Oct 16 2007
Why I Became A Ranger: Innocent
Today we are still waiting for a solution to the conflict. So I would like to tell you why I became a Ranger.
My father, Sylvestre Mburanumwe, is a Ranger. He is chief of the Bikenge patrol post in the Gorilla Sector. Here is a map.
When I was growing up with my brother and 6 sisters I loved hearing my father’s stories. Especially those about Mountain Gorillas. My father worked with Conrad Aveling in 1984 habituating the Rugabo family. This was the first gorilla family in my country to be habituated.
So we always lived next to the forest. I liked this. And I liked that my father worked in conservation protecting flora and fauna. So it was he who stirred my interest in becoming a Ranger.
I remember well when the Rangers used to get dressed in their uniforms, in the morning light. And I aspired to be one of them.
Of course I did not know if I would succeed in becoming a Ranger. But I did. At the beginning I was a driver for many of the important directors of Virunga National Park. I did this for 5 years. But afterwards I became a patroller. I worked at Kibumba (on edge of Gorilla Sector), Tongo (where there are chimps), Karangera, Rubare (north of Rumangabo and where I was stuck yesterday in the skirmishes), and at Rumangabo, the park station, doing what we call “shock” patrols.
My father inspired me to become a Ranger
Then I became head of the Bukima patrol post, a job that is now held by Augustin Kambale. I held this job from mid 2004 to mid 2006.
When I left Bukima I was put in charge of identifying Mountain Gorillas and photographing each individual. I was the Assistant Chief of Monitoring. In April Ndakasi, the Chief of Monitoring, died. He had been a Ranger for 20 years, and suffered from diabetes. He was 50 years old.
I became Chief of Gorilla Monitoring in April. The challenges are great and the threats significant, but I love my job. Mountain Gorillas are like us. And they are in danger of extinction. If we do not protect them we risk losing them forever.
Innocent
Technorati : congo, drc, iccn, ranger, virunga, wildlifedirect
Daily news from the conservation frontline by Innocent and Diddy, and other Congolese rangers risking their lives to save mountain gorillas of the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Cher Innocent
la photo de ton pere c’est fantastique :il doit etre un grand homme qui t’a donne l’amour pour ton travail.
Moi aussi j’ai un pere qui c’est un modele pour moi
I am reading in the press that talks are still going on between the rebels and the state. Hopefully there will be some kind of result today or tomorrow. BBC are others are reporting this.
[…] This article was written by Innocent, who is the Chief of Gorilla Monitoring for ICCN in Congo. It’s an account of why and how he became a ranger, and his career so far. He wrote it because his team can’t go out to work, because of the civil war there. […]
Awesome and inspiring! Thank you Innocent for deciding to become a ranger and help the gorillas in any way you can! I hope you will be repaid tenfold in happiness for doing what you do! Thanks
thanks Innocent for being a ranger cross our fingers hope things will be well for the gorillas keep up the good work
Here’s the link to the BBC story that Samantha referenced: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7046379.stm
It does indicate that 1,200 of Nkunda’s fighters have left to be integrated into the FARDC. President Kabila has extended the deadline for rebel troops to report to the army. Now, if this gets Nkunda to stop fighting, then Pres. Kabila still has to clean up the FDLR and it’s weird splinter group, FLNK.
Innocent, what an inspiring story! Is that a photo of your dad? because it looks like you!
Thanks for taking on such a challenging career and for working so hard to protect Congo’s biodiversity and wildlife. You’re too cool.
s.
The proudness you and your fellow rangers display and the heritage like that of your father just makes me feel warm inside — such pride and such a wonderful thing you do, thank you.
What a lovely heartwarming story, Innocent, its great to hear. Hopefully, the fighting will cease shortly and you can start checking on the gorillas again.
Innocent, thank you for sharing that wonderful story. The Mountain Gorilla are lucky to have you and your father working so hard to protect them. I hope your wife is feeling better and she can get the help she needs. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this ends soon so that you and the other Rangers can get back to this most important job of protecting these beautiful beings. Lisa, California
I’m so glad you are safe and that you decided to become a ranger, Innocent. Thank you for sharing your story. I pray there will be a peaceful resolution to this conflict and you will be able to continue with your valuable work. ~ Robin
Thank you for your story, Innocent. We really enjoyed reading it! The gorillas are very fortunate you chose to protect them.
