a diverse set of writers, editors, designers and social media natives, all united by our passion for this addictive continent. 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). Rwanda 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. As anyone who has ever spent time with gorillas will tell you, it is an experience that defies words and borders on sacred. Both savanna elephants and forest elephants reside in Virunga National Park, making it one of the few places in the world where both species co-exist. (RSA) +27 (87) 551-8105 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). 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. [35], Increasing militarisation of nature conservation has been accused of fuelling armed mobilisation of militias. The park also encompasses savannas, peat bogs, marshes, lava plains, eastern steppe vegetation, and various types of forests, including tropical rainforest and bamboo. Hippo numbers increase to over 2000 for the first time in 20 years. [34], Five rangers were killed in August 2017 near Lake Edward in a militia attack. The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift Mountains, which border the western branch of the East African Rift. Okapis are endangered, and there are probably only a few thousand remaining. The protected area was extended in 1929 by Virunga National Park, which encompassed the Virunga Mountains, parts of the Rutshuru Territory, and the plains south of Lake Edward. To mark Congolese independence from colonialism, Parc Albert is renamed Virunga National Park. The southern sector of Congos Virunga National Park includes those portions of the mountains that are within Congo; the southern flanks of the central and eastern mountains comprise Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda; and Gorilla National Park includes the Ugandan slopes of Mgahinga. Because of the high silica content of its lava, Nyiragongos lava flows are extremely fluid. [5] They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. In the course of increasing tensions, the park's chief warden, Emmanuel de Mrode, was assailed in April 2014. Virunga National Park | Overview, Location, History, & Facts Virunga is the only site on earth to have three types of great apes the mountain gorilla, eastern lowland gorilla, and eastern chimpanzee. Tullow Oil Plc, TotalEnergies, ENI and China National Offshore Oil Corporation Ltd (CNOOC) were interested in acquiring drilling permissions. 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. They eat mostly fruit, but also feed on buds, shoots, leaves, flowers, and insects. Nyiragongo has erupted over thirty times since the end of the 19th century. The park is a crucial habitat for giant and tree pangolin, crested porcupine and even Lord Derbys scaly-tailed squirrel (a rodent with a very similar design to flying squirrels). 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. However, taking one taxing step at a time has paid off. [2], In 2011, the British company Soco International was granted a concession for extracting crude oil in the surroundings of and in large parts of the national park. 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. 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. Mount Mikeno is an extinct volcano located in the Virunga Mountains. 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. 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 ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature). 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. Recent eruptions occurred in 2006, 2010 and May 2021. Oil exploration threatens the Park, sparking deep concerns from the international community. There are an estimated 30,000 individuals left in the wild. This articles lists and explains more about the . The 8 Virunga Volcano Mountains/Virunga Massif in Africa [39], In April 2020 at least 12 park rangers were killed by militia men attacking a civilian convoy. Hippopotamuses, rare mountain gorillas, okapis, antelope, warthogs, and pelicans all live in Virunga as well. [45] The central sector is centred around the banks of Lake Edward. The Parks 3,000 square miles (7,800 square kilometers) is comprised of four sectors northern, central, southern and lake sector each with an unrivaled diversity of landscapes and ecosystems. Others include Karisimbi - the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke and Sabyinyo in Rwanda, Gahinga and Muhabura in Uganda and Mikemo in DRC. The local community has developed negative feeling towards park personnel and the military. Virunga National Park was founded in 1925 as Albert National Park. The Virunga chained mountains, also known as the Virunga Massif, offer unique experiences to tourists in Africa. Average temperatures in lower altitudes vary from 2328C (7382F), and in higher altitudes from 1624C (6175F), rarely dropping below 14C (57F). The great volcanoes of this range, clothed in cloud forests, include the dormant Mikeno, Karisimbi, Visoke, and Sabinio (Sabinyo), as well as the active Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira. 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. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 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. Virunga Mountains: the virunga mountain ranges mountain Government officials supported exploration activities by Soco International mission members, whereas park management opposed. Virunga Mountains - Virunga Volcanoes, Virunga Mountain Ranges The mountain range consists of eight major volcanoes. Virunga Mountains | National Park | Gorillas | Rwanda | Uganda The mountain range is said to be a part of the Albertine Rift located in the Great Rift Valley. The first maps resulted from the major expedition of Adolf Friedrich, duke of Mecklenburg, which was undertaken in 190708. The main crater of Nyiragongo is about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) across and contains a liquid lava pool. Though Virunga is accessible year-round (if open to visitors), the best time to visit is during the drier months, from June until September or December until February. 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. Massive pods of hippo lurk around the shallows of Lake Edward and wallow in the various rivers, and bongo antelope have been spotted in the parks northern reaches. [31], Since the early 1990s, the protected area was impacted by political turmoil in the African Great Lakes region. Regional conflict spills over and an estimated 5.6 million Congolese die from the fighting. 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. Elevations, climates, and habitats vary notably in Virunga National Park. The Virunga Mountains (also known as Mufumbiro[1]) are a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, along the northern border of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Uganda. Corrections? 