The Rangers of Virunga

The rangers of Virunga National Park have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. They are extremely dedicated, committed and brave men.

They are the front line guardians of one of the worlds greatest biodiversity ‘hotpots’; the ‘thin green line’ of conservation. The environment within which they work is very challenging and was especially so during the latter part of 2008.

With thanks to gorilla.cd, you can read about many of the rangers through their profiles here. All those working ‘in the field’ are featured and not all are rangers, but many work on the ground, alongside them. Additional ranger profiles are added from time to time, so do revisit and read the rangers stories, as told by themselves.

Every day, throughout this vast Park, the rangers continue their patrols, destroying snares and tracking down the illegal charcoal burners. Rebel militias and poachers are a constant threat to their safety.

Rations are bought en route, snares cut and weapons cleaned…

	Monitoring the wildlife, arresting illegal fishermen maintaining vehicles and taking a well earned rest…..

The following can make depressing reading but it is certainly not intended to overshadow the amazing work undertaken by Virungas rangers each and every day.

Over 100 rangers have lost their lives in the line of duty over the past decade.

Sadly, the loss of Virungas rangers is not new. In 2004, a delegation from the International Ranger Federation paid tribute to 23 fallen rangers from 1960-67.

	Laying a wreath at a memorial 2004

All too often, facing armed resistance is not unusual in any of DRC’s Protected Areas, neither is it uncommon across Africa nor in some other Protected Areas across the world. In Virunga, the toll is particularly high and is a very tragic consequence of ongoing human conflict and pressures, in eastern DR Congo.

The rangers have been cited on many occasions for their bravery.  

At the 5th World Parks Congress in Durban, S Africa, 2003, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) recognised, through the Fred M Packard Merit Award, the bravery of the rangers who work in very dangerous situations – protecting the ‘thin green line’.

The award recognises those who have made special contributions to the service of protected areas above and beyond the call of duty:

In March 2009, the US-based Alexander Abraham Foundation awarded Conservation Awards to four staff of Virunga National Park in March 2009.
Diddy, Innocent, Serge (Frankfurt Zoological Society) and the widow of Ranger Kalibumba, killed last March 2008. These awards aim to recognise the achievements of grassroots conservationists in DRC.

Each recipient - 18 of them in total from throughout Congo’s parks - received a certificate, a medal and a sum of money

	Kinshasa March 09: The Virunga heroes with Emmanuel de Merode. From the left: Innocent, Serge, Emmanuel, Paulin, Diddy and the widow of Ranger Kalibumba. She travelled to Kinshasa with her 3-month old baby to receive the award and honour her husband’s memory.
	Innocent and Diddy, both based at Rumangabo, Virunga National Park HQ, proudly show off their medals

2007-9
From November 2007 until January 2009, the Mikeno gorilla sector was in the firm control of General Laurent Nkunda and his troops. The rangers were told that if found within the Park, they would be shot. Rumour had it, that the only road to the patrol posts had also been mined. It was far too dangerous for the rangers to continue their work. For 15 long months, they waited, unable to enter the Park, patrol or monitor the gorillas.

In August 2008, Emmanuel de Merode, was appointed as Park Director.

	Emmanuel greets the provincial Environment Minister, Felicite Kalume Ndoole, before the ceremony
	Emmanuel being sworn in as Director
	Rangers await the arrival of their new Director, at Kibati patrol post, August 2008

In October 2008, the fighting took a turn for the worse. It was a desperately difficult month for the rangers of Virunga. The fighting became very intense, to the point where Rumangabo HQ was about to be taken over by Nkundas troops and emergency evacuation to Goma was the only option. A temporary camp, Kituku, was set up in Goma.

Some rangers remained at Rumangabo but a short while later, had to flee for their lives, as Nkundas troops arrived.

Rangers and their families from Rwindi, in the central sector, were also forced to evacuate, as were rangers from Lulimbi station, the latter having the cross the border into Uganda, as their only means of escape. The photographs tell their own story of evacuation and life in the camp.

Fleeing from Rwindi with the UN hovering above…

The rangers Kituku camp in Goma	…with all their possessions
	Rangers wives cooking across the border, in Uganda

Thankfully, all the rangers eventually managed to find their way back to Goma, albeit exhausted. The daughter of one ranger, was hit by a stray bullet, but has since recovered.

Rangers return…
In January 2009, Emmanuel de Merode managed to negotiate terms for the rangers safe return into the Mikeno sector. This was a truly ground-breaking turning point and the rangers lost little time, in undertaking a gorilla census, as the fate of the mountain gorillas was wholly unknown.

To everyone’s huge relief, the gorillas were all accounted for and several new births had taken place. Somehow, the gorillas had managed to avoid all the fighting.

Watch this video, to witness the joyous return of the rangers to Rumangabo, in January 2009.