DR Congo rejects oil search bid in gorilla park
21st March 2011
The Democratic Republic of Congo has rejected a bid by a UK firm to search for oil in Virunga National Park, home to endangered mountain gorillas
In a rare piece of good news for gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the government has blocked a UK firm's bid to drill for oil in Virunga National Park.
DRC Environment Minister Jose Endundo said he had rejected an environmental assessment submitted by UK-listed company, Soco International.
The government said it would now conduct its own environmental assessment into oil exploration in the World Heritage site.
WWF spokesperson Natalia Reiter said: "The Environment Ministry did the right thing, and what we hope to see next is a firm declaration guaranteeing there would be no exploration in this iconic and fragile park now and in the future."
UN cultural organisation Unesco has repeatedly warned against oil exploration in the area.
The Virunga Massif mountain chain that straddles the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda is home to two-thirds of the world's remaining mountain gorillas, estimated to number fewer than 800.
The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Virunga National Park, following reports of attacks and kidnappings of expatriates by armed groups in the area.
Since 1996, over 140 rangers have been killed in the park, while some researchers believe the ongoing conflict could see the country's gorillas wiped out by the mid-2020s.
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