Illegal Mining and Ranger Challenges in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, Congo
Category: Epulu, Ranger Patrols, Rangers | Date: Mar 22 2007 | By: admin
Rangers in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve are focusing today on protection operations in order to close and prevent any new illegal mining.
As Senior Warden I am dedicated to plan continuous operations in order to secure the biodiversity against any damage caused by illegal gold exploitation. Since continuous patrols are launched, vegetation in all the closed mining has soared.
Rangers patrol an old disused mine to ensure that there are no signs of human activity.
Every day,operations conducted in the southern sectors of the Okapi Wildlife reserve end by arresting some illegal miners who are transferred to Epulu for prosecution.
The illegal miners are being escorted to Epulu park station.
The strategic approach which is implemented to stop illegal mining includes: setting rotative bases where rangers are posted for at least 3 weeks and using Thuraya communication system (a satellite phone) to report back to the Headquater regarding any incident .
The Section Commander, Aussu Sukari, is pictured in the middle with Rangers around him. Sukari and his men were responsible for catching the illegal miners.
We are facing various dificulties to monitor disused mining in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.Crossing some very huge rivers to reach a permanent base takes many days due to the fact we have to wait 2 or 3days until the river level drops. You can see this below in the photo which shows Rangers from the Penge patrol post with me (second in line) crossing the Ituri River.
Daily morning we are organising muster parade at the Headquarter to keep Ranger morale up. It plays a key role to maintain motivation and discipline among Ranger personnel. This is Somba, the Assistant Warden, addressing the Rangers.
JJ Mapilanga,co
Senior Warden of Okapi Wildlife Reserve/Ituri DRC
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