Inside the Habitat of the World’s Last Mountain Gorillas

Quick Summary

• Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo spans 3,000 square miles, preserving lush forests, active volcanoes, and rare wildlife such as mountain gorillas and elephants.
• The park faces ongoing threats from violence by paramilitary groups and conflicts with Rwanda-backed M23 rebels controlling nearly half of the park.
• Park rangers play a crucial role in conservation efforts but face immense danger; 240 rangers have lost their lives over two decades.
• Photojournalist Brent Stirton has documented Virunga’s challenges for 18 years and highlights key moments including endangered gorillas’ survival amid conflict.
• Conservation initiatives include hydroelectric power plants and sustainable agriculture programs that offer alternatives to harmful industries like illegal mining or charcoal production.
• Mountain gorilla populations have grown from under 300 in 2007 to over 1,000 today-a critically important conservation milestone despite ongoing regional instability.

Brent Stirton’s photo book on Virunga will be available starting september 1, 2025.

Images:
!048.jpg”>Captured poacher near Lake Edward
!Orphan caretakers at Senkwekwe Gorilla orphanage

Indian Opinion Analysis

The story of Virunga National Park demonstrates the complex intersection between conservation efforts and humanitarian challenges when protecting biodiversity amidst political conflict. Lessons can be drawn for India-home to similarly critical ecosystems. For example, regions like Kaziranga or Sundarbans face threats from encroachment-driven human-wildlife conflicts.India could benefit by studying innovative approaches seen in Virunga: coupling local economic opportunities with environmental preservation (sustainable agriculture linked to clean energy). This minimizes dependencies on destructive practices like deforestation while supporting vulnerable communities economically-a model already relevant for some Indian protected areas.

Moreover, the resilience shown by Virunga’s protectors resonates strongly within India’s own history of conservation enforcement against challenging odds (such as anti-poaching operations). Both nations demonstrate how committed visionaries can preserve nature despite unusual hardships.

Read more: National Geographic article on Virunga National Park