It is . Campaigners trying to create public awareness are threatened and intimidated on social media. Some biologists even believe that a fifth subspecies, called the mountain or Virunga buffalo, should be recognised. editors@africageographic.com 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). Both savanna and forest buffalo are found in the park and can be found roaming the Rwindi plains in the Parks Central Sector. [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. Baumas love for his primate family endeared him to the audiences of the Oscar-nominated film, 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 . [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. 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. 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. Which mountain in Uganda has snow? - 2023 The Virunga Mountains are 8 famously known mountain ranges that lie on the northern border of Rwanda and Congo and south western part of Uganda. To the northeast the Ruwenzori Range soars to more than 16,000 feet (4,880 metres). [26] They studied and collected zoological specimens of wildlife for the Muse Royal d'Histoire Naturelle de Belgique;[20][21] explored the ethnic groups in this area;[22] studied volcanic activity,[23] and fossils. Illegal hunting inside protected areas increased. [8][9], There have been plans to drill for oil in the Congo Basin since the 2000s. Because of the high silica content of its lava, Nyiragongos lava flows are extremely fluid. 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. Marked the end of the M23 war, and tourism is officially relauched in the Park after being forced to close for almost two years. The Parks governance structure is strengthened, and newly appointed staff negotiate access to the gorilla sector despite it being controlled by rebels. 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. [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. At 26,338 square kilometres (10,169 sq mi), Rwanda is the world's 149th-largest country. Today, they are probably the parks most famous residents. 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. The parks southern tip rests on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, a short distance from the town of Goma to the east. Together, these three protected areas form the core of the Greater Virunga Ecosystem. The number of bird species in Virunga exceeds the total number in the U.S. and is more than three times the number in the U.K. Virungas recorded number of reptile species makes it the richest of the protected areas in Africa. [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. 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. 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. 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. Nyamuragira volcano, situated around 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of Lake Kivu, has been described as one of Africas most active volcanoes. 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. Safaris, discussions & donations that make a real difference in Africa. Chattering troops of flamboyant eastern black-and-white colobus monkeys frequent the lodges while the booming calls of De Brazzas monkeys echo through the valleys. The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift Mountains, which border the western branch of the East African Rift. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. 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. Conservation protects the mountains alpine vegetation, as well as wildlife that includes the golden monkey and the mountain gorilla. [39], In April 2020 at least 12 park rangers were killed by militia men attacking a civilian convoy. Virunga National Park was founded in 1925 as Albert National Park. The range runs east-west, perpendicular to the rift valley in which lie Lakes Kivu and Edward. 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. The mountain gorillas have increased from fewer than 70 to over 300 in ten years and hippos from 300 to over 2,000, while elephant and lion sightings are now a fairly regular occurrence. The Virunga chained Mountains cover three African countries, including the southwestern of Uganda, which covers Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; the Democratic Republic of Congo in the east, covering the Virunga national park, and Rwanda covering the Volcanoes National park. The name Virunga (Volcanoes), probably of Swahili derivation, has prevailed over the earlier Mufumbiro (That Which Cooks), which is still used in Uganda. [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. 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. Dch trong bi cnh "VN QUC GIA CONGO" trong ting vit-ting anh. Albertine Rift - Wikipedia Okapis are endangered, and there are probably only a few thousand remaining. [5] Goma, the capital city of the province on the northern shores of Lake Kivu is 35 km (1-hour drive) away from Rumangabo, the park headquarters located in the southern sector of Kibumba. 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. The connection between man and gorilla can be further explored at the Senkwekwe Centre, the only mountain gorilla orphanage in the world. [16][18] Between the late 1930s and 1955, an estimated 85,000 Rwandophone people were moved to nearby Masisi in North Kivu. (UK) +44 (23) 9387-7464 [5][21][49][50], African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) and African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) inhabit the national park's central sector. / 2.000S 30.000E / -2.000; 30.000. Virunga Mountains: A gem of biodiversity in the heart of Africa Of these, nine gorilla families have been carefully habituated over the last thirty years. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Of its eight major volcanic peaks, the highest is Karisimbi, at 14,787 feet (4,507 metres). Virunga is the only site on earth to have three types of great apes the mountain gorilla, eastern lowland gorilla, and eastern chimpanzee. Okapis are shy and solitary animals that resemble zebras but are more closely related to the giraffe and are endemic to the DRC. Want to go on a safari to Virunga? 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. Much of the parks central region is occupied by Lake Edward. The presence of these volcanoes has shaped the landscape of the park over the years . 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]. In altitude, this sector ranges from 680m (2,230ft) in the Puemba River valley to the highest peak of Mount Stanley at 5,109m (16,762ft) within 30km (19mi). The crater of Muhavura contains a small lake. 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. Oil exploration threatens the Park, sparking deep concerns from the international community. However, this is no idle volcano. 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). 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. 