Innocent — thank you so much for sharing your story…it is a poignant reminder that there is far more to Virunga Park than wildlife, but about people and a way of life
Diddy — I hope your wife gets the medical treatment she needs very soon…let the bloggers know if there is anything we can do.
Oh My Goodness. My apologese to Innocent and Diddy both. I have no clue where I got the idea it was Innocent’s wife that was in need of medical attention, not Diddy’s. I’m very sorry. My brain was complete mush yesterday after sitting in 5 hours of bumper to bumper traffic the night before. Diddy, I hope your wife is feeling well very soon and get’s the treatment she needs and yes, please let us know if there is anything we can do to help. Lisa, California
thank you Innocent for let us know this story. Hoping all your problems could be resolved soon. I´m working in the second funding from the A.C.W.P. right now. I guess it will be ready tomorrow, sorry for the delay…
You, your father and all of the rangers are heroes. There are no words to describe how thankful I am that you value these animals as much as we do. There are few people I know who are willing to risk their own life on a daily basis to protect wildlife. I hope that your wife is recovering and as others have said, if there is something you need, please let us know.
LOLA YA BONOBO will be on SearchKindly either the 1st or 3rd week in NOVEMBER. We will not know ahead of time which week they will show up so I will let you know on Nov 1st.
Some very ugly things are coming to light in DR Congo:
Kinshasa gives Nkunda three more weeks to join army: http://allafrica.com/stories/200710160846.html
The Congolese government says 600 rebel fighters in the east have deserted renegade leader Laurent Nkunda and joined the army: http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-10-16-voa42.cfm
Children feel recruitment to rebel army: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jwChaVD2O_VQuvu5PwhPfZLt9GlQ
BBC News’ “Voices of Violence” with a very disturbing photo: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7045773.stm
BBC’s Ranger Diary was updated last Friday: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6983572.stm
s.
Damn. That should read “Children FLEE recruitment …”
s.
Thank you so much, Innocent, for sharing that story with us. You should feel real proud. You have accomplished so much. Thank you again for all the work you and the other Rangers are doing in a very difficult situation. A big ATTA-BOY to all of you. Take care. Stay safe.
Thank you for sharing your story Innocent on why you became a Ranger. The world is a better place with people like you doing the work you do and your father must have been so proud of you. No words can describe how I feel about the work you and the other Rangers do for the wonderful gorillas. Hope your wife gets the treatment she needs, you will always be in my prayers. Take care, stay safe and God bless.
Innocent, you restore my faith in humanity. Your story shows a dedication, not only to the animals you so obviously adore, but to your family and heritage. You are a credit to our species and I would dearly like to shake your hand and say thank you. I am only sorry that you (like I) need to carry a weapon to do your job. I hope that some day soon you will be able to do your job without the fear of recrimination or attack.
Thankyou - Innocent for your bravery & compassion. Without the Magic of the Great Species we are nothing. I will be contributing.
Dear Innocent,
I read yours and Diddy’s “Diary: Protecting mountain gorillas” on BBC news .
I want to thank you and all others working on the project to protect the mountain gorillas!
It is sad enough that animals including gorillas are killed during the fighting between the rebels and the military, but more hard to believe is that you, the people trying to protect these animals are put in danger.
How brave you all are and I admire that!
I am truly sad to learn what these animals have to experience, I hope it will end soon, and that a greater understanding of the need for their conservation becomes more internationally known.
I will do what I can from here to help, writing to the UN, the embassy of both Congo and Rwanda.
I wish you all the best of luck and again, I want to thank you for the hard work and also that you take the time to write this blog, you do spread valuable information this way! And I will do the best I can to help you.
Yours sincerely,
Christin.
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Brother, thanks for your dedication with the Gorillas, its an inspiring story.
my best wishes for all of you from Mexico.
Paco
Hi, nice post. I couldn’t understand some parts of the article but it sounds interesting..
Continue writing…
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