Leonardo DiCaprio helps launch a fund for Africa’s national park

Africa’s oldest nature reserve now has an A-list celebrity coming to its rescue.

Leonardo DiCaprio, who had co-founded ‘Earth Alliance’ alongside Emerson Collective and Global Wildlife Conservation has found a new partner in European Commission to raise money for Virunga National Park. To kick start it’s funding, ‘Earth Alliance’ has already donated some money out of the $2 million required.

The Virunga Fund comes at a time when Virunga has lost a lot of money in the battle against COVID-19. This relief fund goals include disease prevention efforts, protection of the mountain gorilla and other species and support of law enforcement and families of fallen rangers.

“I had the great honor of meeting and supporting Virunga’s courageous team in their fight against illegal oil drilling in 2013,” said DiCaprio, who was also responsible for producing the 2014 Netflix documentary “Virunga.” “Virunga urgently needs funds to protect the endangered mountain gorilla population, to provide support to the rangers and the families of rangers who have fallen in the line of duty, and to help deliver essential disease prevention efforts. It’s critical that we rally together during this time of incredible crisis.”

Virunga National Park, which is home to hundreds of species of birds, reptiles and mammals, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.