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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
The Virunga Widows’ Fund


A grieving widow walks in front of her husband’s coffin, a ranger for Virunga National Park in DR Congo, who was killed in the line of duty. Photo by ©Brent Stirton/Getty Images
The events of this week have left us all deeply saddened. Virunga National Park has suffered more service deaths amongst its rangers than any protected area on earth. Despite this sobering fact, Virunga’s dedicated rangers still get up every morning ready to risk everything to protect the mountain gorillas and other beautiful flora and fauna of the park. And, during the long civil war, many rangers did so for little or no pay.
Although one might think a ranger’s biggest fear is death, what most rangers fear most is that their widows and orphaned children will be abandoned and left destitute in a society that cannot care for them. This ever-present fear has a profound impact on ranger morale and exacts a terrible burden on their families as well. With over 140 rangers having now been killed in the line of duty since 1996, we must find a way to care for those left behind.
Family members grieve for a ranger killed at Virunga National Park. Photo by ©Brent Stirton/Getty Images
I am looking to Virunga’s extended global family to help create a permanent trust fund for ranger widows and their orphaned children: The Virunga Widows’ Fund. The fund will ensure that the basic needs of ranger families are met, including health care, primary education for their children, and a basic pension allowance. The fund will be created by a reputable team of financial experts and draw on the Virunga management team’s experience in handling the safe disbursement of funds in this exceptionally difficult operating environment.
It is my sincere hope that we can all rally together to raise $20,000 in the coming weeks. With such a foundation, we will be able to pursue the institutional donors needed to take the fund to the next level: the creation of an annuity large enough to support the programme into the future. Please take a moment to consider what you can do for those who sacrificed so much to save the park. Please also consider speaking to family and friends, and pursuing your own campaign using the tools available on our website here. Together, let us pay a meaningful and lasting tribute to those who have died – and to those who continue to meet the daunting challenge of saving Virunga.
If you would like to join this campaign to raise $20,000, use “Open Donations” under “Donate One Time” to the right, and give what you can. All Open Donations will go toward this fund until we reach our goal.
With gratitude,
Emmanuel de Merode
Chief Warden
A ranger sits next to his dead companion, Ranger Kambale Kalibumba from Virunga National Park. He is just one of more than 140 rangers killed in the park since 1996. Photo by ©Brent Stirton/Getty Images
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RECENT DONATIONS
- 24 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 24 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 24 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
23 May 2013Open donation
Megan 15 $ - 23 May 2013Protecting Park Area 204
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 23 May 2013Protecting Park Area 208
25 $ - 23 May 20132 x Ranger Support
40 $ - 23 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 100 $ - 23 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 120 $ -
23 May 2013 Multiple items
Rosemary M 50 $ - 22 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 $ - 22 May 2013Protecting Park Area 38
scott l 25 $ - 22 May 2013Protecting Park Area 28
25 $ - 22 May 2013 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 150 $ - 22 May 2013Widows and Rangers Fund
Unregistered Donor 30 $ - 22 May 2013 Guarding a Gorilla
10 $ - 22 May 20132 x Gorilla and Wildlife Protection
Unregistered Donor 40 $ -
21 May 2013Protecting Park Area 75
Katy A 25 $ - 21 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 21 May 2013Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
20 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 $ - 20 May 2013Protecting Park Area 169
25 $ -
20 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 $ -
20 May 2013Supporting Jomba School
Eugene Martin F 30 $ - 20 May 2013Supporting Gatovu School
Eugene Martin F 30 $ - 20 May 2013Supporting Bikenge School
Eugene Martin F 35 $ - 19 May 2013Open donation
100 $ -
19 May 2013Protecting Park Area 117
Anna L 25 $ -
19 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 $ -
18 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 $ -
17 May 2013Protecting Park Area 218
Thierry 25 $ - 17 May 2013Monthly Support
Unregistered Donor 15 $
- 24 May 2013Open donation
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News from Congo- UN Chief Challenges African Leaders Over Congo - ABC News
- Congo: UN Leader on Peace Mission - New York Times
- Children as young as 8 working in Congo copper mines - Toronto Star
- Minister confirms SA troops placed in Congo after CAR battle - BusinessLIVE
- UN chief visits Goma, Congo - The San Luis Obispo Tribune
- TOTAL Gets a New Partner in Congo - Zacks.com
- Journalism on verge 'of extinction' in DR Congo: media NGO - FRANCE 24
- Sourcing from Africa's Great Lakes: conflict-free or Congo-free? - Financial Times (blog)
- DR Congo: In Goma, Secretary-General hails regional accord as 'best chance for ... - UN News Centre
- UN chief visits Goma, eastern Congo; rebels impose cease-fire on his behalf - Washington Post
This website was funded by the European Union and the Prince Bernard Nature Fund.
16 Responses to “The Virunga Widows’ Fund

