The deal was worked out by Virunga National Park director Emmanuel De Merode and rebel leader Laurent Nkunda.

Virunga is home to almost a third of the last remaining 700 wild mountain gorillas, and had to be abandoned by all park personnel when Nkunda’s forces stormed through the primates’ habitat last month.

The returning park rangers initially began to conduct a new census of the apes, under the watchful eyes of rebel leaders.

“It is a huge step that all sides have agreed that the protection of Virunga as a World Heritage Site and its mountain gorillas is of sufficient priority to transcend political differences,” Merode said.

The expansion of General Nkunda’s control over the region in recent weeks has forced around 400,000 people to flee their homes and take refuge into makeshift camps, triggering a massive humanitarian crisis.

The camps are near the front lines where rebels have been battling government troops and pro-government militias. A U.N. Refugee Agency spokesman says residents live in fear of attacks and looting by soldiers on both sides of the conflict.

Photo: Virunga National Park