Leonardo DiCaprio is giving back a lot with the brand new Virunga Fund, as part of his foundation, Earth Alliance, that was co-founded with Emerson Collective and Global Wildlife Conservation.
The Virunga Fund will directly benefit the Virunga National Park, the oldest park and reserve in Africa with $2 million in seed funding.
Virunga National Park is home to the famed mountain gorilla, which has bounced back from the brink of extinction, and is currently under threats of both Ebola and COVID-19.
Less than two weeks ago, 12 park rangers, a driver and four members of the local community also lost their lives in a ferociously violent attack by a militia group.
“I had the great honor of meeting and supporting Virunga’s courageous team in their fight against illegal oil drilling in 2013,” Leonardo shared in a statement. “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.”
The Virunga Fund will aid in protecting the future of the protected area and the communities that surround the park, as well as providing urgent support for partners on the ground to deliver critical disease prevention efforts, law enforcement, the protection of keystone species.
Learn more or to donate to the Virunga Fund, head to the official site.
If you missed it, Leo is also taking part in the All In Challenge.
