Virunga National Park has over one-third of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas, but these have been put at risk by the recent outbreak of civil war in eastern Congo. Virunga’s Rangers have been excluded from the Mountain Gorilla Sector, which is now under rebel control. As a consequence, the mountain gorillas are at risk of poaching, through the use of snares, as well as human-transmitted disease and deforestation.

Virunga has 50 community members who are trained as trackers to follow the gorillas in the forest. Despite the mountain gorilla’s habitat being under rebel control, the community trackers have remained in the nearby villages and continue to monitor the gorillas' movements. These dedicated community scouts play an essential role in removing snares, locating gorilla families, conducting health checks, and preventing human-wildlife conflict. With your help, we can continue to support their vital work.