Six Park Rangers Dead at DR Congo Wildlife Park

Five park rangers and a driver have been killed on Monday in a gun attack in Virunga national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Virunga national park is located in DRC’s unstable North Kivu province. It covers 7,800 square kilometres (3,011 miles).
A sixth ranger was wounded in the attack that took place in the central section of the vast reserve, known globally for its population of rare mountain gorillas.
Virunga is home to about a quarter of the world’s population of critically-endangered mountain gorillas, as well as to eastern lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, okapis, lions, elephants and hippos.
More than 150 rangers have been killed protecting the gorillas over the last two decades, but Thursday morning’s attack was the deadliest in the park’s history.
“We have sadly lost six rangers,” park spokesman Joel Malembe told AFP, adding that the ambush occurred between the sectors of Lulimba and Ishasha.
Rangers are recruited from nearby villages to protect the 3,000-square-mile park from rebel groups, poachers and local bandits who exploit the area’s resources.
Gorillas’ bodies have been found after execution-style killings that authorities say are intended to intimidate park workers.
> Shiuly Akter