Virunga National Park - Revision history

WikiEdit at 21:55, 15 October 2026

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	<span id="R01876"></span>Virunga National Park (2025) Rapport d’évaluation du Bien-Être des Gorilles de Montagne des Virunga 2024. Unpublished report.		<span id="R01876"></span>Virunga National Park (2025) Rapport d’évaluation du Bien-Être des Gorilles de Montagne des Virunga 2024. Unpublished report.

	<span id="R02336"></span>Kiribou, R., Tehoda, P., Chukwu, O., Bempah, G., Kühl, H. S., Ferreira, J., …, & Heinicke, S. (2024). Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts. ''PLOS Climate'', 3(2), ~~1-19~~. [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345 doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345]		<span id="R02336"></span>Kiribou, R., Tehoda, P., Chukwu, O., Bempah, G., Kühl, H. S., Ferreira, J., …, & Heinicke, S. (2024). Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts. ''PLOS Climate'', 3(2), e0000345. [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345 doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345]

	<span id="R02013"></span>UNESCO 2021. https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc/4056		<span id="R02013"></span>UNESCO 2021. https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc/4056

WikiEdit at 14:36, 15 October 2026

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	<span id="R01876"></span>Virunga National Park (2025) Rapport d’évaluation du Bien-Être des Gorilles de Montagne des Virunga 2024. Unpublished report.		<span id="R01876"></span>Virunga National Park (2025) Rapport d’évaluation du Bien-Être des Gorilles de Montagne des Virunga 2024. Unpublished report.

	<span id="R02336"></span>Kiribou, R., Tehoda, P., Chukwu, O., Bempah, G., Kühl, H. S., Ferreira, J., …, & Heinicke, S. (2024). Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts. ''PLOS Climate'', 3(2), ~~e0000345~~. [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345 doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345]		<span id="R02336"></span>Kiribou, R., Tehoda, P., Chukwu, O., Bempah, G., Kühl, H. S., Ferreira, J., …, & Heinicke, S. (2024). Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts. ''PLOS Climate'', 3(2), 1-19. [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345 doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345]

	<span id="R02013"></span>UNESCO 2021. https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc/4056		<span id="R02013"></span>UNESCO 2021. https://whc.unesco.org/en/soc/4056

WikiEdit at 20:31, 12 October 2026

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WikiEdit at 12:21, 3 September 2026

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	= Exposure to climate change impacts =		= Exposure to climate change impacts =

	As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, Kiribou et al. ~~subm.~~ extracted climate data and data on projected extreme climate impact events for the site. Climatological characteristics were derived from observation-based climate data provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP, www.isimip.org). Parameters were calculated as the average across each 30-year period. For 1981-2010, the EWEMBI dataset from ISIMIP2a was used. For the two future periods (2021-2050 and 2071-2099) ISIMIP2b climate data based on four CMIP5 global climate models were used. For future projections, two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) were used. RCP 2.6 is a scenario with strong mitigation measures in which global temperatures would likely rise below 2C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3C by 2100. For the number of days with heavy precipitation events, the 98th percentile of all precipitation days (>1mm/d) was calculated for the 1979-2013 reference period as a threshold for a heavy precipitation event. Then, for each year, the number of days above that threshold was derived. The figures on temperature and precipitation anomaly show the deviation from the mean temperature and mean precipitation for the 1979-2013 reference period.		As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, Kiribou et al. (2024) extracted climate data and data on projected extreme climate impact events for the site. Climatological characteristics were derived from observation-based climate data provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP, www.isimip.org). Parameters were calculated as the average across each 30-year period. For 1981-2010, the EWEMBI dataset from ISIMIP2a was used. For the two future periods (2021-2050 and 2071-2099) ISIMIP2b climate data based on four CMIP5 global climate models were used. For future projections, two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) were used. RCP 2.6 is a scenario with strong mitigation measures in which global temperatures would likely rise below 2C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3C by 2100. For the number of days with heavy precipitation events, the 98th percentile of all precipitation days (>1mm/d) was calculated for the 1979-2013 reference period as a threshold for a heavy precipitation event. Then, for each year, the number of days above that threshold was derived. The figures on temperature and precipitation anomaly show the deviation from the mean temperature and mean precipitation for the 1979-2013 reference period.

	The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated (~~see~~ Kiribou et al. ~~subm. for details~~).		The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated (Kiribou et al. 2024).

