The conservation group WWF is calling on a UK-based company to abandon its plans to explore for oil in Africa's oldest national park.
The charity says Soco International's proposals could put the Virunga National Park in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo at risk.
The park is home to more than 3,000 different kinds of animals, including endangered mountain gorillas.
Soco denied that its activities threatened the environment of the park.
The company said it was currently only evaluating the resources there.
'Gone for good'
In a report, WWF says the exploitation of oil concessions in the park, which is a World Heritage Site, could cause widespread pollution and environmental damage, as well as create conflict.
"Once you turn it into an oil field you sell it once and it's gone for good. It's going to get destroyed, polluted - the beauty of it will go to waste," said Raymond Lumbuenamo, country director for WWF-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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