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. Its northern sector encompasses part of the Semliki River basin, as well as savanna and montane forest of the Albertine Rift. The mountain gorilla is taken off the IUCN critically endangered species list, marking a victory for Congolese, Rwandan and Ugandan National Parks. In the national park's northern sector, African leopard (P. pardus pardus), marsh mongoose (Atilax paludinosus), giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea), tree pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis), crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata), Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel (Anomalurus derbianus), Boehm's bush squirrel (Paraxerus boehmi), western tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax dorsalis), Emin's pouched rat (Cricetomys emini) and checkered elephant shrew (Rhynchocyon cirnei) were recorded during surveys in 2008. A land of unparalleled biodiversity and exceptional beauty, bursting with life of every form. Virunga is part of the Albertine Rift (the western branch of the East African Rift) and stretches from the snow-covered peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains in the north to the Virunga Massif in the south. [45] Virunga National Park, DRC Virunga Mountains in Congo were formed as a result of volcanic activity from the past. Virungas most prominent mammals include forest and savanna elephants, hippos, okapis, lions and mountain gorillas. 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. Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Oil exploration by an English company only added to threats facing the already beleaguered park. [55] The area is considered a potential lion (Panthera leo) stronghold, if poaching is curbed and prey species recover. The park is periodically closed when they feel that the situation on the ground is such that security cannot be guaranteed. [45][54], Virunga National Park together with the adjacent Queen Elizabeth National Park forms a "Lion Conservation Unit". [47] These ranges consist of eight major volcanoes in Uganda, Congo with five of them located in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park. Some biologists even believe that a fifth subspecies, called the mountain or Virunga buffalo, should be recognised. [14][15][16][17] Indigenous people lost their traditional land rights in this process, and were evicted from the protected area. 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. [51][52][53] Other ungulates present include Ugandan kob (Kobus kob thomasi), waterbuck (K. ellipsiprymnus), andcommon warthog (Phacochoerus africanus). Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda is located in East Africa, to the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the co-ordinates 200S 300E . (800,000 hectares) an area roughly three times the size of Luxembourg. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The oldest mountain is Mount Sabyinyo, which rises 3,634 metres (11,923ft) above sea level. Virunga owes its existence, at least in part, to the presence of the endangered (, . Hiking the Sabyinyo volcano takes approximately 7 to 9 hours. This may also be done to protect the highly susceptible apes from human diseases like Covid-19. It spans across the three countries; via the North West Rwanda covering Volcanoes National Park, south western Uganda encompassing Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and eastern Congo forming part of Virunga National Park. [2] It covers an area of 8,090km2 (3,120sqmi). Virunga National Park - UNESCO World Heritage Centre Learn more about the history of Virunga National Park by exploring the timeline below. 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. All travel bookings booked via Trust my Travel are financially protected by them. Naturally, the park authorities are aware of this, and they take the safety of their guests extremely seriously. Photo Galleries, Photographer of the Year, TRAVEL & CONSERVATION COMPANY The Karisoke Research Center, founded by Dian Fossey to observe gorillas in their native habitat, is located between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. Flora/Vegatation in Virunga national park - Gorilla Safari Tours Anti-poaching patrols inside the park were obstructed, and park personnel and wildlife were killed. The 8 Virunga Volcano Mountains: The Virunga is a chain of Volcanic Mountains in East Africa that's shared between Uganda, Rwanda and DRC. The Virungas form a barrier between the Nile Basin to the north and east and the Congo Basin to the west and south. The UK oil company Soco announces that it will not renew its claim to an oil concession in Virunga National Park. The word Virunga is got from a local word "Ibirunga* the Kinyarwanda word for "mountains". The local community has developed negative feeling towards park personnel and the military. Corrections? Lake Rutenzige is fed by several large rivers, the Rutshuru River being one, and drains to the north through the Semliki River into Lake Albert. 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). Fortunately, stalwart sightseers can rest assured that the volcanos moods are carefully monitored lest it decides to let loose its fury of molten lava. 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. [35], Increasing militarisation of nature conservation has been accused of fuelling armed mobilisation of militias. This savannah-like section offers the best chance to spot the more traditional safari animals, including elephant, lion, and buffalo. The Grauers gorillas consist of a handful of individuals isolated to the inaccessible Mount Tshiabirimu region of the park. 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". chat to the Africa Geographic travel team, Photographer of the Year 2023 Weekly Selection: Week 11. The endangered Rwenzori duiker or Rwenzori red duiker is a stocky, small antelope endemic to the alpine zones of the Rwenzori mountains. Description of the Virunga Mountains [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. The most visited section is the southern sector, dominated by dense montane forests home to a vital population of Africas remaining mountain gorillas. 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. 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. The most recent eruption occurred in 2021 and had catastrophic consequences for the human residents of the city of Goma. Though valiant efforts were made to protect the park, the end of the 20th century saw much of the parks wildlife massacred almost to the point of extinction. Shoebills are tall, stork-like birds with wing spans that can reach over 8 feet (2.4 meters). and wallow in the various rivers, and bongo antelope have been spotted in the parks northern reaches. While many of the gorillas sensibly prefer to reside on the slopes of the dormant Mikeno volcano, the southern section is also the location of the two active volcanoes in the park Mount Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira. The great blue turaco is the largest member of the turaco family. 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. The local community has no where else to turn for security, and relies on the protection of armed groups, for which fees are levied off the prohibited activities. Corrections? (For more on the conservation and social developments by the Virunga Alliance. 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. Geography of Rwanda. Individual volcanoes bear Rwandan descriptive names, such as Sabinio (Sabinyo; Old Man with Large Teeth) and Muhavura (Landmark, or Guide). The mountain range consists of eight major volcanoes. 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 region's glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make it one of Africa's most beautiful alpine areas. It was created in 1925. 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. Eastern Congo is one of the most economically disadvantaged places on earth, and competition for the Parks rich natural resources has always been fierce. To comment on this story: Download our app here - it's a troll-free safe place . 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.
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