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| a mountain gorilla family: Orvis |
World Wildlife Fund called on two UK oil companies, SOCO and Dominion, to give up their plans to explore for oil in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. The park is home to the famous mountain gorillas as well as numerous other rare species. The plans threaten the last 200 gorillas who live in a lush cloud forest covering the flanks of extinct volcanoes. Costly conservation efforts have been made to protect the first World Heritage site and its wild inhabitants, even during the middle of a vicious civil insurrection. Hundreds of park rangers have died to protect wildlife. All these laudable achievements might be undermined by oil exploration. About 30,000 local fishermen fish sustainably in the park's Lake Edward. Exploration will undoubtedly adversely impact their livelihoods and culture too. Mountain gorillas attract millions in hard currency to the impoverished DRC, but they are at risk of infections from admiring human visitors as well as the snares and bullets of bush meat hunters. Help
US Person protect the gorillas by funding their wild veterinary care. Click the
Orvis link above.
