Virunga

The 2014 documentary film, directed by British filmmaker Orlando von Einsiedel, chronicles the struggle to preserve Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo—one of Africa's oldest national parks and home to the world's last mountain gorillas. The film follows four key individuals: gorilla caretaker André Bauma, central sector warden Rodrigue Mugaruka Katembo, chief warden Emmanuel de Merode, and French investigative journalist Mélanie Gouby. They confront numerous threats, including poaching, armed conflicts, and illegal oil exploration by the British company Soco International, which began oil exploration within the park's UNESCO World Heritage Site boundaries in 2014. The documentary showcases Virunga's natural beauty and rich biodiversity while highlighting the complex political and economic challenges of the region. Premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 17, 2014, the film was later released on Netflix and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.