Mountain gorilla trekking in congo virunga national park. The team behind the searing documentary reveals what inspired them to tell the story of virunga and the lethal fight to save the gorillas sanctuary. Parents need to know that virunga is a hardhitting documentary that unsparingly reveals the recent turbulent, brutal events in virunga national park, eastern congo. Virunga congo documentary on nature in peril with dir. See pictures of virunga national park gorillas in this photo gallery from national geographic. In this wild, but enchanted environment, a small and embattled team of park rangers including an exchild soldier turned ranger, a caretaker of orphan gorillas and a. Gorillas in peril 2015 on netflix in the united kingdom. Nov 07, 2014 in virunga, a national park in the democratic republic of congo with rare mountain gorillas is a battleground over oil drilling and conservation. Virunga national park is the pioneer destination where mountain gorilla tracking was first carried out. Picture of a silverback gorilla in virunga national park. With in the democratic republic of congo, the virunga national park is the most popular known place where tourists see mountain gorillas in hikes within the forests. Spend the afternoon settling in and soaking up the spectacular green wilderness setting of the camp which is situated in lush volcanic forest inside virunga national park.
Dec 01, 2015 rangers are risking their lives to save gorillas in virunga national park, which sits in the middle of one of the worlds longest running wars for resources. Visit the virungas and go gorilla trekking in uganda, rwanda and the democratic republic of congo. Gorilla tracking is probably the best way to meet your closest living relatives on earth. It is the ideal place to get close to mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Four heroic individuals, determined to save the native population, wildlife, and precious ecosystem in this mineralrich area, face highpowered villains who wish to exploit its. Feb 17, 2017 a dedicated force of forest rangers fight to protect the last remaining mountain gorillas in one of the most dangerous places on earth, virunga national park. That is an absolute must when you visit the virunga mountains. A behind the scenes look at the academy award nominated original documentary, virunga, from executive producer leonardo dicaprio. It focuses on the conservation work of park rangers within the congos virunga national park during the rise of the violent m23 rebellion in 2012 and investigates the activity of the british oil company soco international within the unesco world heritage site. Hosted by soledad obrien, go inside the incredible, true story of virunga national park, one of the most biodiverse places on earth and home to the worlds last remaining mountain gorillas. Descriptif officiel unesco classification geographique unesco. Virunga reveals paradise in peril mnn mother nature. Photojournalist brent stirton captured the heartbreaking image in 2007 while he was in the democratic republic of the congo to capture the violence between rangers who were trying to protect gorillas in virunga national park and the rebels and militias who were struggling for.
The animals are fairly familiar with people so they usually display natural behaviour. Oil confirmed under africas oldest wildlife park virunga. Nov 08, 2014 when poachers at virunga national park in dr congo kill mother gorillas, the task of adopting the babies falls to andre bauma. Virunga reveals paradise in peril mnn mother nature network.
Oct 20, 2009 see pictures of virunga national park gorillas in this photo gallery from national geographic. Oil company threatens gorilla forest protest gorilla family in virunga national parkthe dense montane rainforest in the virunga national park is one of the last remaining habitats of the endangered mountain gorillas. In 2015 there were a large number of attacks that resulted in 124 killings, serious. Mountain gorillas reported safe in virunga national park. Virunga national park the official website of virunga. Virunga is the incredible true story of a group of brave individuals risking their lives to. Virunga is located in the eastern part of the democratic republic of the congo and is the oldest national park in. Part of the heart of africa series from national geographic, this documentary concentrates on the virunga national park located in the democratic republic of the congo. The park is home to nearly 1,000 mountain gorillas, the largest population in the world. The story behind this gorilla photo will shatter your. For conservationists working in the democratic republic of congos militiacontrolled territory, its not just the animals that are under threat.
In the forested depths of eastern congo lies virunga national park, one of. Inside the fight to save one of the worlds most dangerous parks virunga, one of the wonders of africa, is home to rare gorillasand plagued by violence and economic tension. On march 2015, bbc reported that the democratic republic of congo says it. Ive previously written about my experience trekking with gorillas in volcanoes national park, just across the border in rwanda. Gorille des montagnes gorilla beringei beringei, chimpanze nain pan paniscus. Gorillas in peril 2015 tv14 28m critically acclaimed films the team behind the searing documentary reveals what inspired them to tell the story of virunga and the lethal fight to save the gorillas sanctuary. For my congo adventure, i used gorilla trek africa. Gorillas in peril and get the latest breaking news, exclusive videos and pictures, episode recaps and much more at. Jun 27, 2016 you can go online to learn more about conservation efforts to protect virunga national park here, and for mountain gorillas in general here. Last year, a silverback alpha male gorilla, the leader of his group, and three females were shot and killed in virunga national park, in the democratic republic of congo. In the forested depths of eastern congo lies virunga national park, one of the most biodiverse places on earth and home to the planets last remaining mountain gorillas. Why would someone choose to be a ranger, given the extreme danger of the job. Following gorilla caregiver andre bauma, central sector warden rodrigue mugaruka.
