Gorilla Ranger Killed in Virunga of Congo

A wildlife ranger has paid the ultimate price in the effort to protect endangered Mountain Gorillas in Democratic Republic of Congo. Ranger Safari Kakule was killed by rebel forces during an attack on the evening of January 8 in Congo’s Virunga National Park. Safari and six other rangers were attacked while on patrol.

More than 120 rangers have been killed in the line of duty in Congo over the last decade due to the ongoing war in the eastern part of the country. Rangers have had to flee parts of Virunga National Park several times over the past year due to incursions by armed groups.

Until the recent troubles, Virunga had been one of the few bright spots in eastern Congo. Rangers have been working to “habituate” gorillas in hopes of attracting high-paying ecotourists to eastern Congo. In neighboring Rwanda and Uganda, visitors pay more than $300 for a chance to see gorillas in their natural habitat.