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| digital representation of the number of park rangers killed at Virunga National Park since 1996 |
Virunga National Park is the deadliest place in the world for park rangers - 140 rangers have been killed since 1996 while working to protect the park. It is also the most biodiverse protected park in the world, with more than 1000 known animal species, including one of the last remaining groups of mountain gorillas. In spite of the dangers, the park staff at Virunga have remained dedicated to the ongoing preservation of Virunga. The population of mountain gorillas has nearly doubled since the 1980s, thanks in large part to the dedication and bravery of its rangers.
Much of the violence to rangers is due to the ongoing conflict in areas near its borders. Virunga is vast with over two million acres of land, so it is very difficult to patrol. The park has become a refuge for armed militants engaged in local civil wars as well as poachers of bushmeat, and on one occasion was entirely in the hands of rebel forces who had evicted all of the park staff.
Some park conservationists have recently received death threats for opposing oil drilling efforts in Virunga. Last month, park warden Emmanuel de Merode was the victim of an assassination attempt which may have been related to his efforts to prevent the oil drilling. UK based Soco International LLC is currently prospecting for oil near Lake Edward in spite of opposition by many international environmental groups concerned over the impact of drilling in the park (as noted in the Guardian's news brief below, Soco itself is not responsible for the threats or assassination attempt)
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| Virunga Park Ranger sits with an orphaned gorilla after its parents were killed by poachers (Photo: Phil Moore/AFP/Getty Images) |
Sources:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140416-emmanuel-de-merode-warden-shot-virunga-congo/
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/photos-gorilla-orphan-park-ranger-share-a-touching-moment
http://ens-newswire.com/2012/10/25/eight-dead-in-attack-on-virunga-national-park-rangers/
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