Congo Rangers

Category: Crises, Hippos | Date: Dec 02 2006 | By: admin

The situation has gone from bad to worse in the Virunga National Park, and despite significant risks, the ICCN are now sending their rangers to Vitshumbi to protect one of the last main hippo groups. One troop from the Advance Force will be deployed in support of this operation within the next 24 hours.

One of many half-butchered hippos floating along the edge of Lake Edward

The sudden increase in poaching comes as a direct result of UN and military troops leaving the park in support of operations against the dissident General Laurent Nkunda. The vacuum has been filled by a lunatic group of Mai Mai rebel soldiers currently living in the park. Many of these soldiers have now moved out of the bush and into Vitshumbi, a fishing village on the edge of Lake Edward, where they are systematically destroying what remains of the hippo population.

Again the UN Peacekeeping Force for the DRC seems reluctant to get involved at this time - the trouble is, for the hippos at least, time is running out.