Virunga's Rangers

Guardians of Biodiversity

Virunga’s Rangers stand fearlessly on the frontline of conservation for the protection of the Park’s wildlife, natural resources, and for the surrounding communities. They routinely face harsh physical conditions, injury, or even death. Over 200 Rangers have been killed in the line of duty. Without the commitment of these brave men and women, Virunga would not exist.

Ranger Statistics

  • Rangers

    820+

    Rangers have completed training and are employed by Virunga.

  • Female Rangers

    31

    Female Rangers have completed training and are employed by Virunga.

  • Fallen Rangers

    200+

    Rangers have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1925.

  • Aerial Surveillance

    105,264

    Kilometers of aerial surveillance conducted in the Park in 2024.

  • Routine Patrols

    3,652

    In 2024, the Rangers conducted 3,652 patrols, covering 19,121 km on foot.

  • Ranger Selection Process
  • Partnering with the ICCN
  • Ranger Training
  • Graduation
  • Photo credit: Brent Stirton
    Ranger Selection Process
    More than 820 male and female Rangers actively serve to protect the Park and the local communities. These Rangers go through intense selection processes and extensive training to work for the Park.
  • Photo credit: Bobby Neptune
    Partnering with the ICCN
    They are all selected from local Congolese towns and villages and qualify to become civil servants within the Congolese National Park Authority (ICCN).
  • Photo credit: Brent Stirton
    Ranger Training
    Each Ranger attends 6 months of basic training. Specialization courses then follow. The training curriculum includes combat tactics, human rights, civil and criminal codes, humanitarian aid and an advanced first aid course.
  • Photo credit: Brent Stirton
    Graduation
    Typically, only 50% of Ranger candidates make it through to graduation--many of whom had already earned advanced degrees prior to joining the Ranger corps.
Photo credit: Denys Kutsevalov

I enjoy witnessing the breathtaking nature within the Park's boundaries. Being called a Ranger fills me with pride and commitment to protecting its precious ecosystems.

Deo, Section Chief (2013 - Present)
  • Wildlife Protection
  • Elephant Protection
  • Canine Units
  • Two park rangers closely monitoring a group of gorillas in their natural habitat at Virunga National Park.
    Gorilla and Wildlife Protection

    One of the roles of Virunga’s Rangers is to protect the Park’s diverse wildlife, including its population of critically endangered mountain gorillas.

    This includes locating and removing wildlife snares, which poachers set indiscriminately around the forest. These snares kill and maim a wide array of wildlife. Sadly, because of the sheer size of the Park, only a small percentage of these animals are fortunate enough to be rescued by Virunga’s Rangers.

    Photo credit: Brent Stirton
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  • Rangers observing and monitoring a group of gorillas in their natural habitat at Virunga National Park.
    Gorilla and Wildlife Protection

    Virunga’s population of mountain gorillas has been growing from strength to strength in recent years, thanks to the protection afforded by the Park’s Rangers.

    Our news page has regular updates on the Park’s wild gorillas, click here to read more.

    Photo credit: Brent Stirton
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  • An elephant standing in the lush greenery of Virunga National Park, surrounded by a vibrant natural habitat.
    Elephant Protection

    Elephants are one of Virunga’s most sentient and gentle residents. Like elsewhere in Africa, the illegal ivory trade is exacting a heavy and brutal toll.

    It is tragic when these magnificent creatures are killed by poachers. One of the only hopes to save Virunga’s elephants is to increase the number of highly trained Rangers in the Park and provide them with the tools they need to combat poaching.

    Photo credit: Brent Stirton
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  • Elephants moving gracefully through shallow water, their large bodies reflected on the surface as they wade together.
    Elephant Protection

    Virunga National Park has teamed up with a number of organizations to improve its ability to protect elephant herds from poachers and prevent conflicts with the local population.

    In 2015, world-renowned veterinarian Pete Morkel, Iain Douglas-Hamilton, Frank Pope, and Jerenimo Lepirei of Save the Elephants, and Gorilla Doctors Mike Cranfield and Eddy Kambale flew to Lulimbi to begin the process of affixing high-tech tracking collars to Virunga’s elephants. These multifunction collars communicate via satellite to provide Rangers with real-time information about the movement of collared elephants, and often by extension, their entire herd.

    Photo credit: Brent Stirton
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  • Ranger walking canine on an antipoaching exercise
    Canine Units

    Virunga National Park’s Congohounds unit is comprised of Bloodhound “human-trailers” and Spaniel “sniffer” dogs.

    The Bloodhounds are used primarily for tracking poachers, but also play a key role in finding injured Rangers.
    They have even been used to help locate lost children in the communities that surround the Park.

    Photo credit: Brent Stirton
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  • Rangers walking with the antipoaching canine unit
    Canine Units

    Virunga’s team of spaniels specializes in detecting non-human scents, such as smuggled ivory and ammunition.

    Most often they search for contraband hidden in vehicles or being sold in local markets, however, they can be used to sniff out contraband almost anywhere their skilled Ranger handlers direct them.

    Photo credit: Virunga National Park
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