I know that the documentaries are going to either make me really sad or really angry. This was a little of both. Parts of this film are so breathtakingly lovely they could have been lifted from National Geographic. Then there are shots of utter brutality against animals and innocent civilians just trying to make a living. This dichotomy seems symbolic of the region as a whole. Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the last known habitat for mountain gorillas in the world. The park has been doing well since a peace agreement halted the on-going civil war, opening up for tourism and raising awareness of the natural beauty that is at risk. The park's rangers risk life and limb fighting against poachers of elephant ivory, lion skins, and baby gorillas being sold on the black market. There is a refuge/rehabilitation area for orphaned gorillas, staffed by volunteers who care for these animals as if they were family. In 2013, a British oil company called SOCO began sending representatives (read: mercenaries) into the park as a precursor to assay for oil. While they have publicly stated that their aim is not to destabilize the region, this documentary uses hidden cameras to meet with several SOCO representatives to learn that they are obliquely funding rebel groups and leveraging corrupt officials to revoke the park's protected status.
I tend to not make calls to action but I really do believe in the conservation of endangered species. The documentary is streaming on Netflix, so you can check it out for yourself. If, after that, you'd like to donate to the park, please go to www.virunga.org/donate. One day, after we've reached the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes stage, maybe this kindness will be repaid.
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