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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.
Rangers
Rangers have completed training and are employed by Virunga.
Female Rangers
Female Rangers have completed training and are employed by Virunga.
Fallen Rangers
Rangers have lost their lives in the line of duty since 1925.
Aerial Surveillance
Kilometers of aerial surveillance conducted in the Park in 2022.
Routine Patrols
In 2022, the Rangers conducted 4500+ patrols, covering 25,800 km on foot.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For most runners, crossing the finish line of the Paris Marathon is a moment of triumph—a celebration of endurance, perseverance, and the completion of a gruelling journey. But for the 750 Rangers of Virunga National Park, there is no finish line - each day brings a new challenge.
Every day, they fight—not for medals, but for survival. They stand on the frontlines, protecting endangered wildlife and safeguarding communities in one of the world’s most volatile regions, where almost three decades of conflict have left instability in its wake.
This year, as Virunga marks its 100th anniversary, the reality is stark. Conflict in Eastern Congo has intensified, with major cities such as Goma and Bukavu under rebel control. Despite decades of conservation efforts and our mission to foster regional stability, we find ourselves fighting for survival once again.
Angele’s run is a symbol of our fight.
But she can’t do it alone. Neither can we.
Support Angele’s Marathon