Virunga National Park, the heart of darkness as UNESCO World Heritage

Virunga National Park, Africa's first and most renowned national park, faces an eco-crisis rooted in historical rhetoric. The study identifies problematic narrative patterns—echoing Joseph Conrad’s 'Heart of Darkness'—in both human rights campaigns from the Congo Reform Movement (1900) and animal rights movements led by figures like Dian Fossey in the 1970s. These campaigns, while advocating for justice, share responsibility for perpetuating ecological threats to Virunga's biodiversity, particularly its iconic mountain gorillas. The analysis highlights the documentary Virunga (2014) as a rhetorical model offering an alternative narrative path. This work critiques the long-term political and environmental consequences of such discourses, urging a reevaluation of their impact on conservation efforts.

Andersen, F. (2018). Virunga National Park, the heart of darkness as UNESCO World Heritage. Continents Manuscrits, 11. https://doi.org/10.4000/coma.2773