Heart-Breaking News! 6 Rangers Ambushed, 5 Killed Today In The Congo At Virunga National Park

Virunga National Park

Tragic news from the Democratic Republic of Congo this morning as five rangers and their driver were killed in an ambush at the Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important conservation sites in the world.

A sixth ranger was also injured in the surprise attack that transpired within the more than 3,000-mile park that is home to approximately half the world’s remaining 900 mountain gorillas, as well as lions, elephants, and hippos.

“Virunga National Park is deeply saddened to confirm reports of an attack on our staff today. Five Virunga rangers and a staff driver were killed during an ambush in the Central Sector of the Park. A sixth ranger was also wounded,” noted a post on the Virunga National Park Facebook page. “We will be sharing further information in due course.”

National parks director Cosma Wilungula reportedly told Reuters that, “The team came under gunfire around 6:00 a.m. local time while traveling to a base near the Ishasha border crossing with neighboring Uganda.”

As per Wilungula, the gunmen were from one of Congo’s ‘Mai-Mai’ militias, which first formed to resist Rwandan invasions in the late 1990’s.

Tragically, more than 150 rangers have been killed protecting the park over the last two decades.

Donations to the Virunga National Park can be made in honor of these selfless heroes who risk their lives to protect others HERE!

R.I.P.