
Poaching in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park poaching: The Volcanoes National Park is gaining recognition around the world because of its habitat for the endangered mountain gorillas that reside on Mount Virunga’s slopes. Among the various national parks, a visit to Volcanoes National Park will satisfy any wildlife-related urge. The park has a range of activities and attractions, some of which are listed below.
Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park: Mountain gorillas are well-known for housing half of the world’s mountain gorillas, but their numbers have increased as a consequence of conservation initiatives, including regular patrols to avoid poaching. The effectiveness of the park’s conservation program may be seen at the famed Kwita Izina, a gorilla naming ceremony held to commemorate the birth of each gorilla. Visitors to gorilla trekking in Volcanoes park can also visit gorilla habitats and witness gorillas in action.
Bird species: Species of Birds Volcanic National Park is home to several bird species. The park is home to over 250 bird species, making it a birder’s paradise for many unique and migratory species. During your climb on Mount Virunga, you will observe a variety of bird species in the bamboo forest, where you can find their nests, and if you are lucky, you may also spot monkeys.
Golden monkeys, which reside in the bamboo woods of Mount Virunga, can be observed on mountain gorilla trekking volcanoes park. During the Golden Monkey Trekking excursion, golden monkeys are also wonderful creatures to observe. Some of the monkey species you will get to witness are the velvet monkey, the red-tailed monkey, and the black and white colobus monkey, all of which will provide you with an unforgettable experience.
The Virunga Mountains: The Virunga Mountains are located in three different parks. Five of the eight volcanoes can be found in Virunga National Park, Mgahinga National Park, and Volcanoes National Park, and they have a lot to offer, including different gorilla families, golden monkeys in bamboo trees, and exceptional views of the Burera and Ruhondo twins that can be seen while on Mount Muhabura. You will notice this after going to the top of the mountain since you will get a spectacular view of the lake. Coffee plantations can also be seen in the park’s nearby settlements. You will also witness coffee farms in the park’s nearby settlements, but at the summit, you will enjoy the crater lake, which is home to a variety of fauna, including butterflies and many bird species. Different flora and fauna types will be encountered in the crater, which will be interesting for botanists and those interested in leisure. They can also be used as picnic areas for people, with amazing vistas and backdrops for photography.
Visit the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, which may be reached by descending from Mount Muhabura in Volcanoes National Park. The lakes were formed by Mount Virunga’s volcanic outburst a few years ago. You can engage in a range of activities around the lake, such as community encounters with locals, sport fishing, and nature walks. However, if you are interested in seeing an active volcano within Mount Virunga, you can visit Mount Nyamuragira and Mount Nyiragongo, both of which can be found in Virunga National Park, and if you are interested in viewing lava flowing from the crust, you can climb Mount Nyiragongo.
While there are many attractions and activities in Virunga National Park, the problem is that humans have encroached on the park and are involved in activities like cultivation, animal husbandry, and housing. Another issue is the smuggling of wildlife for foreign trade. Various wild creatures are unlawfully taken with the assistance of park rangers, and the victims are typically primates, many mammals, and birds that endanger the park’s conservation. However, of all the issues confronting the park, poaching is by far the most serious and challenging issue it has encountered in a long time.
Poaching in Volcanoes National Park
Poaching has been taking place in Volcanoes National Park for a long time, including throughout Diane Fossey’s research on the endangered mountain gorilla. When discussing poaching in the park, it is difficult not to mention Diane Fossey, an American primatologist who spearheaded the park’s conservation and was an outspoken opponent of poaching. As a result, the park’s gorilla population has expanded, and conservation efforts have had significant results, as seen by the memorable naming ceremony for the baby gorilla Kwita Izina. Poachers are one of the most serious challenges to the park’s conservation effort, which is built on a long history of reintroducing wildlife to their natural environment. Mountain gorillas, black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, velvet monkeys, and other primates have been poached in the park. Other species killed in the park by adjacent villages include duikers and antelopes.
Poaching Reduction in Volcanoes National Park: Poaching has occurred at Volcanoes National Park for many years, but park management is attempting to control poaching through various policies and methods to prevent further incidences.
The Dian Fossey International Foundation has a large staff of researchers, guides, rangers, and patrolmen who patrol the park daily, dismantling and destroying poachers’ traps and traps used to kill tiny animals so that they do not disrupt the animals’ activities. Poachers face incarceration as well as penalties under the government’s strong anti-poaching legislation. Volcanoes National Park donates earnings from animal safaris to the nearby communities by creating job opportunities and constructing schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure. Communities are educated about the benefits that tourism and wildlife provide to the development of the communities surrounding the park through foreign income generated by tourism activities carried out in the park.