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15 August 2007
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has sent an emergency mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to investigate the killings of four endangered mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park. The gorillas, including one silverback male and three females, were found shot dead in the national park, a World Heritage site, on July 23. A joint IUCN and UNESCO mission departed on August 11 for 10 days to investigate why the gorillas were targeted, since they were not killed for their meat or pelt. The mission will suggest measures to protect the animals and improve the conservation of the national park, which has been on the list of World Heritage sites in danger since 1994. It is the first time a reinforced monitoring mission, a strategy adopted at the World Heritage Committee’s 31st session in New Zealand earlier this year to address major issues at World Heritage sites, has been deployed. The mission will meet with government representatives in Kinshasa, the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the park’s guards and political and military leaders. David Sheppard, Head of IUCN’s programme on protected areas, said: “Since the beginning of this year alone, seven mountain gorillas have been killed out of a total of 700 worldwide, 370 of which live in Virunga National Park. It is vitally important that steps are taken to end this senseless slaughter.” The 2007 World Heritage Committee Meeting requested the President of IUCN and South Africa’s former Environment Minister, Valli Moosa, and the UNESCO Director General, to lead an initiative for DRC authorities and representatives of the African Union to discuss the deteriorating state of conservation of DRC World Heritage sites. Jean-Christophe Vié, Deputy Head of the IUCN Species Programme, said: “The number of mountain gorillas had started to increase, but they are still Critically Endangered. This latest killing is not an isolated case. The hippo population has been drastically reduced in the last few years in Virunga National Park and white rhinos have been decimated in DRC’s Garamba National Park. These sad events show how fragile conservation successes are, especially in areas of conflict.” Virunga National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 for its aesthetic and geological importance and for being such a biodiversity hotspot. It was added to the danger list 15 years later amid concerns of poaching, deforestation and the effects of armed militia and refugees on the site. For more information, please contact:
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