Aid agencies today warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in the Democratic Republic of Congo after fierce fighting between the government and rebel forces.

Rebels loyal to a renegade warlord seized an east Congo army base and the headquarters of a park housing some of the world’s last mountain gorillas, in heavy fighting today that sent thousands of civilians fleeing, UN officials and rebels said.

REBELS have seized an area in eastern Congo that serves as a wildlife habitat for endangered mountain gorillas, threatening one of the last known populations of the species, conservationists said Sunday.

Actress Natalie Portman has teamed up with animal expert Jack Hanna for a US TV special on gorilla treks in Rwanda.

Rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have killed and eaten two silverback mountain gorillas, conservationists said today, sparking fears more of the endangered animals may have been slaughtered in the lawless region.