Virunga National Park

Central Africa > Democratic Republic of the Congo > Virunga National Park

Summary

• Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii), eastern lowland gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) and mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) are present in Virunga National Park.
• It has been estimated that 6 eastern lowland gorillas and over 350 mountain gorillas occur in the site; the chimpanzee population is unknown.
• The mountain gorilla population trend is increasing; the eastern lowland gorilla population is decreasing; the chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
• The site has a total size of 7,900 km².
• Key threats to great apes are poaching, encroachment, logging and fuelwood collection, and insecurity issues further complicating conservation efforts.
• Conservation activities have focused on anti-poaching patrols, providing employment opportunities to local communities, tourism, education, and supply of hydroelectric power to the local population.
• The national park is the most biologically diverse and the first to be established in the African continent.

Site characteristics

Virunga National Park is located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and comprises the most biologically diverse protected area on the continent (Virunga National Park n.d.). The national park was first established in 1925 as Albert National Park. In 1960, following the country's independence from Belgium, it was renamed Virunga National Park. In 1979 the site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (UNESCO 2021).The park is unique with its active chain of volcanoes and rich diversity of habitats. Its range contains an amalgamation of steppes, savannas and plains, marshlands, low altitude and afro-montane forest belts to unique afro-alpine vegetation and permanent glaciers and snow on Monts Rwenzori whose peaks reach in 5,000 m height (UNESCO). The park is home to 218 mammal species, 706 bird species, 109 reptile species and 78 amphibian species (Virunga National Park n.d.). It also serves as refuge to 22 primate species, including mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei), the eastern lowland or Grauer's gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) and the eastern chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii). A third of the world's mountain gorilla population is found in the park. The density of biomass of wildlife is one of the highest on the earth Planet (27.6 ton/sq.km). Among the wide diversity of ungulates found at the site, certain rare species are found, such as the okapi (Okapi johnstoni), endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the red forest duiker (Cephalophus rubidus), endemic to Monts Rwenzori (Virunga National Park n.d.). The site is a Key Biodiversity Area owing to its global importance to the planet’s overall health and wealth in biodiversity (Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership 2020).

Table 1. Basic site information for Virunga National Park

Area	7,900 km²
Coordinates	-0.250721 S, 29.391204 E
Designation	National Park
Habitat types	Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical/tropical moist montane forest, savanna, bogs, marshes, swamps, fens, peatlands, permanent freshwater lakes

IUCN habitat categories Site designations

Ape status

The last mountain gorilla census in DRC, Rwanda and Uganda in the Virunga massif was in 2016. The results showed a total of 266 gorillas found on the Congo side. From then until December 2021, the number of gorillas has increased to over 350 individuals (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021). The chimpanzee population in the park is unknown. Eastern lowland, or Grauer’s gorillas, are extremely rare in the park; only six individuals are being monitored (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021).

Table 2. Ape population estimates in Virunga National Park

Species	Year	Abundance estimate (95% CI)	Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI)	Encounter rate (nests/km)	Area	Method	Source	Comments	A.P.E.S. database ID
Gorilla beringei beringei	2016	266			Virunga National Park	Genetic capture-recapture	Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021
Gorilla beringei beringei	2021	350			Virunga National Park	Genetic capture-recapture	Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021

Threats

Ongoing security issues continue to present challenges for the management of the park, although the number of militia operating in the area has declined over the past few years (UNESCO 2021). Issues of encroachment and deforestation for charcoal production continue to have a severe impact on the integrity of the park; as of 2021, approximately 18.5% of the site is affected by encroachment (UNESCO 2021). The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in May 2021 has further complicated the situation and compounded the COVID-19 crisis. Around 234,000 were displaced from the surrounding area, and houses, schools, and health centers were destroyed (UNICEF).