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. The 8 Virunga Volcano Mountains Its initial size of 2,920.98km2 (1,127.80sqmi) was enlarged step by step in subsequent years. The southern sector stretches to the shores of Lake Kivu and encompasses Nyamulagira, Nyiragongo and Mikeno volcanoes with montane forests on their slopes. The Virunga Mountains and their associated lava flows extend across the Western Rift Valley. The endangered Rwenzori duiker or Rwenzori red duiker is a stocky, small antelope endemic to the alpine zones of the Rwenzori mountains. Nyiragongo is an active stratovolcano that features the worlds largest lava lake at 700 feet (213 meters) across and reaches 11,380 feet (3,470 meters) in height. Situated in a region which has been deeply impacted by the effects of war and armed conflict for over 20 years, Virunga is currently protected by a dedicated team of 689 Rangers. The 2008 partnership between the Congolese National Parks Authority (ICCN) and the Virunga Foundation marked a turning point in the parks history. Several were observed at the northern shore of Lake Edwards in 1988 for the first time. 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). Conservation protects the mountains alpine vegetation, as well as wildlife that includes the golden monkey and the mountain gorilla. Most visitors access the park via Rwanda and pass through the border at Goma. African alpine bamboo (Yushania alpina) grows at altitudes of 2,3002,600m (7,5008,500ft). [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. 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. Poaching intensifies and continues to impact the Park for several years. Alongside this essential conservation work, the Park is committed to supporting local communities. Mountain gorillas aside, Virungas great ape collection also includes eastern lowland gorillas (Grauers gorillas Gorilla beringei graueri) and chimpanzees. 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. The most recent eruption occurred in 2021 and had catastrophic consequences for the human residents of the city of Goma. Geography of Rwanda. The Virungas form a barrier between the Nile Basin to the north and east and the Congo Basin to the west and south. The name Virunga comes from the Kinyarwanda word ibirunga, which means volcanoes. [32] 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. Both state security services and such groups also resort to armed robberies and kidnapping for income. There are four recognised subspecies of the African buffalo in Africa and two of these the Cape and forest are found in Virunga. Some of the Ruwenzori Mountains are permanently snow-capped, and glaciers exist at high elevations. [26] Park personnel are given paramilitary training and high-quality weaponry, and operate together with the military and state security services. They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu. [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. 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. The northern sector is characterised by the dramatic Rwenzori Mountains, with sharp peaks and plunging valleys that descend to the Semuliki River valley. Campaigners trying to create public awareness are threatened and intimidated on social media. 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. 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. This may also be done to protect the highly susceptible apes from human diseases like Covid-19. Following international protests, the company stopped exploring activities and consented to refrain from starting similar operations in the vicinity of World Heritage sites. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Virunga Mountains | Congo Safari Tours | Explore Congo As might be expected in a park that encompasses such a large variety of habitats, the birding can be described as extraordinary. The Park is founded as Parc Albert, the first national park to be established on the African continent. It is founded primarily to protect the mountain gorillas living in the forests of the Virunga Massif. Virunga Mountain Hiking 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. Today, they are probably the parks most famous residents. While the apes may be the stars, the supporting cast of around 19 smaller primate species is deserving of a special mention. The 2008 partnership between the Congolese National Parks Authority (ICCN) and the Virunga Foundation marked a turning point in the parks history. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [34], These tactics, criticised as "militarization of conservation", has been blamed for further violence and dispossession faced by local indigenous people. Virunga Mountains: A gem of biodiversity in the heart of Africa 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. Oil exploration by an English company only added to threats facing the already beleaguered park. [13], In the early 1920s, several proponents of the European conservation movement championed the idea of creating a protected area in northeastern Belgian Congo, among them Victor van Straelen, Jean Massart and Jean-Marie Derscheid. Learn more about the history of Virunga National Park by exploring the timeline below. 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. Andre Bauma is the manager of the Senkwekwe Center and heads up the team of dedicated carers responsible for looking after the Center's orphaned mountain gorillas. The human population there, which was negligible when the park was established, increased considerably during the late 20th century. Created in 1925, it has an area of some 3,050 square miles (7,900 square km) and contains a vast diversity of habitats. Non-endemic birds recorded include Wahlberg's eagle, African goshawk, African hobby, harrier hawk, common buzzard, mountain buzzard, hadeda ibis, grey-crowned crane, black-and-white-casqued hornbill, black-billed turaco, African olive pigeon, tambourine dove, blue-spotted wood dove, red-eyed dove, brown-necked parrot, red-chested cuckoo, olive long-tailed cuckoo, barred long-tailed cuckoo, Klaas's cuckoo, Diederik cuckoo, blue-headed coucal, Narina trogon, white-headed wood hoopoe, white-necked raven, white-tailed crested flycatcher, African paradise flycatcher, white-eyed slaty flycatcher, African dusky flycatcher, white-tailed blue flycatcher, mountain oriole, speckled mousebird, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, grey-throated barbet, yellow-billed barbet, western tinkerbird, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, cardinal woodpecker, olive woodpecker, black saw-wing, Angola swallow, Alpine swift, mountain greenbul, yellow-whiskered greenbul, common bulbul, white-starred robin, Archer's ground robin, white-browed robin-chat, African stonechat, rufous thrush, African thrush, olive thrush, grassland pipit, cinnamon bracken warbler, black-faced rufous warbler, mountain yellow warbler, brown woodland warbler, green sandpiper, Chubb's cisticola, banded prinia, chestnut-throated apalis, grey-backed camaroptera, white-browed crombec, black-throated wattle-eye, chinspot batis, mountain illadopsis, grey-chested illadopsis, olive sunbird, bronze sunbird, malachite sunbird, collared sunbird, variable sunbird, yellow white-eye, Mackinnon's shrike, Doherty's bushshrike, Lhder's bushshrike, northern puffback, mountain sooty boubou, tropical boubou, narrow-tailed starling, Sharpe's starling, baglafecht weaver, black bishop, grey-headed nigrita, common waxbill, black-headed waxbill, bronze mannikin, black and white mannikin, pin-tailed whydah, African citril, streaky seedeater and thick-billed seedeater.[57].