Congo Wildlife Authorities arrested two men believed to be key members of a baby mountain gorilla trafficking group following an undercover investigation by Virunga National Park rangers and other Congolese government security services. The two men, arrested in Goma yesterday, have been charged with illegal trafficking an endangered species. The operation followed the recovery of
Baby Gorilla from Virunga National Park Confiscated from Poachers
Late Sunday night, August 7, a group of Congolese and Rwandan men were arrested by Rwandan police as they attempted to smuggle an infant gorilla into Rwanda from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to the poachers, the gorilla had been captured near the Bukima area of Virunga National Park, which makes it likely
Helping Those Who Risk All To Protect Virunga
The recent attack on a park’s vehicle causing the death of two more rangers is yet another reminder of the price rangers and their families pay to protect Virunga for the benefit of us all. Rangers put themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis for what the rest of us pay for a cup
Chimp Habituation in Tongo
“Habituate” is a common word used around Virunga, but many of our readers don’t know what this word means or how the habituation process works. Simply put, the word means getting wild animals used to being around people. Virunga, for instance, has habituated gorillas and non-habituated gorillas. The chimpanzees of Tongo (west of park headquarters)
Silverback Gorilla Bageni Dies
Yesterday, young silverback Bageni from the Kabirizi family lost a battle with solitary silverback Mukunda and died. Two weeks earlier he was involved in another fight that left him with cuts and bruises, but nothing too serious. We wanted to keep an eye on him, however, and so some rangers were there on the day
Anti-Charcoal Operation Needs Funding!
We need your help. The charcoal trade inside our park forests must be eradicated and this requires the funding of several anti-charcoal operations needed soon. The illegal charcoal business is one of the greatest issues Virunga faces, largely kept in place by FDLR Rwandan militia, and directly connected to the protection of the mountain gorillas.