Who were the victims of the Indianapolis shooting? Established in 1925 as Africa’s first national park, Virunga spans 3,000 square miles and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. The biologically diverse park is a Unesco World Heritage site in the restive east of the DR Congo. Virunga National Park officials say 17 people were killed in a sustained attack not far from the park’s headquarters. The data of an attack: WHEN: A statement from the Virunga National Park officers said the attack happened at 7.30am on Sunday. It is with immense sadness that Virunga National Park confirms the deaths of 6 Park Rangers in an attack by armed assailants on the morning of Sunday 10th January 2021. Video, The students living cheaply in a luxury hotel, 'Bushfires make you realise climate change is real' Video, 'Bushfires make you realise climate change is real', Regulator warns against use of Peloton treadmill, British choreographer Liam Scarlett dies at 35, Giant clam shells worth $25m seized in Philippines, Putin critic could 'die within days', warn doctors, Royal Family honours duke's 'humour and humanity'. Photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images. Rangers of the Virunga National Park were ambushed near Kabuendo while patrolling inside the park. As a consequence, the park remained closed to visitors from June 2018 until February 2019. At least 12 rangers among 18 killed in attack in Virunga national park in DR Congo The park closed temporarily from May 2018 for eight months after two British tourists were kidnapped VideoThe students living cheaply in a luxury hotel, The 'intimacy coordinator' who choreographs sex scenes, Japan's ancient secret to better cognitive memory, 'Bushfires make you realise climate change is real' Video'Bushfires make you realise climate change is real', Regulator warns against use of Peloton treadmill1, Salisbury poison suspects 'linked to Czech blast'3, Helen McCrory was 'meteor in our life' says Lewis4, British choreographer Liam Scarlett dies at 355, FedEx gunman had previous gun confiscated6, Giant clam shells worth $25m seized in Philippines7, Putin critic could 'die within days', warn doctors8, Royal Family honours duke's 'humour and humanity'9, Who were the victims of the Indianapolis shooting?10. But they came under “a ferociously violent and sustained ambush” about 11 a.m. on Friday near Rumangabo village, according to the statement. This park is a sanctuary for endangered mountain gorillas. Read about our approach to external linking. Virunga, in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was Africa’s first national park. He said about 60 militiamen had ambushed a convoy of civilians that was being protected by the rangers. The attack at Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in eastern Congo, was among the deadliest in its recent history. April 24 (UPI) -- An attack near Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo left multiple people dead Friday, local park and conservation officials said. Armed men have killed at least six rangers and wounded several others in an ambush in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Virunga national park. This ranger attack saw 13 rangers of Virunga National Park being shot dead with 2 more injured and 1 in critical condition, along with 4 civilians and their driver. Again on 10 January 2021, armed men killed at least six rangers and wounded several others in … Gorillas, guns and guerrillas - a deadly mix in an African park, Salisbury poison suspects 'linked to Czech blast'. The park closed to tourists on 23 March following advice from experts that gorillas might be vulnerable to complications from catching Covid-19. At least six park rangers in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s renowned Virunga National Park were ambushed and killed by members of the Congolese Mai-Mai militia on 10 January. One of the world’s most biodiversity-rich areas and home to the last remaining mountain gorillas, Virunga is Africa’s oldest national park and a World Heritage site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The lush volcanic forests of the park in eastern Congo are home to unparalleled biodiversity, including forest and savanna elephants and hundreds of bird species, along with the endangered mountain gorillas. On April 24, a tragic attack from armed militia groups caused the death of four civilians and thirteen staff members of the Virunga National Park, a natural World Heritage site in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC). Two other civilians and four rangers were injured, with one in critical condition. Virunga National Park Ranger Attack Virunga National Park Ranger Attack. 12 Rangers Among 17 Killed in Congo Park Ambush, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/25/world/africa/congo-virunga-national-park-attack.html. The Ranger has been evacuated to hospital in Goma and his injuries are no longer considered life-threatening. At least 12 rangers have been killed by suspected members of a Rwandan rebel group in the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Alexis Huguet/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images. Hundreds of rangers among the park’s dedicated team of 700 rangers have been killed. The students living cheaply in a luxury hotel. Virunga National Park was closed for 8 months from May 2018 following a spate of attacks on visitors by armed groups. In 2018 attackers killed park ranger Rachel Masika Baraka during the brief kidnapping of two British tourists and their driver. The attack at Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in eastern Congo, was among the deadliest in its recent history. Six park rangers have been killed after an attack at the famous Virunga National Park in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Staff working in the park have often come under attack. Attack on DRC’s Virunga National Park kills at least 17 dw.com 4/25/2020 Biden moves up deadline to make all adults eligible for COVID-19 vaccine by April 19 There are only three countries with these endangered species thus the major reason for the large numbers of people flocking the country through Goma to have their once in a lifetime experience. In the 2017 National Geographic interview, Park Director Emmanuel de Merode also spoke about the park rangers: The hardest part of my job is having to bury the men that have been entrusted to me. Updated Statement from Virunga National Park on recent attack It is with great sadness that the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) confirms the identities of the Virunga Park Rangers and employees who tragically lost their lives as a result of the attack that occurred this morning at 11 am on Route Nationale 2 near the headquarters of Virunga National Park in Rumangabo. Armed rebel groups involved in poaching and illegal charcoal production are believed to be responsible. BBC Africa Live: Updates from the continent, 'Prophet' arrested after DR Congo shoot-out. Virunga fund following the April 24th 2020 Virunga rangers attack: The Virunga national park of DRCongo is one of the mountain gorilla homes in the whole world. At least 17 people, including 12 rangers were killed on Friday in an attack in Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the restive east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, … Statement from Virunga National Park on recent attack It is with immense sadness that Virunga National Park confirms the deaths of 6 Park Rangers in an attack by armed assailants on the morning of Sunday 10th January 2021. This park is a sanctuary for endangered mountain gorillas. 