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. [7], There have been several deadly attacks in the park by rebel groups, and several park rangers have been killed. [5] Mount Nyiragongo in Virunga National Park is one . On several occasions a lava stream reached the shores of Lake Kivu. 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. Each offers a different view of the lush vegetation and exquisite vistas. Of its eight major volcanic peaks, the highest is Karisimbi, at 14,787 feet (4,507 metres). Mikeno and Sabinio are the oldest of these, dating from the early part of the Pleistocene Epoch (the Pleistocene began about 2,600,000 years ago and lasted until about 11,700 years ago); their craters have disappeared, and erosion has imposed a jagged relief. Virunga National Park is placed on the list of endangered World Heritage sites. [25], Land laws were reformed in the 1960s after Belgian Congo became independent as the Republic of the Congo, and the land declared property of the state, much to the disadvantage of local people. The rapid population surge causes environmental damage, and Virungas Rangers struggle to protect the forests. 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. Several were observed at the northern shore of Lake Edwards in 1988 for the first time. Habituation is a critical component of gorilla conservation, as it allows for detailed research to be undertaken on the species. 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. This savannah-like section offers the best chance to spot the more traditional safari animals, including elephant, lion, and buffalo. To comment on this story: Download our app here - it's a troll-free safe place . Virunga Mountains | National Park | Gorillas | Rwanda | Uganda The ICCN and Virunga Foundation enter into a long term management agreement. Getting to the summit of these mountains takes an average of 5 . 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). This articles lists and explains more about the . 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). Preventing these plans the park gained further protection by an agreement sealed between DRCs president Felix Tshisekedi and Boris Johnson at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. The gorilla massacres catalyzed a groundswell of efforts to protect Virunga. 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). 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. The word Virunga is got from a local word "Ibirunga* the Kinyarwanda word for "mountains". is the branch of the Congolese government tasked with the protection and conservation of protected areas in the DRC. Rwanda is located in East Africa, to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the co-ordinates 200S 300E . [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. [26] Several armed rebel groups operate in the park, including Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda and National Congress for the Defence of the People (FDLR). Virunga has the highest number of amphibian species in the Albertine Rift, an area which encompasses parts of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. Learn more about the history of Virunga National Park by exploring the timeline below. Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years. Sabyinyo volcano, located on the border of Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo in the Virunga Mountains, is simply incredible! [5], Primates present in the national park include mountain gorilla (G. b. beringei), common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), golden monkey, red-tailed monkey (Cercopithecus ascanius), Dent's mona monkey (C. denti), blue monkey (C. mitis), Hamlyn's monkey (C. hamlyni), De Brazza's monkey (C. neglectus), Central African red colobus (Procolobus foai), mantled guereza (Colobus guereza), olive baboon (Papio anubis) and grey-cheeked mangabey (Lophocebus albigena). [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 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. [34], These tactics, criticised as "militarization of conservation", has been blamed for further violence and dispossession faced by local indigenous people. In Virungas southern sector around Bukima, there are currently ten habituated gorilla families and four solitary males which are also habituated, meaning that they are unafraid of human presence. Albertine Rift - Wikipedia 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. The range lies between the Lake Kivu and Lake Edward, and is an extension of the Albertine Rift Mountains. The local community has developed negative feeling towards park personnel and the military. 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. Shoebills are tall, stork-like birds with wing spans that can reach over 8 feet (2.4 meters). 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. Individual volcanoes bear Rwandan descriptive names, such as Sabinio (Sabinyo; Old Man with Large Teeth) and Muhavura (Landmark, or Guide). Not more than 20,000 years ago Nyiragongo and Nyamulagira emerged at the western end of the chain, both with extensive craters. 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). A narrow corridor of 35km (1.93.1mi) width along the lake's western bank connects the northern and southern sectors of the national park. [6] It has been listed in the List of World Heritage in Danger since 1994 because of civil unrest and the increase of human presence in the region. [8][9], There have been plans to drill for oil in the Congo Basin since the 2000s. 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. We rely on Global Rescue to assist our clients. The increased human population contributed to deforestation and poaching, and some natural animal migration patterns have been seriously disrupted. Learn more about mountain gorillas in our story on these gentle giants. 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. 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. Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years. Two active volcanoes are located in the park, Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. Average temperatures in lower altitudes vary from 2328C (7382F), and in higher altitudes from 1624C (6175F), rarely dropping below 14C (57F). The 8 Virunga Volcano Mountains: The Virunga is a chain of Volcanic Mountains in East Africa that's shared between Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. Elevations, climates, and habitats vary notably in Virunga National Park. Harnessed bushbuck (T. scriptus) and giant forest hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni) are present in the southern sector. Virunga Mountains, Virunga also spelled Birunga, also called Mufumbiro Mountains, volcanic range north of Lake Kivu in east-central Africa, extending about 50 miles (80 km) along the borders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. During the 2002 eruption, some of Nyiragongos lava flows were clocked at 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) and reached all the way to Lake Kivu. 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. Virunga National Park was founded in 1925 as Albert National Park. There are an estimated 30,000 individuals left in the wild. 