Virunga, the crown jewel of Congo's eco-tourism trade, is an area of extraordinary biodiversity and an important habitat for mountain gorillas. Bukima (pictured here) is a silverback, adopted by his current troop after poachers killed four gorillas including the dominate male.
Virunga, the crown jewel of Congo's eco-tourism trade, is an area of extraordinary biodiversity and an important habitat for mountain gorillas. Bukima (pictured here) is a silverback, adopted by his current troop after poachers killed four gorillas including the dominate male.
Courtesy Brent Swails
Mountain gorillas share 98% of their DNA with humans but are critically endangered, due to shrinking habitats and poaching. There are less than 900 left in the world, in only three countries: DR Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Around a quarter live inside Virunga.<br /><br />"To get a baby gorilla you need to kill the whole family. The habitat is very reduced and put lots of pressure on the gorillas, so we need to do all that we can to protect them," says Rodrigue Katembo, director at Upemba National Park in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo and 2017's Goldman Environmental Prize winner.
Mountain gorillas share 98% of their DNA with humans but are critically endangered, due to shrinking habitats and poaching. There are less than 900 left in the world, in only three countries: DR Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Around a quarter live inside Virunga.

"To get a baby gorilla you need to kill the whole family. The habitat is very reduced and put lots of pressure on the gorillas, so we need to do all that we can to protect them," says Rodrigue Katembo, director at Upemba National Park in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo and 2017's Goldman Environmental Prize winner.
Goldman Environmental Prize
"The gorillas are also part of the culture of the local communities in the Virunga mountains, and they are an important source of revenue for the economies of the countries profiting from gorilla tourism," he adds. <br />During their patrols, rangers invariably come into contact with armed poachers or groups of armed people staying in the forest. Gorilla habitats in the park have often been occupied by rebel movements. Despite this, the gorillas continue to survive, largely due to the park rangers' efforts<br />
"The gorillas are also part of the culture of the local communities in the Virunga mountains, and they are an important source of revenue for the economies of the countries profiting from gorilla tourism," he adds.
During their patrols, rangers invariably come into contact with armed poachers or groups of armed people staying in the forest. Gorilla habitats in the park have often been occupied by rebel movements. Despite this, the gorillas continue to survive, largely due to the park rangers' efforts
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In 2007, four gorillas were targeted, executed at point blank range inside Virunga. One of the three female gorillas killed was pregnant. Their lifeless bodies, including the troop's magnificent 500-pound silverback, were strapped to bamboo poles and carried down the mountain to be buried.
In 2007, four gorillas were targeted, executed at point blank range inside Virunga. One of the three female gorillas killed was pregnant. Their lifeless bodies, including the troop's magnificent 500-pound silverback, were strapped to bamboo poles and carried down the mountain to be buried.
Brent Stirton/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
A park ranger, working in the Virunga National Park, smiles at his 9-month-old daughter after he, and other park ranger families, came back to their homes in Rumangabo in 2008. The rangers and their families had to flee their homes after heavy clashes between armed groups broke out in and around the park.
A park ranger, working in the Virunga National Park, smiles at his 9-month-old daughter after he, and other park ranger families, came back to their homes in Rumangabo in 2008. The rangers and their families had to flee their homes after heavy clashes between armed groups broke out in and around the park.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
A Virunga National Park ranger stands at an observation post at Rumangabo, east at the edge of the park.
A Virunga National Park ranger stands at an observation post at Rumangabo, east at the edge of the park.
Phil Moore/AFP/Getty Images
A park ranger uses a camcorder to film an adult gorilla while conducting a gorilla population census, on the slopes of Mount Mikeno. There are 220 documented gorillas living in Virunga. A new census count on gorilla numbers within the park is due to begin this year.
A park ranger uses a camcorder to film an adult gorilla while conducting a gorilla population census, on the slopes of Mount Mikeno. There are 220 documented gorillas living in Virunga. A new census count on gorilla numbers within the park is due to begin this year.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
Conservationists hope Virunga's ambitious $200 million clean energy project will help provide economic development of the region. The Matebe hydroelectric plant will bring sustainable energy to the region for the first time when operational. It is one of eight plants being built in the area. All are set to be online by 2025, generating enough electricity to power the entire North Kivu region. <br />Here, workers weld pipes that carry water from the mountains of Virunga down an embankment and into a turbine hall that sits above an expansive savannah below.
Conservationists hope Virunga's ambitious $200 million clean energy project will help provide economic development of the region. The Matebe hydroelectric plant will bring sustainable energy to the region for the first time when operational. It is one of eight plants being built in the area. All are set to be online by 2025, generating enough electricity to power the entire North Kivu region.
Here, workers weld pipes that carry water from the mountains of Virunga down an embankment and into a turbine hall that sits above an expansive savannah below.
Courtsey Brent Swails