Mai Mai rebels attacked a ranger patrol in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo on the morning of October 25th killing two rangers and a soldier. Three other soldiers were wounded, one critically. The civil war has brought the battle zone into the Park threatening the safety of the local human population and poaching the 200 endangered mountain gorillas and other forest animals that live within its boundaries. The ambush took place at Mwiga Bay near the fishing village of Vitshumbi on Lake Edward. Virunga is Africa's oldest national park established in 1925 and has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1979. The Park has set up a fund to assist the widows and orphans of rangers killed in the line of duty. The United States and the EU contributed to starting the fund. One of the rangers killed leaves behind a six month old son and 14 year old daughter, both orphaned since their mother died in childbirth. From the beginning of the civil war in 1996, 130 rangers have been killed on duty protecting the 790 mountain gorillas remaining in the world. Since September the Mikeno sector of the Park has been under rebel control and Park authorities have been prevented from monitoring the gorillas. Chief Warden de Merode asked for donations to support the rangers families.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Virunga Rangers Die Protecting Gorillas
Mai Mai rebels attacked a ranger patrol in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo on the morning of October 25th killing two rangers and a soldier. Three other soldiers were wounded, one critically. The civil war has brought the battle zone into the Park threatening the safety of the local human population and poaching the 200 endangered mountain gorillas and other forest animals that live within its boundaries. The ambush took place at Mwiga Bay near the fishing village of Vitshumbi on Lake Edward. Virunga is Africa's oldest national park established in 1925 and has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1979. The Park has set up a fund to assist the widows and orphans of rangers killed in the line of duty. The United States and the EU contributed to starting the fund. One of the rangers killed leaves behind a six month old son and 14 year old daughter, both orphaned since their mother died in childbirth. From the beginning of the civil war in 1996, 130 rangers have been killed on duty protecting the 790 mountain gorillas remaining in the world. Since September the Mikeno sector of the Park has been under rebel control and Park authorities have been prevented from monitoring the gorillas. Chief Warden de Merode asked for donations to support the rangers families.