Human wars do not only disrupt human lives but also affect nature and other species that nature has created. The responsibility of protecting and nurturing all flora and fauna lies with humans because we are supposedly the most intelligent. Intelligent and capable human beings often indulge in endless wars for mean, selfish reasons. Eastern Congo is a burning example of reckless human behavior as the guerrillas continue the war, endangering the lives of local mountain gorillas. The mountain gorillas are already very few in number and their total population has come down to only 800.
On a day when the war lovers are at a break you will find the Virunga National Park a quiet and serene destination covered by a thick canopy of lush green trees. It is situated at Rumangabo in Congo. From between the chinks in the canopy you can get a glimpse of the vast plains around. The Nyiaragongo Volcano is nearby and if you visit the park on a cloudless night you can see the glow of the largest lava lake of the world lighting up the forest with its orange hue. Sadly the most crucial eastern region military base camp of the Congo guerrillas is located just a few miles apart. Now the buildings have been taken over by M23 guerrillas, including the school.
A park ranger at the Virunga National Park, Andre Bauma has a great love for the gorillas. One of the orphan gorillas at the park named Ndakasi considers him her father. They have been together through a lot. With the military camp set up so close they could not avoid being affected by gun firing and other evils of war. The gorillas are signaled by Bauma, who has learnt to copy their voices and has a great stock of gorilla noises for communicating with this endangered species. Defending the park is strewn with difficulties because at all times some hostile guerrillas are passing through it or trespassing to use it as their advantage. A total of 130 rangers have died while fighting to keep the gorillas of the park safe. Bauma too has got military training but for him killing one of the guerrillas is a punishment. Every day is a battle of survival for both Bauma and the gorillas. Bauma has to carry around Ndakasi on his back even though she is now a grown up. The love between them is definitely an exception in war struck Congo.
