Virunga National Park is a 1.9 million acre park located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Africa. It was the first national park to be established on the African continent and it borders three other national parks including Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda), Volcanoes National Park (Rwanda), and Rwenzori Mountains National Park (Uganda). In 1979 UNESCO designated the park as a World Heritage Site, but the wildlife in the park has suffered in recent years due to poaching and civil war. When the park was originally established, it was named Albert National Park, for its founder King Albert I of Belgium. The main reason for the park’s creation was to protect the mountain gorillas that lived in the mountains. Today the mountain gorillas and the mount Nyiragongo volcano have done great work promoting the Congo gorilla trek & Nyiragongo Hiking Tours Holidays to all travelers visiting the Virunga National Park in DRC Congo.
The park has undergone significant institutional and security reforms since this tragic event. Virunga’s mountain gorilla population is on the rise. Beyond these critical reforms, Virunga’s success in recent years is due to its dedicated ranger force. Park rangers risk their lives on a daily basis to protect the endangered wildlife and habitats within the park, as well as the people living around the park boundary. This extraordinary work would not be possible without the help of individuals and organizations from around the world that have stepped up to support conservation efforts in Virunga.
Rangers need boots, rations, and gear. The steadfast support from our international community continues to ensure that Virunga rangers have the equipment they need in order to patrol the park. This unique dedication of our donors shows that whether on the front lines of conservation or half a world away, it is possible to make a meaningful contribution. With your continued support we can save one of the Earth’s most precious places and the endangered species that live there.
Elephants are one of Virunga’s most sentient and gentle residents. Like elsewhere in Africa, the illegal ivory trade is decimating their numbers. Virunga’s rangers are deeply saddened each time one of these magnificent creatures gets cut down by poachers. They now appeal to Virunga’s global community for help. According to Central Sector Warden, Rodrigue Mugaruka, the only hope to save Virunga’s elephants is to increase the number of highly trained rangers in the park and provide them with the tools they need. Virunga’s rangers are willing to risk their lives in this face-off with poachers, but they need your support.
