Flora and Fauna

Wildlife in Virunga National Park Democratic Republic of Congo

The Rift Albertine region houses more endemic vertebrate species than any other region on the African continent and Congo-Virunga national park contains several examples of them. About 218 species of animals are recorded in Virunga National park-Congo Democratic Republic. The park also serves as harbor to 22 primate species of which three are the great ape including mountain gorilla, the eastern plain gorilla and the eastern chimpanzee, with a third of the world population of mountain gorillas. The savannah sectors of Virunga National Park contain a diverse population of ungulates and the density of biomass of wildlife is one of the highest in the world (27.6km2). Between the ungulates, there are rare animal species like the okapi, which is endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the red forest duiker, endemic to Mount Rwenzori.

Birdlife in the Virunga National Park Democratic Republic of Congo

Bird-Watching of different species in Virunga national park by the eyes or even hearing them provides you with a thrilling experience. The persuasive melodies of birds in Virunga forests are rare and hard to find somewhere else. Virunga National Park inhabits about 706 species of birds in the thick vegetation namely the Grey-throated Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Madagascar Bee-eater, Narrow-tailed Starling among others.

Mountain Gorillas in Virunga national Park Democratic Republic of Congo

One group of mountain Gorillas in Congo is the Kabirizi family in Virunga National Park is found in Bukima sector adjacent to Goma. This mountain Gorilla group in Congo is composed of 34 mountain Gorillas and two silverbacks, led by Kabirizi Silver back. Initially, the Kabirizi silverback was a wild Gorilla up to late in 1998 when he was named the head of his family after habituation. The Kabirizi family was formally called the Ndungutse family because by then it was led by Ndungutse Silverback.