Rangers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park were able to conduct a survey of the mountain gorilla population in the park after negotiating with the armed groups and government troops. The good news is that all six resident family groups were located and seven baby gorillas had been born.
Over half of the world’s estimated 820 mountain gorillas live in the Virunga mountain chain, with about 200 of them within the park.
The bad news is that the armed conflict in DRC Congo continues and the rangers are at high risk. More than 150 Virunga park rangers have been killed since 1996. The reduced ability of the rangers to patrol has meant increases in poaching and illegal charcoal operations, which also threaten the park.
