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With your help, local community trackers can

Safeguard Endangered Gorillas

Your support is essential for conserving one of Africa’s largest populations of wild mountain gorillas. It empowers the Park’s 98 specialist trackers from the local community to continue their critical work, often under challenging conditions. These trackers enter the gorilla sector daily to monitor habituated gorilla families and locate and safely remove snares, helping to protect their habitat amid ongoing regional conflict.

The international community has played a crucial role in protecting this keystone species. Despite many challenges, in 2018 mountain gorillas were reclassified from critically endangered to endangered—a success made possible by this invaluable support. Your help strengthens our conservation efforts and empowers Virunga’s team to protect this vulnerable species.

Rest assured, 100% of your donation goes directly toward these essential initiatives.

In 2023, there were...

  • 22,401 km patrolled by foot

  • 937 wildlife snares removed

  • 11,275 jobs created in the green economy

  • 121,602 km of air surveillance conducted

  • 892,924 beneficiaries of public lighting

  • 2008
    Gorilla Conservations Efforts are Strengthened
  • 2018
    Mountain Gorillas Declassified
  • Photo credit: Brent Stirton
    2008
    Gorilla Conservations Efforts are Strengthened
    In 2007, the murder of seven mountain gorillas from the Rugendo family, including silverback Senkwekwe, shocked the world and galvanized global efforts to protect Virunga National Park. This tragedy led to a strengthened governance structure, with new staff negotiating access to the gorilla sector, despite rebel control.
  • Photo credit: Joseph King
    2018
    Mountain Gorillas Declassified
    The mountain gorilla is taken off the IUCN critically endangered species list, marking a victory for Congolese, Rwandan and Ugandan National Parks.