Table 3. Threats to apes in Virunga National Park

Category	Specific threats	Threat level	Quantified severity	Description	Year of threat
1. Residential & commercial development	1.1 Housing & urban areas	High		New villages built in the park: Kasindi/Lubiriha and Kilorirwe (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
2. Agriculture & aquaculture	2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Low		Land conversion for agriculture	Ongoing (2021)
	2.3 Livestock farming & ranching	Low		Livestock farming / grazing of domesticated animals (UNESCO 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
3. Energy production & mining	3.1 Oil & gas drilling	Low		Concerns over potential oil exploitation and exploration (UNESCO 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
4. Transportation & service corridors	4.1 Roads & railroads	Present, but threat severity unknown		Different roads across the park are present in Virunga National park, e.g., between Mutwanga- Beni-Karuruma-Kambo-Ishasha-Nyakakoma-Rutshuru-Kanyabayonga (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
5. Biological resource use	5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	High		Poaching by armed groups (UNESCO 2021). Many poachers are arrested by rangers during patrols in the park. Most of them are sent to the court and are jailed. In addition, many traps and illegal hunting camps are destroyed by rangers during patrols (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
	5.3 Logging & wood harvesting	High		Deforestation for charcoal production	Ongoing (2021)
	5.4 Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources	High		Fisherman villages around Lake Edward have increased and occupy many hectares of the park (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
6. Human intrusion & disturbance	6.2 War, civil unrest & military exercises	High		Civil unrest stemming from two civil wars and the illegal extraction of natural resources in the park, from which armed groups (e.g., ADF/NALU, FDLR, Mai Mai) continue to make revenue. Over 200 park rangers have been killed in the line of duty (Virunga National Park).	Ongoing (2021)
7. Natural system modifications		Unknown
8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases	8.5 Viral/prion-induced diseases	Low		Risk of acquiring human pathogens, particularly respiratory diseases. Respiratory illness is the second most common cause of morbidity and mortality in habituated mountain gorillas, with outbreaks that occur annually and often cause group-wide morbidity (Gilardi et al. 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
9. Pollution	9.4 Garbage & solid waste	Low		Trash observed near fishing villages around Lake Edward. In addition, poachers sometimes mix poison with water (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
10. Geological Events	10.1 Volcanoes	Medium		The Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira volcanoes are active volcanoes in the park. Chimpanzees residing on the slopes of Nyamuragira were threatened by the eruptions of January 2010. In addition to the impacts of mortality and further habitat loss, the eruptions reduce the chimpanzees’ ability to survive in a region where human development around the volcanoes prevents migration to other areas (Maldonado et al. 2012).	Ongoing (2021)
11. Climate change & severe weather		Unknown
12. Other options		Absent

IUCN Threats list

Conservation activities

In 2011, 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 national park. The Virunga Alliance was then created with the support from the EU. The Virunga Alliance is a development program that aims to end illegal and destructive resource extraction in the region by addressing the direct causes of poverty and conflict. The program was established to create more than 100,000 jobs to draw people out of armed militia groups and into work that fosters peacebuilding. The program is focused on tourism, sustainable energy, and agriculture (Virunga Alliance). The park is part of the Greater Virunga Landscape (GVL), a transboundary collaboration between DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda to conserve the landscape. Four sites have been chosen for monitoring and for tourism: the Mikeno sector, with 226 habituated mountain gorillas; Tshabirimu, with 6 eastern lowland gorillas; Tongo, with 28 chimpanzees, where habituation started in 1991; and Rumangabo, the headquarters of the park, where 18 chimpanzees have been habituated since 2015 and tourists can observe while visiting the station (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021). Four main conservation pillars were established in 2010 with the Virunga Foundation in cooperation with the DRC government to protect the Virunga National Park: 1.Conservation: fight against poachers and destruction of the ecosystem of the park. The protection of highly important ecological corridors connecting different sectors of the park through regular ranger patrols is one of the main activities. 2.Tourism: development of tourism infrastructures. 3. Protection of Lake Edward against poachers and eviction of all squatters who take young fish. 4. Hydroelectric power plant construction around Virunga National Park which allows the local communities to develop their economy.

