Elie Mundima

Category: Outside of Virunga | Date: Apr 18 2007 | By: admin

I was sent to Station Chivanga at Kahuzi-Biega to help with the training there.

Above you can see me training the recruits for the station, although they’re not really new recruits as many of them have been used before as trackers, especially those from the Bantu Pygmy tribe. They have helped the park here for many years, decades even, without any recognition from the government, which means no salary as well.

The training that took place over the next few days was essential as there are many rebel groups in this area, and so it is necessary that they learn how to use arms to protect not only themselves but also the fauna to be found here, such as the lowland gorillas.

As you can see, we mostly used sticks rather than real rifles because we simply do not have enough guns for training. There is only a small group of arms which are used by one small group of rangers at a time, when out on patrol, leaving those back at the station unarmed.

We have asked the government to provide guns so that the rangers can protect themselves, visitors, conservationists and of course the animals, because this is such a dangerous region. And with a new government just installed, we can but only hope that they will be able to provide the weapons.

Technorati : Congo, DRC, National Parks