gorilla.cd

Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga

Ranger Rescue Operation A Success - But 2 Did Not Make It

29 Oct 2008 Filed under (Successes, Threats) by Innocent Mburanumwe @ 8:54 am

The rescue operation yesterday was a success in that we were able to rescue the 12 Rangers with whom we had made contact. Eddy and I rode the motorbike about 15km north of Goma and then walked about 5km into the forest… and there they were, on top of a hill.

They were extremely happy and relieved to see us - and very thirsty, hungry and tired.

Bareke, my assistant, has a long story to tell of the 54 hour ordeal, so I will give you the bare facts.

The Rangers started off on Sunday at 9am as a group of 14 - and also with 4 members of the military who were also fleeing the rebels. They walked through the park, often trying to emerge onto the road, but heard many bombs and mortars and so had to go back into the forest. With no water they tried licking rocks to quench their thirst, and also tried sucking up the moisture from the mud, by putting a piece of clothing between their mouth and the moist mud.

Ndamaherezo Sindani yesterday after reaching safety. He has been a Gorilla Tracker for many many years up at Bukima and I have worked with him many times. He was at Rumangabo HQ since being evacuated from the Gorilla Sector in September 2007.

Of the 14 who set off, 1 Ranger - Sebagenzi - gave up and said he was too tired and the others simply did not have the strength to carry him. Another Ranger - Bitege - was abducted by a group of military, who wanted to use him as a porter.

So of the 53 Rangers who were at Rumangabo when the HQ was attacked 12 have made it to Goma and are in the camp with their families.

Bareke, yesterday, after arriving at the camp in Goma and being reunited with his family

We are now trying to ascertain the whereabouts of the other 41. So while yesterday is a  big relief as I did not feel good about Bareke and the other Rangers roaming Virunga, we must now focus on the others. I feel especially desperate for Sebagenzi and Bitege.

Share:
  • TwitThis
  • Facebook
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Google
  • StumbleUpon
  • E-mail this story to a friend!

8 Responses to “Ranger Rescue Operation A Success - But 2 Did Not Make It”

  1. irisk irisk Says: 29 Oct 2008

    Innocent, I am very happy you and Eddy were able to rescue 12 of the rangers; it was so very brave of you! I hope that all the others are safe somewhere and will be soon reunited with their families. Iris

  2. Linda Linda Says: 29 Oct 2008

    Innocent & Eddy
    It took colossal bravery to go north of Goma and it is just such a relief that you found the 12 rangers & they’re back in relative safety of Goma. I hold my breath for news of all of the others.
    They are in our thoughts every minute, here in UK.

  3. Suzanne Suzanne Says: 29 Oct 2008

    Congratulations on your rescue and on your brave heart and caring spirit. Thank you for taking the time amidst the chaos, danger and extraordinary effort to keep us informed on the situation. I am keeping you all in my daily thoughts and prayers and am going to see what I can do about raising additional funds.

  4. Lisa, California Lisa, California Says: 29 Oct 2008

    So glad you found these 12 Rangers. Hopefully the others will be found soon, as well.

  5. Global Voices Online » D.R. of Congo: Ranger rescue operation a success Global Voices Online » D.R. of Congo: Ranger rescue operation a success Says: 29 Oct 2008

    [...] A moving account of a rescue operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “The rescue operation yesterday was a success in that we were able to rescue the 12 Rangers with whom we had made contact. Eddy and I rode the motorbike about 15km north of Goma and then walked about 5km into the forest… and there they were, on top of a hill.” Posted by Ndesanjo Macha  Print Version Share This [...]

  6. Global Voices Online » D.R. of Congo: Ranger rescue operation a success Global Voices Online » D.R. of Congo: Ranger rescue operation a success Says: 29 Oct 2008

    [...] A moving account of a rescue operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “The rescue operation yesterday was a success in that we were able to rescue the 12 Rangers with whom we had made contact. Eddy and I rode the motorbike about 15km north of Goma and then walked about 5km into the forest… and there they were, on top of a hill.” Posted by Ndesanjo Macha  Print Version Share This [...]

  7. Global Voices Online » DR of Congo: Confusion Reigns in Goma Global Voices Online » DR of Congo: Confusion Reigns in Goma Says: 31 Oct 2008

    [...] 53 rangers that had to flee into the forest were rescued and brought to Goma. Innocent Mburanumwe described how tired, thirsty and hungry they were when the Goma team found them: The Rangers started off on [...]