With soledad obrien, jonathan baillie, andre bauma, melanie gouby. Rangers are risking their lives to save gorillas in virunga national park, which sits in the middle of one of the worlds longest running wars for resources. Virunga mountain gorillas under threat the prime minister of the democratic republic of congo has told the bbc the country is looking to redraw the boundaries of virunga national park. 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. Its northern sector encompasses part of the semliki river basin, as well as savanna and montane forest of the albertine rift. To stand on a volcanos peak at night and watch a lava lake boiling away in a crater far below like a fiery vision of hades.
Aug 14, 2017 the mountain gorillas of virunga photos nina strochlic. Part nature doc, part war journalism, part action thriller, virunga s impact has been powerful. This is a fascinating trip to one of the worlds foremost national parks, an area complex in geographic design and diverse in both the plant and animal kingdom. About virunga virunga alliance news visit virunga virunga national park is a unesco world heritage site in the eastern democratic republic of congo. In altitude, this sector ranges from 680 m 2,230 ft in the puemba river valley to the highest peak of mount stanley at 5,109 m 16,762 ft within 30 km 19 mi. This salient antwar, antibusiness exploration, proconservation documentary touched me and made me feel something special. The karisoke research center, founded by dian fossey to observe gorillas in their native habitat, is located between mount karisimbi and mount bisoke. Nov 06, 2014 in the forested depths of eastern congo lies virunga national park, one of the most biodiverse places in the world and home to the last of the mountain gorillas. Save virunga is an independent initiative, not part of any international organization or campaign. The mountain gorillas of the virunga national park master.
Virunga is the incredible true story of a group of brave people risking their lives to build a better future in a part of africa the worlds forgotten and a. Although both parks are within the virunga mountains with similar terrain, the gorilla trekking experiences are somewhat different. Oil dispute takes a page from congos bloody past the. Virunga, a searing documentary set in congo the new. Virunga national park is one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet and home to the worlds critically endangered mountain gorillas. Living peacefully on the forested slopes of the parks volcanoes, mountain gorillas are highly intelligent, good natured, and fascinating to observe. The posting of news, stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links embedded or otherwise on this website does not in any way, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest that save virunga represents one specific party. It effortlessly brings us in and causes us to care for the workers of this national park and their deep mission to preserve it at all costs. The number of travelers that is allowed to go per day is very small. Gorilla safaris, volcano safari the safari collection. Standing eye to eye with mountain gorillas after an climb through africas dense rain forest.
Our gorilla safaris begin in africas oldest and most biologically diverse protected area, known as virunga national park. Virunga national park in the democratic republic of congo has become a battleground pitting economic development against environmentalism. In the forested depths of eastern congo lies virunga national park, one of the most biodiverse places in the world and home to the last of the mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas of the virunga national park. Gorilla trekking safaris to virunga national park is among top things to do while on gorilla safari holiday with any reliable safari company have a relaxing safari holiday in the virunga national park with our fully guided safari package tour. Virunga national park sees its worst violence against rangers in a. World wide fund for nature, international gorilla conservation programme. A behind the scenes look at the academy award nominated. Virunga hosts 218 mammal species, 706 bird species, 109 species of reptiles and over 2,000 species of plants. Virunga national park unesco world heritage centre. As mentioned above, mountain gorillas living in the virunga national park are facing serious problems that can easily lead to their extinction, such as the execution of 7 gorillas in the war against illegal charcoal production. Virunga official trailer 1 2014 netflix documentary hd youtube. Gorilla tracking, adventure safari the safari collection. Apr 24, 2014 a 3,000 squaremile paradise that was the first national park in africa, congos virunga national park is seen by many as not only ecologically priceless it is home to some of the last remaining.
At the end of this volcano safari, it is hard to say which was the more memorable experience. Hosted by soledad obrien, go inside the incredible, true story of virunga national park, one of the most bio. Nov 05, 2014 virunga reveals paradise in peril how a conservation documentary about gorillas became a reallife thriller about civil war and corporate greed. Virunga, a searing documentary set in congo the new york. For the first time in more than a year, mountain gorillas in the democratic republic of congos drc virunga national park have been. Virunga volcano mountains in africa virunga gorilla tourism. Nov 07, 2015 seismic tests in democratic republic of congos virunga national park, africas oldest wildlife reserve which is famed for its mountain gorillas, have confirmed the presence of oil, the congolese. The region is a violenceplagued sanctuary for mountain gorillas. I am delighted to present the greater virunga transboundary collaboration gvtc annual report for 2015. In virunga, a national park in the democratic republic of congo with rare mountain gorillas is a battleground over oil drilling and conservation.