Virunga NP ranger killed in ambush
14th May 2012
The Virunga National Park ranger was killed along with 2 Congolese soldiers whilst protecting a group of civilians who were evacuating through the park.
The group came under machine gun fire from a group of approximately 100 unidentified militia members.
Ranger Paris Paluku leaves behind a wife and two children. Chief Warden Emmanuel de Merode said “Paris will be remembered as one of the most courageous men to have worked in the park. He was always at the head of any patrol, which put him at risk and ultimately cost him his life”
Over 150 Virunga National Park rangers have died in the line of duty since 1990. The park, located on the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s border with Rwanda and Uganda, has been infiltrated by four distinct militia groups in recent weeks. Local residents are said to be fleeing the area to avoid violence.
Earlier this week a militia group entered an area of park that is home to approximately 200 critically endangered mountain gorillas. Currently, the gorillas are not believed to be at risk.
“The situation remains volatile and must be contained so that insecurity does not spread into bordering communities or wildlife habitats,” said Raymond Lumbuenamo, Country Director of WWF-Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The park is currently closed to tourists due to the ongoing instability.
For more information and to donate to the Widows and Rangers Fund set-up to help the families of Rangers killed in the line of duty, visit the website here.
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