	'''Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Virunga National Park'''		'''Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Virunga National Park'''

WikiEdit at 14:51, 1 September 2026

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	!A.P.E.S. database ID		!A.P.E.S. database ID
	\|-		\|-
	\|''Gorilla beringei ~~beringei~~''		\|''Gorilla beringei graueri''
	\|~~2021~~		\|2025
	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	\|~~350~~.0		\|11.0
	\|Virunga National Park		\|Virunga National Park
	\|~~Genetic (dung/hair)~~		\|Full count
			\|Count method
			\|Parker, L. pers. comm. 2025
			\|
			\|
			\|-
			\|''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''
			\|2025
			\|
	\|		\|
	~~\|Shengeri, A.R., pers. comm. 2021~~
	\|		\|
			\|150-200
			\|Virunga National Park
			\|Opportunistic observation
			\|Count method
			\|Parker, L. pers. comm. 2025
			\|Estimate based on direct observation, approx. 150-200 for the site.
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
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	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|''Gorilla beringei ~~graueri~~''		\|''Gorilla beringei beringei''
	\|~~2025~~		\|2021
	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	\|		\|
	\|11.0		\|350.0
	\|Virunga National Park		\|Virunga National Park
	\|~~Full count~~		\|Genetic (dung/hair)
	~~\|Count method~~
	~~\|Parker, L. pers. comm. 2025~~
	\|
	\|
	\|-
	~~\|''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''~~
	~~\|2025~~
	\|		\|
			\|Shengeri, A.R., pers. comm. 2021
	\|		\|
	\|
	~~\|150-200~~
	~~\|Virunga National Park~~
	~~\|Opportunistic observation~~
	~~\|Count method~~
	~~\|Parker, L. pers. comm. 2025~~
	~~\|Estimate based on direct observation, approx. 150-200 for the site.~~
	\|		\|
	\|-		\|-
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	Maldonado, O., Aveling, C., Cox, D., Nixon, S., Nishuli, R., Merlo, D., Pintea, L. & Williamson, E.A. (2012). Grauer’s Gorillas and Chimpanzees in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Kahuzi-Biega, Maiko, Tayna and Itombwe Landscape): Conservation Action Plan 2012–2022. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation & Tourism, Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature & the Jane Goodall Institute. 66pp https://www.iucngreatapes.org/grauers-gorillas-and-chimpanzees <br>		Maldonado, O., Aveling, C., Cox, D., Nixon, S., Nishuli, R., Merlo, D., Pintea, L. & Williamson, E.A. (2012). Grauer’s Gorillas and Chimpanzees in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Kahuzi-Biega, Maiko, Tayna and Itombwe Landscape): Conservation Action Plan 2012–2022. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation & Tourism, Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature & the Jane Goodall Institute. 66pp https://www.iucngreatapes.org/grauers-gorillas-and-chimpanzees <br>

	Virunga National Park (2025) Rapport d’évaluation du Bien-Être des Gorilles de Montagne des Virunga 2024. Unpublished report. <br>		Virunga National Park (2025) Rapport d’évaluation du Bien-Être des Gorilles de Montagne des Virunga 2024. Unpublished report. <br>

WikiEdit at 08:43, 3 June 2026

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	= Summary =		= Summary =

	<div style='float: right'>{{#display_map: height=190px \| width=300px \| scrollzoom=off \| zoom=5 \| layers=OpenStreetMap,OpenTopoMap\|-0.250721, 29.391204~[[Virunga National Park]]~''Gorilla beringei beringei'', '"Gorilla beringei graueri", ''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''}}</div>		<div style='float: right'>{{#display_map: height=190px \| width=300px \| scrollzoom=off \| zoom=5 \| layers=OpenStreetMap,OpenTopoMap\|-0.250721, 29.391204~[[Virunga National Park]]~''Gorilla beringei beringei'', ''Gorilla beringei graueri'', ''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''}}</div>
	* Eastern chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''), Grauer's gorillas (''Gorilla beringei graueri'') and mountain gorillas (''Gorilla beringei beringei'') are present in Virunga National Park.		* Eastern chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''), Grauer's gorillas (''Gorilla beringei graueri'') and mountain gorillas (''Gorilla beringei beringei'') are present in Virunga National Park.
	* It has been estimated that 10 Grauer's gorillas and over 350 mountain gorillas occur in the site; the chimpanzee population is unknown.		* It has been estimated that 10 Grauer's gorillas and over 350 mountain gorillas occur in the site; the chimpanzee population is unknown.
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	{\| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="Site_characteristics-table"		{\| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="Site_characteristics-table"
	\|Species		\|Species
	\|''Gorilla beringei beringei'', '"Gorilla beringei graueri", ''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''		\|''Gorilla beringei beringei'', ''Gorilla beringei graueri'', ''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''
	\|-		\|-
	\|Area		\|Area