  8. Global Voices in Italiano » Repubblica Democratica del Congo: regna ancora il caos a Goma Global Voices in Italiano » Repubblica Democratica del Congo: regna ancora il caos a Goma Says: 7 Nov 2008

    [...] che si erano rifugiati nella foresta e sono stati portati in salvo a Goma. Innocent Mburanumwe ne descrive [in] la stanchezza, la sete e la fame, quando sono stati trovati dal team di Goma: I ranger sono [...]

Leave a Reply



  • Critical Upgrade to Virunga's Surveillance Aircraft
    One-time donation

     

    Raised $ 2,035 of $ 5000

    Donations: 34

    Read the full story

    Learn why donating is secure

  • DONATE MONTHLY

    Total: 0 $

  • DONATE ONE-TIME

    Total: $ 0

  • RECENT DONATIONS

    • thomasmerker22 May 2013Protecting Park Area 37
      25 $
    •  22 May 2013Open donation
      Unregistered Donor
      10 $
    •  22 May 2013Protecting Park Area 6
      Unregistered Donor
      25 $
    •  22 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
      Unregistered Donor
      30 $
    • scottlovering22 May 2013Protecting Park Area 38
      scott l
      25 $
    • kathys22 May 2013Protecting Park Area 28
      25 $
    •  22 May 2013 Multiple items
      Unregistered Donor
      150 $
    •  22 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
      Unregistered Donor
      30 $
    • jochenrk22 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
      10 $
    •  22 May 20132 x Gorilla and Wildlife Protection
      Unregistered Donor
      40 $
    • Katy A21 May 2013Protecting Park Area 75
      Katy A
      25 $
    •  21 May 2013Open donation
      Unregistered Donor
      25 $
    •  21 May 2013Open donation
      Unregistered Donor
      25 $
    • stillangry20 May 2013Protecting Park Area 76
      Kevin
      25 $
    •  20 May 2013 Multiple items
      Unregistered Donor
      40 $
    •  20 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
      Unregistered Donor
      10 $
    •  20 May 2013Monthly Support
      Unregistered Donor
      35 $
    • clarilly20 May 2013Protecting Park Area 169
      25 $
    • Tatjana D20 May 2013Open donation
      Tatjana D
      10 $
    •  20 May 2013 Multiple items
      Unregistered Donor
      40 $
    •  20 May 2013Protecting Park Area 216
      Unregistered Donor
      25 $
    •  20 May 2013Open donation
      Unregistered Donor
      25 $
    • Martin F20 May 2013Supporting Jomba School
      Eugene Martin F
      30 $
    • Martin F20 May 2013Supporting Gatovu School
      Eugene Martin F
      30 $
    • Martin F20 May 2013Supporting Bikenge School
      Eugene Martin F
      35 $
    • trent19 May 2013Open donation
      100 $
    • Anna L19 May 2013Protecting Park Area 117
      Anna L
      25 $
    • Bill W19 May 2013Protecting Park Area 39
      Bill W
      25 $
    •  19 May 201320 x Virunga's Surveillance Aircraft
      Unregistered Donor
      20 $
    •  19 May 2013OPEN DONATIONS
      Unregistered Donor
      50 $
    •  18 May 2013Open donation
      Unregistered Donor
      20 $
    •  18 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
      Unregistered Donor
      30 $
    •  18 May 20132 x Gorilla and Wildlife Protection
      Unregistered Donor
      40 $
    •  18 May 2013Open donation
      Unregistered Donor
      25 $
    • Janice T18 May 2013Protecting Park Area 133
      Janice T
      25 $
    •  18 May 2013Protecting Park Area 131
      Unregistered Donor
      25 $
    •  18 May 2013Support Andre and the Gorilla Orphans
      Unregistered Donor
      10 $
    •  18 May 2013 Multiple items
      Unregistered Donor
      20 $
    • thierrydubois17 May 2013Protecting Park Area 218
      Thierry
      25 $
    •  17 May 2013Monthly Support
      Unregistered Donor
      15 $
    • stefanie17 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
      stefanie r
      30 $
    •  17 May 2013Open donation
      Unregistered Donor
      40 $
    •  17 May 2013Open donation
      Unregistered Donor
      50 $
    • stefanie16 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
      stefanie r
      10 $
    •  16 May 2013Open donation
      Unregistered Donor
      10 $
    •  16 May 2013Open donation
      Unregistered Donor
      10 $
    • selina16 May 2013 Multiple items
      Selina S
      200 $
    •  15 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
      Unregistered Donor
      10 $
    • Bob V15 May 2013 Multiple items
      Bob V
      50 $
    • marlene-zahner15 May 20133 x Widows and Rangers Fund
      Marlene Z
      45 $
No administration fee is taken for the funds that are transferred through us so that the financial support, net only of bank fees, can go where it was intended in its entirety.
This website was funded by the European Union and the Prince Bernard Nature Fund.
EU