Gorilla Update: Unrest Continues in DR Congo

The security situation in the Mikeno sector of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become steadily more unstable over the weekend. Rangers who were monitoring three groups of endangered mountain gorillas—the Rugendo, Mapuwa and Ruzirabwoba groups—were forced to flee into neighboring Uganda as insecurity mounted in the region.

The International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) worked with the Uganda Wildlife Authority to assist the seven rangers to travel through Ishasha (Uganda), back through DR Congo in order to join the rest of the ICCN rangers in Rumangabo (park headquarters).

The total number of displaced rangers and their families from the most recent conflict is approximately 30, which is straining the resources available at the station. Accordingly, the resources which have been raised for the emergency plan may be utilized to assist the rangers in their current situation.

Over the weekend fighting has been ongoing between the DRC army and the rebels between Bikenge and Bukima patrol posts, which has resulted in the residents of this area moving out and heading west towards Rumangabo to escape the conflict.

On Sunday, October 7, the rebels had taken control of the entire Mikeno sector resulting in the rangers being unable to enter the park to monitor the mountain gorillas.

There is currently no news on the status of the gorillas' safety or whereabouts.

IGCP and the Congolese wildlife authorities, ICCN, are working rapidly to secure the safety of the rangers and their equipment, and to determine the status of the mountain gorillas.

The International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) is a coalition of the African Wildlife Foundation, Fauna & Flora International, the World Wide Fund for Nature, and the protected area authorities in DR Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, to conserve the threatened mountain gorillas and their forest habitat.