Wildlife experts said that the volcano, which had erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is not likely to directly affect the rare gorillas of the Virunga Mountains. It would, however, devastate the chimpanzees and other wildlife in the forest around the volcano.

"The ecological integration in the whole region is going to be affected one way or another,' said Sam Kanyamibwa, wwf's representative for East Africa. "The problem is the physical destruction of habitat, and of course the sulphur gases over the area. It is feared that the ecological integration in the whole region is to be affected someway or the other,' Kanyamibwa said.