Virunga Rangers Murdered
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FROM LCA Last Chance for Animals
May 2020

Virunga rangers are stewards of Virunga Park, proudly dedicating their lives towards the preservaton of the natural resources of the park, the mountain gorillas, and aspire towards a climate of stability, justice and peace.

Last Chance for Animals (LCA), supporter of Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, condemns the senseless violence that claimed the lives of 17 people; Virunga staff of 12 Rangers, their driver and four civilians near Virunga National Park Headquarters on April 24, 2020. Three Rangers survived.

ABEDI IYALU Kadhafi, Ranger, aged 23 years
ANUARI BIHIRA Lumumba, Ranger, aged 27 years
BADI MUKANDAMA Djamali, Ranger, aged 27 years
FAZILI JUSTIN Junior, Ranger, aged 29 years
KAMBALE MUTSOMANI Jean-Louis, Ranger, aged 31 years
KAMBALE TEREMUKA Jules, Ranger, aged 28 years
KASOLE JANVIER Joseph, Ranger, aged 30 years
MASUMBUKO MALEKANI Ruphin, Driver, aged 40 years
MUGISHO KULONDWA Augustin, Ranger, aged 27 years
MUHINDO ISEVIHANGO Jeannot; Ranger, aged 30 years
MUHINDO KATEMBO Jacques, Ranger, aged 29 years
NDAGIJIMANA NDAHOBARI Héritier, Ranger, aged 27 years
PALUKU KALONDERO Moise, Ranger, aged 30 years

Virunga Rangers and their driver encountered a civilian vehicle (unrelated to the Park) that had been attacked. All individuals came under a violent and sustained ambush by the FDLR militia group, numbering 60 fighters.

Virunga Park's AirWing used LCA donated planes to medivac the injured and transport the fallen rangers and driver back home to their families. LCA has been a major supporter of the AirWing since 2016.

Inaugurated in 1925, the Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has had 220 Rangers killed in the last 15 years defending and protecting more than 3,000 square miles of unparalleled biodiversity, including forests, mountains and savanna as well as hundreds of animal species.
Rebel militia groups are part of the billion dollar industries that destroy habitat and poach wild animals for financial gain. The Rangers protect the wildlife, including the endangered mountain gorillas, the natural resources of the Park, the local communities, and aspire towards a climate of stability, justice, and peace. The Rangers are stewards of the Park, proudly dedicating their lives towards its preservation.

Visit our website to DONATE to help us continue to support Virunga National Park: LCA Last Chance for Animals.

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