Photo credit: Leonardo Di Caprio/Instagram
Leonardo DiCaprio Joins DR Congo Gorilla Park Campaign
Leonardo DiCaprio is attempting to secure Virunga National Park’s jeopardized mountain gorillas.
Leonardo DiCaprio helped to establish the charitable Earth Alliance last July, alongside the Emerson Collective and Global Wildlife Conservation. The philanthropic association plans to help ensure natural life compromised by environmental change. It has now banded together with the European Commission to dispatch the $2 million Virunga Fund.
“Today, Leonardo DiCaprio announced the Virunga Fund to urgently raise funds to support Virunga through this critical time,” Virunga National park announced yesterday in a Facebook post.
Situated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, The recreation center is Africa’s most established and most diverse protected region. Virunga is a UNESCO World Heritage site, globally perceived for its lavish natural surroundings and wildlife.
“I had the great honor of meeting and supporting Virunga’s courageous team in their fight against illegal oil drilling in 2013,” DiCaprio said in a statement.
He proceeded: “Virunga urgently needs funds to protect the endangered mountain gorilla population, to provide support to the rangers and the families of rangers who have fallen in the line of duty, and to help deliver essential disease prevention efforts.”
The Virunga Fund’s dispatch came just in time for National Biodiversity Week. Biodiversity Week happens this year from May 22 to 30.
“Virunga is Africa’s most biologically diverse protected area. Join Global Wildlife Conservation, Emerson Collective, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Europe Aid this Biodiversity Week in contributing to the Virunga Fund,” the park wrote on Twitter.
Virunga is Africa's most biologically diverse protected area. Join @Global_Wildlife @EmCollective & @leodicaprio
— Virunga NationalPark (@gorillacd) May 19, 2020
and @europeaid this #BiodiversityWeek in contributing to the Virunga Fund; https://t.co/I8T4WglDBY
“The future of Virunga National Park […] is at risk as it deals with Ebola, COVID-19, and a recent attack on rangers,” Global Wildlife Conservation wrote on Twitter.
Last month, rebel forces attacked the park’s headquarters in Rumangabo. This resulted in the tragic deaths of twelve rangers, a park driver, and four civilians. The attack seriously injured three other rangers.
Virunga National Park faces a number of security threats. These include repeated attacks by armed rebels, illegal charcoal production, smuggling, and wildlife poaching.
Virunga shut in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Accordingly, the recreation center confronted noteworthy misfortunes in income. The Fund will bolster the recreation center’s protection endeavors and its Rangers.