1 other Ranger was seriously wounded in the assault. The attack in the Virunga National Park was the latest assault on rangers charged with protecting one of Africa’s oldest nature areas. Local leaders believe that the Rwandan Hutu militia FDLR was behind an attack on the UNESCO World Heritage site. The rangers were on their way back to the park, the oldest in Africa, when they spotted a civilian vehicle that had been attacked and came to its defense, park officials said in a statement. “The attack took place at 07:30 … A group of armed men attacked the park rangers, killing six and seriously injuring one,” according to a statement by park spokesperson Olivier Mukisya. “This is a devastating day for Virunga National Park and the surrounding communities,” the park officials said. Since the war started in … Kidnappers have been known to target tourists in the park. 1 other Ranger was seriously wounded in the assault. The park’s officials said the latest wave of violence would not deter their commitment to improving the economic and humanitarian needs of civilians living in the area surrounding the park. The African Wildlife Foundation condemns the killing of wildlife rangers in the Virunga National Park. Kidnappers have been known to target tourists in the park. Expressing sadness over the attack, one of the deadliest to hit the park, the statement described it as a “devastating day for Virunga National Park and the surrounding communities”. NAIROBI, Kenya — Twelve rangers were among 17 people killed in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said, in one of the worst massacres in the park’s recent history. Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo © UNESCO / Guy Debonnet. Since I started at Virunga in 2008, 39 rangers have died. In 2014, unknown assailants shot and wounded the park’s director, Emmanuel de Merode, an internationally renowned Belgian conservationist. The park said the gunmen belonged to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, one of the largest foreign armed groups in the country, whose ranks include members accused of having links to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Rangers on patrol at Virunga National Park. On 24 April 2020, at least 12 park rangers were killed by militia men attacking a civilian convoy. But poaching, logging and unrest stemming from Congo’s civil wars have damaged the wildlife population and made the park vulnerable to attacks by militia groups. Government official Cosma Wilungula said Friday's attack was the deadliest in recent history. The group has so far made no public comments on the accusations against it. Park rangers patrolling the Virunga National Park … News Attack on DRC’s Virunga National Park kills at least 17. This incident occurred 30 days after the Democratic Republic of Congo announced a national lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19. Africa's oldest nature reserve is a popular tourist attraction, known for its population of mountain gorillas. Visits to the park had been halted since March 19th, 2020. The park blamed members of a Rwandan rebel group for the attack. © 2021 BBC. January 14, 2021 9.31am EST. Armed men have killed at least six rangers and wounded several others in an ambush in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Virunga national park. Another six people were injured in the attack blamed on militiamen from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), whose leaders have been accused of links to the 1994 genocide in which some 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. "Virunga Park Rangers were not the target of the assault, but lost their lives responding to the attack in defence of the local population," the statement said. Park Director Emmanuel de Merode says: “Since the war started in 1996, about 160 rangers have died. The Czech Republic expels 18 Russian diplomats after linking the operatives to a 2014 explosion. Attack blamed on local fighters is the latest to hit large park renowned for its mountain gorillas. In May 2018, the park was closed for eight months after a female park ranger was killed and two British tourists and their driver were kidnapped. Helen McCrory was 'meteor in our life' says Lewis, FedEx gunman had previous gun confiscated, JD Vance: Trump whisperer turned Senate hopeful, How cancer put me off joining Amazon union, Hunger hits Brazil's slums amid Covid surge, The students living cheaply in a luxury hotel. A statement on the park's website said there were indications that this was an attack on the local civilian population. Virunga National Park officials say 17 people were killed in a sustained attack not far from the park’s headquarters. Virunga National Park ranger attack that occurred on the 24 th of April 2020 is one of the most recent and deadliest massacres in the park. Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo) © UNESCO / Yvette Kaboza. Read about our approach to external linking. On Friday, April 24, 2020, Virunga National Park rangers and civilians were attacked by the FDLR militia group, suffering a tragic loss of life. In 2018 attackers killed park ranger Rachel Masika Baraka during the brief kidnapping of two British tourists and their driver. Gunmen have killed six rangers in Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the restive east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to authorities. “More than ever, those communities aspire to live in a climate of stability, justice and peace,” the officials said. Aside from the rangers killed, a driver and four civilians were shot dead. The Virunga National Park rangers are a highly trained fighting force, prepared to sacrifice their lives for the park and their people. The group did not immediately respond publicly and did not claim responsibility for the Friday attack. Virunga sits on the forest-covered volcanoes of central Africa and is home to over half the global population of mountain gorillas. Staff working in the park have often come under attack. On March 23, Virunga temporarily closed after scientific directives suggested primates might be vulnerable to complications arising from Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. IUCN is deeply shocked by the tragic loss of 12 park rangers, a staff driver and four civilians close to Virunga National Park, following an attack by armed militia on 24 April. Attack blamed on local fighters is the latest assault on rangers charged with protecting one of Africa ’ s National! 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