Rare mountain gorillas killed by rebels

DAKAR, Senegal, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- Two silverback mountain gorillas, an endangered species, have been killed and eaten by rebels in eastern Congo, London's Independent reports.

The remains of both big apes were found in Congo's Virunga National Park. Conservationists fear more have been slaughtered in a widespread lawless region.

Only about 700 mountain gorillas remain in the world, the Independent said, of which 380 are spread across volcanic mountains on the borders of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda.