1. I am absolutely gutted by this news. You all know how much Virunga (the people/wildlife) in Democratic Republic of Congo means to me

The rangers who protect wildlife, the park employees & visitors are incredibly brave. After years of violence, Virunga was finally recovering

2. Virunga National Park isn’t just about the wildlife, it’s about what it does for the 5 million people in the surrounding communities, most of whom are the poorest people in the world. From terrorism, to Ebola outbreaks, and now coronavirus, they’ve dealt with the worst.

3. The rangers and staff at Virunga are incredibly passionate about what they do and they know they could be killed for doing what they care about.

As one ranger said, he always wanted to work as a ranger because “I wanted to protect the gorillas, who are our neighbors.”

4. Why can’t the DRC get a damn break? Over 150 years of hell thanks to colonialism and outside interference by the West, the Chinese government, and corporations that have done nothing than profit off of the blood and work of the Congolese people.

5. Update: At least 12 Virunga National Park Rangers and five civilians have been killed. Five other Rangers have been critically injured. The Rangers were protecting civilians who were attacked by 60 FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda) fighters

I am so, so sad

6. Here are the names of the 13 Virunga National Park rangers who were killed in the ambush this morning

All devestatingly young and brave Congolese patriots who gave up their lives protecting their nation’s most valuable (and sustainable) natural resource: its wildlife & nature

7. Just found out that the FDLR fighters who killed the Virunga National Park rangers shot hundreds of rounds at them...and launched grenades at them.

Hundreds of rounds and grenades at 16 park rangers who protect wildlife and the community!!

Monsters!!

Brent Stirton