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Nyamulagira began erupting on 2nd January, endangering the park's wildlife

Endangered chimpanzees and other wildlife in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are being monitored by a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping aircraft following a volcanic eruption in Virunga National Park.

Nyamulagira, one of two active volcanoes inside the park, began erupting early on 2nd January and the lava has since spread 4km, reports New Scientist.

Though the molten rock is headed away from major human settlements and Virunga's famous mountain gorillas, the eruption has jeopardized the 40 eastern chimpanzees that live on Nyamulagira itself.

In addition, the plants the chimps rely on for food could be coated by abrasive volcanic ash.

Numbers of eastern chimpanzees - a sub-species of the common chimp - are dropping steadily, mainly due to deforestation.

The total population is estimated to be as small as 76,000, all living in east and central Africa.

Staff at Virunga hope that birds and animals in the lava's path will simply move away from it.

However, a UN peacekeeping team currently stationed in the DRC were not taking any chances.

The multinational force Monuc - who are engaged in protecting DRC civilians from a bloody war - have offered Congolese conservation authorities the use of its Indian planes and helicopters to assess the damage at Virunga.

Finally, yesterday (5th January) Innocent Mburanumwe, one of the Virunga's chief wardens, was able to take a Monuc flight over the park.

In a subsequent blog post he confirmed that the chimpanzees were still out of harm’s way and added that antelope and other smaller animals had been spotted moving away from the flanks of the volcano.

Mr Mburanumwe thanked Monuc for their assistance and added that, while the devastation was widespread, there were no casualties to report.

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