WikiEdit at 08:37, 3 June 2026

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	= Summary =		= Summary =

	<div style='float: right'>{{#display_map: height=190px \| width=300px \| scrollzoom=off \| zoom=5 \| layers=OpenStreetMap,OpenTopoMap\|-0.250721, 29.391204~[[Virunga National Park]]~''Gorilla beringei beringei'', "Gorilla beringei graueri", ''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''}}</div>		<div style='float: right'>{{#display_map: height=190px \| width=300px \| scrollzoom=off \| zoom=5 \| layers=OpenStreetMap,OpenTopoMap\|-0.250721, 29.391204~[[Virunga National Park]]~''Gorilla beringei beringei'', '"Gorilla beringei graueri", ''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''}}</div>
	* Eastern chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''), Grauer's gorillas (''Gorilla beringei graueri'') and mountain gorillas (''Gorilla beringei beringei'') are present in Virunga National Park.		* Eastern chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''), Grauer's gorillas (''Gorilla beringei graueri'') and mountain gorillas (''Gorilla beringei beringei'') are present in Virunga National Park.
	* It has been estimated that 10 Grauer's gorillas and over 350 mountain gorillas occur in the site; the chimpanzee population is unknown.		* It has been estimated that 10 Grauer's gorillas and over 350 mountain gorillas occur in the site; the chimpanzee population is unknown.
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	{\| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="Site_characteristics-table"		{\| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="Site_characteristics-table"
	\|Species		\|Species
	\|''Gorilla beringei beringei'', "Gorilla beringei graueri", ''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''		\|''Gorilla beringei beringei'', '"Gorilla beringei graueri", ''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''
	\|-		\|-
	\|Area		\|Area

WikiEdit at 13:30, 2 June 2026

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	!Year(s)		!Year(s)
	\|-		\|-
	\|~~6 Safety~~ and ~~stability~~		\|2 Resources and capacity
	\|6.3 ~~Civil unrest/war~~		\|2.3 General lack of funding
	\|~~Shengeri, A.R., pers. comm. 2021,~~ Parker, L. pers. comm. 2025		\|Parker, L. pers. comm. 2025
	\|~~2021-~~ Ongoing (2025)		\|Ongoing (2025)
	\|-		\|-
	\|5 Ecological context		\|5 Ecological context
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	\|Ongoing (2025)		\|Ongoing (2025)
	\|-		\|-
	\|~~2 Resources~~ and ~~capacity~~		\|6 Safety and stability
	\|2.3 ~~General lack of funding~~		\|6.3 Civil unrest/war
	\|Parker, L. pers. comm. 2025		\|Shengeri, A.R., pers. comm. 2021, Parker, L. pers. comm. 2025
	\|Ongoing (2025)		\|2021- Ongoing (2025)
	\|}		\|}

WikiEdit at 16:54, 8 April 2026

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 !Comments
 !A.P.E.S. database ID
 |-
 |''Gorilla beringei beringei''
@@ Line 124: / Line 111: @@
 |Parker, L. pers. comm. 2025
 |Estimate based on direct observation, approx. 150-200 for the site.
+|
 |}

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:30, 2 June 2026
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	= Summary =		= Summary =

