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This is the case of the habitat for mountain gorillas as well as other rare animal species that are found at the Virunga national park which has now been transformed into a battle field or a training camp.
Officials of the Congolese Institute for Conservation of Nature (ICCN) expressed fears that the M23 rebels could use the animals as food.
However, an official of ICCN said on Wednesday in Goma that "all these animal species were protected."
Virunga national park which is considered as a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is today a refuge for the M23 rebel fighters.
Environmental NGOs based in Goma said M23 rebel group which is now considered as a negative force by the Congolese government, had set up a military training center within Virunga national park, along the path that is frequented by animals such as gorillas, wart hogs and peacocks.
Paul Botelo from ICCN noted a big training camp of the M23 rebels had been set up near some hills which serve as the habitat for a big number of mountain gorillas, a rare animal species that is not found anywhere else except in the east of DR Congo.
The outbreak of armed confrontation between the army and the M23 rebels forced these species, especially those that are highly protected by ICCN, to take refuge in places which are thought to be more secure.
Virunga national park which was gazetted in 1925, is the oldest park in Africa. In recent years, with support of the international community, ICCN has succeeded in implementing its policy of protecting the park's flora and fauna.
However, the outbreak of war which has concentrated in Rutshuru locality, in the southern parts of the park, risks slowing down the efforts made by the government and its partners, since the bombs of war do not know the difference between human beings and animals.
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