Heavily armed Congolese rebels taking refuge in their country’s Virunga National Park are placing endangered mountain gorillas under additional threat, according to conservation officials.

Africa’s most active volcano Nyamuragira, located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, erupted last weekend throwing off clouds of ash and orange smoke.

A Congolese environmental protection group said that DR Congo troops illegally killed animals last month in Virunga National Park, including seven hippos and five elephants.

Militant groups in one of Africa’s historic Congo national parks have killed several animals since the start of the year.

A new census count released on Tuesday showed the population of mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga National Park has risen by 12.5 percent.