Virunga
National Park (French: Parc National des Virunga), formerly named
Albert National Park, lies from the Virunga Mountains, to the Rwenzori
Mountains, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering
Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori Mountains National Park
in Uganda. The Ruwenzori Mountains lie on the Ugandan border and rise to
alpine meadows and a glacier, while Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira are both
active volcanoes with substantial associated lava plains. The
neighbouring Mount Hoyo area was managed with the park and is home to a
population of Bambuti Pygmy people, caves and waterfalls, but since the
civil wars, the park has suffered somewhat. Land invasions and intense
poaching have challenged the park authorities to the limit, but most
rangers have remained active. Since 1994, about 120 rangers have been
killed in the line of duty protecting the park from illegal poaching and
land acquisition. Amongst other military activity, the Democratic
Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda or FDLR has been using the park as a
safe location when they have come under sustained attack, such as
Laurent Nkunda's offensives against them in April-May 2007.
virunga Gorilas pics
Virunga national park
virunga Gorilas