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. Of the population, 12,000 reside in South Africa and 18,000 in East Africa. Virunga is an English derived word from its origin word "ibirunga" (comes . Omissions? January 17, Nyiragongo volcano erupts spreading lava through the city of Goma. Discounts at Africas best lodges and on our hand-made packages subscribers only, STORIES & DISCUSSIONS 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. Because of the high silica content of its lava, Nyiragongos lava flows are extremely fluid. Farther north are the Rutshuru Falls and the Mai ya Moto sulfur springs. Virunga mountains, Volcanoe ranges - African Birding Trips It covers an area of 8,090 km2 (3,120 sq mi). Nyiragongo has erupted over thirty times since the end of the 19. century. The most recent eruption occurred in 2021 and had catastrophic consequences for the human residents of the city of Goma. Networking & debating APP subscribers only, TRUSTED CONSERVATION PROJECTS To find lodges, search for our ready-made packages or get in touch with our travel team, scroll down to after this story. Much of the parks central region is occupied by Lake Edward. Take a Thrilling Adventure in Uganda Hiking the Sabyinyo Volcano This innovative, community focussed approach to conservation is working to reduce the pressures currently faced by the Parks Rangers from armed groups, illegal poaching, and land encroachment. The 2002 Nyiragongo eruption destroyed much of the nearby city of Goma, Congo, leaving thousands homeless. Later in the Pleistocene (about 900,000 to 130,000 years ago), Karisimbi, Visoke, Mgahinga, and Muhavura appeared, all but Karisimbi possessing a crater summit. [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 national park's central sector encompasses about two thirds of Lake Edward up to the international border with Uganda in the east. 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. [2] It covers an area of 8,090km2 (3,120sqmi). Only one mountain of the 8 is an active volcano that is Mount Nyiragongo found in DRCongo. [14][15][16][17] Indigenous people lost their traditional land rights in this process, and were evicted from the protected area. The park is periodically closed when they feel that the situation on the ground is such that security cannot be guaranteed. [43], Virunga National Park is located in the Congo Nile watershed area. Tree heath (Erica arborea), heather and mosses cover humid slopes up to 3,700m (12,100ft) elevation. Both savanna and forest buffalo are found in the park and can be found roaming the Rwindi plains in the Parks Central Sector. app@africageographic.com Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [2] Latter controlled the Mikeno sector of Virunga National Park between December 2006 and January 2009. Like humans, chimps communicate with facial expressions, gestures, and sounds. 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. Farther north are the Rutshuru Falls and the Mai ya Moto sulfur springs. 2003). 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. Clashes occurred in 2015 when a local Mai-Mai group in Binza (north Bwisha) attempted to take back control of region, with the objective of reinstalling fishing activities and allowing the population to return, killing a park guard and 11-15 soldiers. The first maps resulted from the major expedition of Adolf Friedrich, duke of Mecklenburg, which was undertaken in 190708. Following international protests, the company stopped exploring activities and consented to refrain from starting similar operations in the vicinity of World Heritage sites. [16][18] Between the late 1930s and 1955, an estimated 85,000 Rwandophone people were moved to nearby Masisi in North Kivu. They eat mostly fruit, but also feed on buds, shoots, leaves, flowers, and insects. Most visitors access the park via Rwanda and pass through the border at Goma. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site internationally recognized for its exceptional wildlife and habitats. The Virunga Mountain in Rwanda, Congo and Uganda The Virunga volcanoes /mountains also locally known as Mufumbiro are located in three countries Uganda, Rwanda and DRCongo. When it was first established, Virunga National Park was limited to three volcanoes in the south, but was later expanded northward to include the Rwindi plains, Lake Edward and the Rwenzori Mountains of the Moon. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. There are melodic Kivu ground thrushes, mythical Grauers cuckooshrikes and yellow-crested helmetshrikes, mysterious Albertine owlets and ghostly Congo Bay owls, dazzling purple-breasted and Rockefeller sunbirds, raucous white-headed woodhoopoes, dainty Rwenzori batises, data deficient and endangered Itombwe nightjars, Prigogines greenbuls, Kungwe apalises, Grauers swamp warbler and golden-naped weavers. Its northern sector encompasses part of the Semliki River basin, as well as savanna and montane forest of the Albertine Rift. 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". In this near-forgotten corner of Africa, adventurers, soul-seekers, and naturalists will find an electrifying celebration of life at its most raw a kaleidoscope of natures wonders and a living history of human and wild resilience. Most visitors opt to rotate through the different options. The UK oil company Soco announces that it will not renew its claim to an oil concession in Virunga National Park. [44] The Virunga Mountains is located in the East Africa with a chain of volcanoes that are within the borders of the countries Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Rwanda.The mountain range is said to be a part of the Albertine Rift located in the Great Rift Valley. In 1861 the British explorer John Hanning Speke saw the Virunga Mountains from a distance; in 1876 the British explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley obtained a clear though distant view of the three eastern volcanoes; and Count Adolf von Gtzen, a German, explored the two western volcanoes in 1894. Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are a subspecies of the critically endangered eastern gorilla, and there are believed to be just over 1,000 remaining. [45] 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. The Virungas form a barrier between the Nile Basin to the north and east and the Congo Basin to the west and south. 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). (UK) +44 (23) 9387-7464 The Karisoke Research Center, founded by Dian Fossey to observe gorillas in their native habitat, is located between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. [33], In 2005, the European Commission (EC) recommended a public-private partnership between the country's government and the British non-governmental organisation African Conservation Fund. Park officials are in the process of habituating the chimpanzees, and accompanying the habituation teams is another of the activities on offer in the park. Which mountain in Uganda has snow? - 2023 Great blues are shy and rarely descend to the ground except for drinking and bathing. The world population of mountain gorillas is currently estimated to be at around 1000 individuals. The largest herd of elephants over 500 - since the 1980's are observed in the Ishasha corridor of Virunga. 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. Today, they are probably the parks most famous residents. The ICCN (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature). 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. The Mountain Gorillas of Virunga National Park. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. 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. The central sector is based around Lake Edward, the Ishasha river valley and the Rwindi plains. 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. (800,000 hectares) an area roughly three times the size of Luxembourg. Furthermore, a substantial number of these are Albertine Rift and Congolese endemics. [18] In 1969, the two parks were merged under the name Virunga National Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.