DR.CONGO: Park Rangers Killed In Shootout With Elephant Poachers In DRC

African Parks has reported that three of its rangers have died of bullet wounds sustained during clashes with elephant poachers on April 23 in Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

"It is with sincere regret that we inform you that three of the rangers who sustained injuries, Dimba Richard, Anigobe Bagare, and Matikuli Tsago have since died. Ranger Kenisa Adrobiago and Park Manager Erik Mararv who both sustained gunshot wounds are now in stable condition," African Parks said in a press release.

Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks, described the incident as devastating.

“We are devastated by this latest loss. Rangers put their lives on the line each and every day and are under real siege in Garamba protecting elephants from heavily incentivized and militarized poaching gangs who threaten the very survival of humans and wildlife alike,” Fearnhead was quoted in the press release as saying.

“Our heartfelt condolences are with the surviving family members of the rangers we have lost. We are extremely grateful to the support we have received from AFRICOM who provided for the timely evacuations and for the assistance of SANGARIS in CAR. We are doing everything possible to provide for all these men and their families during this very difficult time,” he added.

The body of one of the rangers was discovered on April 24 while the other three and the park manager were flown to a US military base in Nzara, South Sudan, African Parks said.

"Two of the three rangers were in critical condition and were stabilized prior to being transferred to a UN military hospital in Bria, Central African Republic (CAR). Tragically, however, Anigobe Bagare and Dimba Richard died there today (April 24)," the press release said.

Last year, five ICCN guards and three members of the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) lost their lives in similar attacks.

African Parks -- which also manages Rwanda's Akagera National Park has been managing Garamba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, since 2005 in partnership with the Institut Congolais pour La Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), the DRC’s official wildlife authority.

The park, which is 4,900km2 and is part of the larger Garamba Complex of 12,500km2, and is the last stronghold for elephants and giraffe in the entire Congo.

Over the years, Africa's elephants have been drastically reducing in numbers thanks to ruthless poachers who slaughter the endangered species for their prized ivory tusks.