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The slain rangers have made the ultimate sacrifice. May the rangers rest in peace and their families know our compassion and generosity.
Sitting here in a safe, cozy apartment in Boston, it is dificult to truly imagine the many challenges of everyday life in the Congo. I’ve marveled at the Congolese people who understand the precious nature of Virunga National Park and who made it their life work to protect it. Now, this terrible news that takes not just the lives of those securing a road for their fellow citizens, but also takes the dreams of security from those men’s families. I hope some day, some glorious day, there is peace in the Congo and the Park is free of armies and poachers. Until then, these devastated families need to know that others around the world mourn with them.
I share that hope with you, Linda. The ranger widows and their families will see the comments people make here on the blog, and although it won’t lessen their pain, it will make them realize that there is a community of people around the world that cares for them — and shares in their grief. I have to believe that this affords them some level of solace.
sure that goal is reached, so the widows, families of those who gave their lives for this park will have at least one support and assistance so they can go ahead and honor those who sacrificed their lives to the park and protect the gorillas.
It’s imperative that the widows and the rangers families know that not only will their brave husbands not be forgotten but neither will those that they left behind.
My thoughts are with them all.
Linda, I live here in Congo, and watch the difficulty of life for the average Congolese from the safety of a car, or in brief moments of personal visits. I still can’t imagine it, but often feel overwhelmed with sadness when I watch women walking for miles down a road carrying large jerrycans of water on their heads, or men pushing insanely heavy loads on home-made wooden scooters. Life is hard here, and losing a husband with a decent job is a tragedy. Thank you all for your concern and gifts.
I want to let you all know that any donations for “Emergency Support to Ranger Widows” will be going toward this Widows’ Fund. We are assuming this is the intention. Thank you again for your support on this!
Greetings, beautiful people. Not a day goes by that I do not think of the mountain gorillas, the rangers, and all the people of the Congo, going good and wrong. My prayers of assistance travel to all those individuals doing good works. I know the struggle is steady, and I pray for the Most High to ease the pain of protectors of life. My prayers for justice travels to all individuals doing wrong works, as their justice is punishment for their wickedness. I pray for justice for people doing good and wrong. All people doing good will get their reward. Each and everybody will reap exactly what they have sown. Thank you, everybody who has, and who is, helping to protect the forests, the gorillas and the people. We are all connected, and I believe in you. I HONOR YOU, AND I SEND YOU GOODNESS AND MERCY. SELAH
HDSA…
The Virunga Widows’ Fund

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i think its very very bad what they do! i mean they kill animals ! they eat them!
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i feel very bad for these people but wouldnt you think just like i do that tjhe gorillas are only killing people because they thnk your killing them when you arent i hope someday youll realize to catch the killers and i give hope and peace to all of the dead ones hang in there and catch the humans that are klling them.
from school child
hi school child agin with a different name all i really know is you have to help the poor gorillas you feel bad for yourself but what about the gorillas but please dont get me wrong i feel worser for the people and rangers but if your going to help them catch the humans that are killing them i will try to help maybe send a package out there to help the humanss thank you for my time i will help some how someday.
people is killing people, the gorillas didnot kill any body, we are talking about soldiers fithing in the jungle, civil war that afects not just people but the nature too… for the minerals like gold, you have to now more about this
Oldham Gardeners…
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They are dead so let us make a future for their children