Estimates of the Impact of Nyiragongo Volcano Eruption on Wildlife Begin

On January 17th, Mount Nyiragongo, just north of Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) erupted. The Nyiragongo volcano is one of eight in DRC along the border with Rwanda. This is also home to the critically endangered mountain gorillas and their dense tropical forest habitat, who range among the six "dormant" volcanoes in DRC's Virunga National Park. In addition to the mountain gorillas, rich and varied wildlife; including elephants, buffaloes, leopards, duikers, antelopes, three different species of primates (including chimpanzees), mongooses, civets, genets and many more - can be found in the lush, mature forests at the lower altitudes of these volcanoes.

In addition to the staggering human costs of this natural disaster, AWF is beginning to learn about the impact on wildlife from the Mount Nyiragongo eruption. It appears most the lava came from the base of the volcano, but rivers of lava also poured down its flanks into a valley to the south, destroying 4 villages, between the base of the volcano and the town of Goma, and all the forest and wildlife in its path. At present it is still impossible to assess the exact damage to the forest and to its inhabiting wildlife.

It is also not known, at this point, what the impact of the lava entering Lake Kivu, and the release of gasses from the lake, will be on the wildlife in and around the lake. One unique specie inhabiting the Lake is the Congo clawless otter. Many birds and other animals nest near the water, and were likely affected by lava flows and released gasses.

The greatest threat to the Virunga National Park and its wildlife will probably not result directly from the volcanic eruption. Rather, as was the case during the refugee crisis in DRC that followed the Rwandan genocide, the greatest threat is that the people of the region, whose lives have been devastated by the eruption, now turn to the park as a source of food, water and shelter materials. The threats of poaching are also likely to increase. To proactively address these pending threats, the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) - a joint initiative of AWF, Fauna and Flora International and the World Wildlife Fund - is coordinating with the agencies delivering food aid and shelter to people in the region, to ensure that the park does not become the source of these items.