The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), together with the people of Africa, works to ensure the wildlife and wild lands of Africa will endure forever. The AWF is the leading international conservation organization focused solely on Africa. In the Virunga Heartland (Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda), volcanic highland mountains shelter the last 780 mountain gorillas in the world. Chimpanzees, golden monkeys, forest elephants, and a rich variety of birds, reptiles and amphibians share this ecosystem of incredible biodiversity. In the face of the intense poverty, overpopulation, and political unrest this region has seen, AWF and its partners have redoubled their efforts to support the local wildlife and the ecotourism the region so badly needs.