Congo's rare mountain gorillas caught in fighting - Reuters

Congo's rare mountain gorillas caught in fighting
Tue Sep 4, 2007 6:49AM EDT

By Joe Bavier

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Rebels in eastern Congo have
occupied part of a reserve protecting rare mountain
gorillas, putting the endangered primates in the crossfire
of an escalating political and ethnic conflict,
conservationists say.

Congolese government soldiers have fought renegade
soldiers loyal to dissident Tutsi General Laurent Nkunda
for several days in North Kivu province, which is home
to Africa's oldest national park, Virunga, and its
population of rare gorillas.

Nkunda's fighters surrounded ranger stations at the
heart of Virunga at Jomba and Bikenge, 80 km (50 miles)
north of North Kivu's provincial capital Goma, early on
Monday, conservationists said.

The rebels seized about 30 rifles, looted communications
equipment, and forced the evacuation of around 300
rangers, park workers, and their families, leaving the
area's gorilla population unprotected, they said.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL0478919020070904

Where is the damn UN when they are needed?