The Okapi Reserve

Category: Epulu, General, Ranger Patrols, Rangers | Date: Apr 14 2007 | By: admin

I want to inform all of you that The Okapi WilDife Reserve is going through a critical period. Two Rangers have died in recent days one after the other.The Assistant Ranger at the reserve, Jean MUNDUELE MUNENE who was supervising the anti-poaching activities in the East and Northeast of the Reserve was suffering and had his treatment at Mambasa Hospital , near the reserve. Things did not go very well so he was transferred from Beni to University Clinic of Kinshasa (the capital city of DRCongo ). Unfortunately, on 4th March we received a message from the General Director of the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature announcing his death. Really it was very sad news.

A team of 5 rangers were deployed to patrol the Southeastern sector of the Reserve where illegal miners were ejected only one week ago. Once they arrived to the Base the patrol leader MOZANGADIKO decided to cross the Ituri river and check that the miners were not coming back. The leader came across a group of 8 irregular military men protecting illegal miners digging gold in Ituri river. The first armed contact started and Rangers succeeded in dispersing the illegitimate soldiers from their base.


from left to rigth: Masumbuko, Mozangadiko ( team leader ),

Gbondo, Selemani and the brave porter Mapoli

On 22nd of March, the Patrol leader conducted a patrol to an other sector called Masasa ( South East ) of the Reserve where again the team were fitgting against military poachers ( same group ). It was serious, and Mozanga won again by destabilizing those poachers, and the village was completely controled by him.

Once checking inside a house to ensure of security, one of the brave Ranger called KONGOLO alias Sadam did not know if an enemy is inside a house, unfortunately he entered and be shot and die.

Realy, the Reserve looses the brave ranger . It was his first patrol after fininshing his paramilary training on last February 2007

KONGOLO (on the rigth) during his paramilitary graduation ceremonyLet me tell you that we are facing a critical moment in DRCongo in terms of poaching in protected areas. The Government is still in a process of mixing soldiers from different rebels factions with regular military, but others are escaping and become poachers in the parks or reserves of our country.

So, we have to provide excellent training for our rangers for the protection of our ecosystem.

Your support in terms of buying patrol rations, first aid kits, fuel for patrols and other items are warmly welcomed.

Somba