	<div style='float: right'>{{#display_map: height=190px \| width=300px \| scrollzoom=off \| zoom=5 \| layers=OpenStreetMap,OpenTopoMap\|-0.250721, 29.391204~[[Virunga National Park]]~''Gorilla beringei beringei''}}</div>		<div style='float: right'>{{#display_map: height=190px \| width=300px \| scrollzoom=off \| zoom=5 \| layers=OpenStreetMap,OpenTopoMap\|-0.250721, 29.391204~[[Virunga National Park]]~''Gorilla beringei beringei'', "Gorilla beringei graueri", ''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''}}</div>
	* Eastern chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''), Grauer's gorillas (''Gorilla beringei graueri'') and mountain gorillas (''Gorilla beringei beringei'') are present in Virunga National Park.		* Eastern chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''), Grauer's gorillas (''Gorilla beringei graueri'') and mountain gorillas (''Gorilla beringei beringei'') are present in Virunga National Park.
	* It has been estimated that ~~6 eastern lowland~~ gorillas and over 350 mountain gorillas occur in the site; the chimpanzee population is unknown.		* It has been estimated that 10 Grauer's gorillas and over 350 mountain gorillas occur in the site; the chimpanzee population is unknown.
	* The mountain gorilla population trend is increasing; the ~~eastern lowland~~ gorilla population ~~is decreasing~~; the chimpanzee population trend is unknown.		* The mountain gorilla population trend is increasing; the Grauer's gorilla population shows a slight increase following targeted population reinforcement efforts, though it remains extremely small and vulnerable; the chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
	* The site has a total size of 7,900 km².		* The site has a total size of 7,900 km².
	* Key threats to great apes are poaching, encroachment, logging and fuelwood collection, and insecurity issues further complicating conservation efforts.		* Key threats to great apes are poaching, encroachment, logging and fuelwood collection, and insecurity issues further complicating conservation efforts.
	* Conservation activities have focused on anti-poaching patrols, providing employment opportunities to local communities, tourism, education, and supply of hydroelectric power to the local population.		* Conservation activities have focused on anti-poaching patrols, providing employment opportunities to local communities, tourism, education, and supply of hydroelectric power to the local population. A population reinforcement initiative conducted in late 2024 involved the translocation of four adult female eastern lowland gorillas from the GRACE sanctuary. The individuals have since successfully integrated into an existing wild group and therefore are counted as part of the wild population in Virunga National Park.
	* The national park is the most biologically diverse and the first to be established in the African continent.		* The national park is the most biologically diverse and the first to be established in the African continent.
	<div><ul><li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Elephant_herd-min.jpg \| 300px \| thumb\| none \| © Virunga National Park]] </li><li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Gorilla_VNP.jpg \| 300px \| thumb\| none \|© Virunga National Park]] </li><li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Nyiragongo_VNP.jpg \| 300px \| thumb\| none \|Mount Nyiragongo © Virunga National Park]] </li></ul></div>		<div><ul><li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Elephant_herd-min.jpg \| 300px \| thumb\| none \| © Virunga National Park]] </li><li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Gorilla_VNP.jpg \| 300px \| thumb\| none \|© Virunga National Park]] </li><li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File: Nyiragongo_VNP.jpg \| 300px \| thumb\| none \|Mount Nyiragongo © Virunga National Park]] </li></ul></div>
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	{\| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="Site_characteristics-table"		{\| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="Site_characteristics-table"
	\|Species		\|Species
	\|''Gorilla beringei beringei''		\|''Gorilla beringei beringei'', "Gorilla beringei graueri", ''Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii''
	\|-		\|-
	\|Area		\|Area
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	= Ape status =		= Ape status =

	The last mountain gorilla census in DRC, Rwanda and Uganda in the Virunga massif was in 2016. The results showed a total of 266 gorillas found on the Congo side. From then until December 2021, the number of gorillas has increased to over 350 individuals (Shengeri, A.R., pers. comm. 2021). The chimpanzee population in the park is unknown. Eastern lowland, or Grauer’s gorillas, are extremely rare in the park~~; only six individuals are being monitored~~ (Shengeri, A.R., pers. comm. 2021).		The last mountain gorilla census in DRC, Rwanda and Uganda in the Virunga massif was in 2016. The results showed a total of 266 gorillas found on the Congo side. From then until December 2021, the number of gorillas has increased to over 350 individuals (Shengeri, A.R., pers. comm. 2021). The chimpanzee population in the park is unknown. Eastern lowland, or Grauer’s gorillas, are extremely rare in the park (Shengeri, A.R., pers. comm. 2021). A population reinforcement initiative conducted in late 2024 involved the translocation of four adult female Grauer's gorillas from the GRACE sanctuary. The individuals have since successfully integrated into an existing wild group and therefore are counted as part of the wild population in Virunga National Park (Parker, L. pers comm. 2026).

	'''Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Virunga National Park'''		'''Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Virunga National Park'''
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	'''Page created by: '''Rwimo Shengeri Augustin & Natsuno Shinagawa''' Date:''' 2022-01-17		'''Page created by: '''Rwimo Shengeri Augustin & Natsuno Shinagawa''' Date:''' 2022-01-17

	'''Page updated by: '''Laura Parker''' Date:''' ~~2025~~-10-14		'''Page updated by: '''Laura Parker''' Date:''' 2026-04-30