Filmmaker Orlando von Einsiedel discusses his compelling documentary Virunga, and outlines the diminishing world gorilla population and how these amazing animals are threatened in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park.
The gorilla population is currently extremely endangered, with only about 880 gorillas left in the whole world, according to Orlando.
“They are incredible. I think King Kong has a lot to answer for, to be honest, because they’re actually really gentle,” he said about the animal’s reputation for being ferocious. “When you see one up close – it sounds cliché – but it is quite life changing. You feel like you’re really looking at our close ancestors.”
One of favorite things to do during filming was to spend time observing the gorillas, and says they never disappointed in providing comfort and even some much-needed comic relief.
The biggest contributors to the dramatic drop in the gorilla population in Congo are deforestation through farming and decades of war and conflict in the region.
“What we realized with Virunga, fairly early on, was that we were witnessing that process play out on a micro scale – and in this case it was a British oil company illegally exploring for oil.”
Watch the full episode for preview clips from the documentary and to also hear about local individuals who have made a huge difference by standing up for efforts aimed at saving the gorilla population.
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