The rangers of the Virunga National Park in Congo risk their lives every day to protect the mountain gorillas, increasingly endangered by poachers and war. To defend the last of the orangutans, the rangers are ready for anything.
I creak of Virunga National Park, in Congo, every day they risk their lives to protect the mountain gorilla, increasingly in danger from poachers and war. To defend the last of the orangutans, the rangers are ready for anything.
Il Virunga National Park it is the oldest African national park and it is also the most dangerous on the continent. On 25 October one of the park rangers, Jean Claude Kiza Vunabandi, was killed at the age of 32 while he was working to rescue the mountain gorillas of the village of Mabenga.
Over the past 20 years well 140 rangers were killed due to the activity of poachers and armed patrols. To denounce the risks of the ranger work, the documentary “Virunga”, nominated for an Oscar in 2014.
Even if there are very intense armed conflicts in the area, the rangers do not give up on the defense of the mountain gorillas, who are now at risk of extinction. The rangers therefore continue to fight to save the life of the gorillas, challenging death every day.
Virunga National Park is UNESCO heritage and is home to many endangered animals. There are fewer than 900 mountain gorillas left in the world and about half live in this park.
An air patrol is active which monitors both the mountain gorillas and the movements of the armed militias. With this ploy over the past 30 years, the park's gorilla population has nearly doubled, but for rangers, the danger of losing one's life is always around the corner.
“Whoever risks nothing in life will never get anything. Let us not be frightened by death "- said Kahambu, one of the park rangers.
We can only admire their courage in remembering that wars and poachers endanger the lives of both humans and animals. How many people in the world would be willing to die to save a gorilla?
Marta Albè
photo source: CNN
Read also:
ENDANGERED ANIMALS: MOUNTAIN GORILLAS ARE NOW LESS THAN THOUSAND
AFRICA SEARCH FOR OIL THREATENS LAST MOUNTAIN GORILLAS (PETITION)
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