美國與剛果民主共和國的保育團體發表報告指出，剛果境內列名世界遺產的維拉岡（Virunga）國家公園，其境內大象等大型哺乳動物的數量，相較於3年前的普查紀錄已有增加趨勢。這份最新調查報告是由剛果國家保育機構與紐約布朗克斯動物園（Bronx Zoo）野生物保育協會的研究人員，於本月9日至12日之間共同進行統計調查。
近年來由於非法盜獵，加上1995年來已奪走近400萬人性命的武裝衝突，國家公園內大型哺乳類動物數量急遽消失。但這次由美國魚類暨野生動物管理局（USFWS）所資助的生物普查發現，這些年所付出的保育努力已成功扭轉此一趨勢。研究人員認為，野生動物生機再現可歸功於努力遏止盜獵的國家公園武裝巡守隊，他們甘冒巨大的個人風險在這界遺產內盡責巡邏。
不過為了遏止盜獵也相對付出了極為沈重的代價。自1996年以來，已有超過100名維拉岡國家公園的巡守隊員在取締盜獵行動時慘遭殺害，且在前不久5月時才剛有一名隊員遇害。
早先剛果民主共和國政府只支付國家公園巡守隊每個月1美元的薪水，目前由於聯合國教科文組織2002-2005年的的專款補助，薪水已提升至30美元。
成立於1925年的維拉岡國家公園，在連年動盪和猖獗盜獵入侵這塊區域之前，曾是世界上大型哺乳類動物密度最高的動物天堂。
自1960年代以來，國家公園內大象、河馬以及水牛的數量已嚴重下滑，肇因於1980年代的猖獗盜獵以及自1996年以來、已歷時10年的剛果共和國內戰。
維拉岡國家公園自成立以來即是觀光客前來剛果共和國的主要目的地，但由於過去十年來的戰亂頻仍導致旅遊觀光收益和野生動物數量一樣大量萎縮消退。
這塊區域具有極大的潛力能為國家及國家公園帶來巨大的觀光收益。在烏干達、肯尼亞和坦桑尼亞，旅遊業不僅為國家公園同時也為周遭的群落社會帶來數百萬美元的可觀收入。
布朗克斯野生物保育協會研究員普朗特（Dr. Andrew Plumptre）指出：「顯而易見的，如果剛果共和國能體認到這座國家公園未來所能帶來的觀光旅遊收益，將需要投注心力來妥善維護它，同樣地，由於大型哺乳類數量已明顯上揚，今後國家公園巡手隊將更需持續投入保育巡邏工作。」
Numbers of elephants and other large mammals have increased in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga National Park since the last census three years ago, conservation groups in the United States and DRC report. The most recent census was conducted between June 9 and 12 by researchers from the national conservation agency of the DRC, and from the Wildlife Conservation Society based at New York's Bronx Zoo.
Funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the census found that efforts to protect the park’s wildlife appear to be succeeding in reversing a steep decline in numbers of large mammals due to poaching and armed conflict that claimed nearly four million human lives since 1995. The researchers give credit for the animals' recovery to the anti-poaching efforts of park guards who patrol this World Heritage Site at great personal risk.
Efforts to curb poaching have come at a high cost. Since 1996, more than 100 park guards in Virunga National Park have been killed while trying to prevent poaching, and one was killed as recently as May.
Currently, park guards receive only $1 per month as a salary from the DRC government, although this amount was increased to $30 per month with funds from UNESCO from 2002-2005.
Established in 1925, Virunga National Park once had the highest density of large mammals in the world before a wave of unrest and poaching descended upon the region.
Since the 1960s, the park’s populations of elephants, hippos, and buffalos have plummeted, with the heaviest levels of poaching occurring in 1980s and during the past 10 years since the beginning of the DRC's civil war in 1996.
Virunga National Park has been the major destination for tourists in the DRC since it was created, but unrest over the past decade has resulted in a decrease in tourism dollars as well as wildlife.
Tourism in the region has the potential to generate significant revenues for the parks and the country. In Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, the tourism business has generated millions of dollars, not only for parks but also for local communities throughout the region.
"It is clear that Congo needs to invest in the future of this park if they are to realize any of the benefits of tourism in future. It is also clear that park guards will need continued support if the park is to show an increase in the large mammal populations in future," said Dr. Andrew Plumptre of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