Table 4. Conservation activities in Virunga National Park

Category	Specific activity	Description	Year of activity
1. Residential & commercial development	Not reported
2. Agriculture & aquaculture	Other	An education programme was established for teaching local communities new agricultural techniques (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
3. Energy production & mining	Not reported
4. Transportation & service corridors	Not reported
5. Biological resource use	5.4. Implement road blocks to inspect cars for illegal primate bushmeat	Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021	Ongoing (2021)
	5.6. Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols	The park has nearly 700 rangers who patrol the park (https://virunga.org/alliance/virunga-rangers/). Aerial patrols are also conducted. In addition, patrols regulate fishing activities in Lake Edward and evict squatters ().	Ongoing (2021)
	5.9. Regularly de-activate/remove ground snares	Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021	Ongoing (2021)
6. Human intrusion & disturbance	6.2. Build fences to keep humans out	Construction of fences. Building fences to reduce the movement of animals from the park and stop human encroachment and poachers	Ongoing (2021)
7. Natural system modifications	Not reported
8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases	8.7. Wear face-masks to avoid transmission of viral and bacterial diseases to primates	Tourists and staff wear surgical masks in the presence of the gorillas (Virunga National Park).	Ongoing (2021)
	8.8. Keep safety distance to habituated animals	Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021	Ongoing (2021)
	8.9. Limit time that researchers/tourists are allowed to spend with habituated animals	Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021	Ongoing (2021)
9. Pollution	Not reported
10. Education & Awareness	10.1. Educate local communities about primates and sustainable use	Education programme teaching local communities the importance of the park (COCO) (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
	10.2. Involve local community in primate research and conservation management	Virunga Foundation recruits members of the local community (HUGO), who receive a stipend for patrolling and gathering data (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
11. Habitat Protection	11.2. Legally protect primate habitat	The site is designated as a national park.	Ongoing (2022)
12. Species Management	12.1. Habituate primates to human presence to reduce stress from tourists/researchers etc.	Treks led by Virunga rangers and local pisteurs, who monitor ten habituated gorilla groups every day (Virunga National Park).	Ongoing (2021)
	12.24. Rehabilitate injured/orphaned primates	The Senkwekwe Center was opened in 2010 in the park's headquarters to take care of orphaned gorillas (Virunga National Park)	Ongoing (2021)
13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives	13.1. Provide monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. REDD, employment)	Create employees for local communities; supply the local communities with credits to help them improve their businesses; support farmers; provide employment to local youth and to widows of rangers (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
	13.2. Provide non-monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. better education, infrastructure development)	Hydroelectric power is supplied from 4 stations around the park (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
	13.4. Run tourist projects and ensure permanent human presence at site	The park is open to tourists and offers gorilla trekking, hiking and safaris.	Ongoing (2021)

Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)

Challenges

The main challenges to ape conservation at the park include lack of security due to different rebel groups in the region. In 1986 when Uganda rebels ADF/NALU crossed into DRC and remained in the park around the Rwenzori massif (North sector), where many chimpanzees were present. In 1994 millions of refugees and defeated militaries crossed the border and settled around the Mikeno Sector, home to mountain gorillas. Since then, rebels continue to kill animals, rangers, cut trees for commercial charcoal, kidnap local people, and are involved in other criminal activities (Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021).

Table 5. Challenges reported for Virunga National Park

Challenge	Source
Civil unrest	Agustin, R. S. pers. comm. 2021

Research activities

In 1990, the habituation of gorillas and chimpanzees was established in Virunga National Park.

Documented behaviours

Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Virunga National Park

Behavior	Source
Not reported

External links

Virunga National Park - official website
UNESCO - Virunga National Park
The Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration

Relevant datasets

A.P.E.S Portal

References

Gilardi, K., Nziza, J., Ssebide, B., Syaluha, E. K., Muvunyi, R., Aruho, R., ... & Masozera, A. B. (2021). Endangered mountain gorillas and COVID‐19: One health lesson for prevention and preparedness during a global pandemic. American Journal of Primatology, e23291.
Maldonado, O., Aveling, C., Cox, D., Nixon, S., Nishuli, R., Merlo, D., Pintea, L. & Williamson, E.A. (2012). Grauer’s Gorillas and Chimpanzees in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Kahuzi-Biega, Maiko, Tayna and Itombwe Landscape): Conservation Action Plan 2012–2022. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation & Tourism, Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature & the Jane Goodall Institute. 66pp.
Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership (2020) Key Biodiversity Areas factsheet: Virunga National Park. Extracted from the World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas. Developed by the Key Biodiversity Areas Partnership: BirdLife International, IUCN, American Bird Conservancy, Amphibian Survival Alliance, Conservation International, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, Global Environment Facility, Global Wildlife Conservation, NatureServe, Rainforest Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, World Wildlife Fund and Wildlife Conservation Society. Downloaded from http://www.keybiodiversityareas.org/ on 12/12/2021.

Page completed by: Rwimo Shengeri Augustin Date: 17/01/2022