Africa's Most Active Volcano Again Threatens Gorilla Habitat

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo, May 19, 2004 (ENS) - Mountain forests inhabited by endangered gorillas and other wildlife are likely to be destroyed by lava and ash from the erupting Nyamulagira volcano, say workers with the African Wildlife Foundation who have been monitoring the area in the far eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The 2,964 meter (9,724 foot) high volcano, Africa's most active volcano, began erupting on May 8, and has been spewing ash and lava ever since, the Goma Volcano Observatory reports.

The eruption is impacting human and wildlife health, the workers say, as the open fissure in the mountain where the smoke and ash is issuing forth faces the nature reserve.

Clouds of ash are falling towards Kichanga, a village some 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of the volcano, observers say. Ash and acid, sulphur dioxide and fluoride emitted from the volcano threaten to contaminate local drinking water sources and food crops.

(Photo courtesy International Gorilla Conservation Program/European Space Agency)

Although the eruption is not expected to directly threaten the health and habitat of the gorillas, destruction of human settlements and agricultural areas will increase pressure on the gorillas’ forest homes.

In addition, lava flow is likely to destroy habitat occupied by chimpanzees and other wildlife that inhabit this volcano’s lower slopes.

To make the situation more chaotic, groups of Rwandan rebels have been hiding on the mountain in thick forests where they have clashed with DRC forces.

“Natural disasters such as the Nyamulagira eruption can be devastating to local populations of humans and wildlife, as well as impact the integrity of the park,” said Dr. Patrick Bergin, president of the African Wildlife Foundation.

Since its inception in 1961, the African Wildlife Foundation has protected endangered species by saving their habitat and training hundreds of Africans in conservation to ensure the survival of Africa’s wildlife heritage. The African Wildlife Foundation is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC with regional offices in Botswana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

Mountain gorilla in Virunga National Park (Photo courtesy NASA)

The International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) was formed in 1991, bringing together three international conservation organizations and three protected area authorities: the African Wildlife Foundation, Fauna and Flora International, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF); the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), the Office Rwandais de Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

WWF says the park has difficult terrain and complex interactions between communities, rebels and ICCN, which limit conservation impact. "Ongoing conflicts erode conservation gains by diminishing community morale and motivation," and the park itself is under severe threat from encroachment, says WWF.

When the volcano erupts, local people use the park more heavily than usual, turning to the natural area for food, water, and shelter materials, the African Wildlife Foundation said.

Nyamulagira erupts at least once every other year; the last eruption was on July 26, 2002. This eruption destroyed large parts of the national park.The settling of volcanic ash on plants in the area led to the destruction of many varieties of trees and an unusual fall of leaves. Water sources in the area were polluted.

Nyamulagira is a shield volcano, sloping in the shape of a flattened dome and built of lava flows. Since 1882, it has erupted more than 40 times. Most of the eruptions, like the current one, produce lava flows from fissures on the flanks of the volcano.

Nearby Mount Nyiragongo, located 14 kilometers (nine miles) northwest of Nyamulagira, erupted on January 17, 2002, causing some 400,000 people to flee the border city of Goma.