mountain gorilla in the Virunga National Park. Photo: WWF

The World Wildlife Fund just released this uplifting information:

“Breaking News: SOCO International plc announced it will abandon its controversial oil exploration in Africa’s Virunga National Park, a key part of the home range for more than half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas and a vital natural resource to hundreds of thousands of people.

Not only did the London-listed oil company commit to pulling out of Virunga, but it went one step further: It has committed to staying out of all other World Heritage sites.

It’s with great pride and relief for the people and wildlife of Virunga National Park that I’m writing to you directly from the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa to say: we did it!

You and more than 750,000 activists from around the world helped us make this happen, and we cannot be more grateful. From petitioning SOCO to encouraging leaders in the US Congress to stand up and protect Virunga National Park, you’ve continued to speak out for what’s right.”

You can read more about this at
http://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/victory-for-virunga