New Ranger Recruits Take Their Oaths in Ishango

On Saturday, March 15, 2025, a symbolic event unfolded in Ishango with the graduation and swearing-in of the 8th cohort of Virunga National Park Rangers. The ceremony marked the culmination of months of intense training for 62 new recruits, who now join the frontlines of one of the world’s most challenging conservation missions.

In attendance were several key figures, including the Park’s director Emmanuel de Merode, Colonel Mokili Matabishi, the representative of the Governor of North Kivu, a delegation from the European Union led by Ambassador Nicolas Berlanga, and Mrs. Nicole Mollo of the WildCat Foundation. Such a prestigious gathering signifies the importance of the continuous Ranger recruitment process for both the local community and a wider international audience, supportive of the Park and its mission to protect wildlife.

62 New Rangers in Virunga – Virunga National Park

(picture taken by Virunga National Park)

The new Rangers took a solemn oath of loyalty, fidelity, and bravery – words that carry immense weight in a region where the success of conservation is closely connected to the mitigation of multi-stakeholder conflict and the success of local communities and a growing green economy. Their induction comes at a pivotal moment, as Virunga National Park approaches its 100th anniversary amidst numerous conservation and sustainable development goals and a backdrop of growing security concerns in the wider North Kivu region.

As guardians of one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, these Rangers are now entrusted with protecting not only endangered species and highly productive ecosystems but also the hopes of future generations, both in the DRC and further afield. Their courage and dedication will be critical in safeguarding this UNESCO World Heritage Site through times of uncertainty and ensuring that the Park’s rich landscapes and wildlife will be there to behold in another 100 years.

62 New Rangers in Virunga – Virunga National Park-2

(picture taken by Virunga National Park)

The Ranger training has been supported by the European Union, the U.S. Department of State (INL), and the Wildcat Foundation.