On the Trail - Robin des Bois

Chad - Zakouma National Park (ZNP)
On September 3, 2012, North of Zakouma National Park in Chad, central Africa, six park rangers were assassinated by
4 elephant poachers who shot at the team of seven during their morning prayers. Zakaria Ibrahim was 51 he was
the team leader and had worked at ZNP since 2002. Brahim Khamis was 38 years old, he was a former gendarme. He
started working for ZNP in 2008. He was a very good horseman, cared for his horse well and was always smiling and
happy. He left behind 2 wives and 7 children. Daoud Aldjouma was 41 years old, he had worked at ZNP since 2002.
Djibrine Adoum Goudja was 35 years old, he had worked at ZNP since 2002. Idriss Adoum was 62 years old, he
started working for ZNP in 1982. Idriss was a committed conservationist and planted a number of trees in Zakouma.
He left behind 2 wives and several children. Hassan Djibrine was 24 at the time of the attack, he is still missing in
action. Only the cook survived the massacre. Wounded by a gunshot, he walked for 2 days to the closest village. The
murderous attack was a response to a raid carried out by the rangers two weeks earlier. During the rangers’ raid,
the poachers managed to escape but the rangers seized equipment. A Chadian individual living in Sudan has been
arrested. Clues, (including a photo of the leader on a mobile phone), leading to 3 Sudanese suspects have been
gathered and the investigation is ongoing.
Democratic Republic of Congo - Okapi Wildlife Reserve (World Heritage Site)
On June 24, 2012 Mai Mai Simba rebels headed by the notorious elephant poacher Morgan raided the headquarters
of the Congolese Institute of Nature Conservation (ICCN), the Okapi Wildlife Reserve and the nearby village of Epulu.
The raid was a revenge attack following the authorities’ efforts to stop elephant poaching and illegal gold mining in
the Ituri forest. The attack left seven dead. Three rangers and a ranger’s wife were among the victims. Fiston Madawa
was Congolese, he became a ranger in 2010 and had been working as a ranger at the Okapi Wildlife Reserve since
November 2011. He left behind his wife and his two young children aged 2 and 4. The young Octave Kibela was assassinated,
shot at point-blank range while on patrol in the outer boundaries of the station. Badusi Mugaotinikoni
was Head of the patrol post in Mamopi, he was nicknamed “the father” or “mupe” because of his rigorous professional
attitude. He had been a ranger for many years. He is remembered by his colleagues as a smiling, calm person.
During the June attack he was savagely burned alive with ranger Amizi’s wife. During the two day siege twenty-eight
women were kidnapped. The headquarters were burnt down. Two more rangers were also killed in the follow up of
the attacks. Ezoa Aderebho was shot in November 2012 during an ICCN/FARDC operation to track down Morgan
and his gang. Ezoa’s wife was raped and taken hostage during the June attack. A conservationist stated that all the
women had been released 12 months after the attacks. Kamango Tambwe was in charge of the Adusa patrol post.
He was killed in January 2013 by Morgan’s gang during an attack on Zungluka. He was tortured and his remains were
defamed. He left behind 7 children, the youngest just 2 years old.
Democratic Republic of Congo - Virunga National Park (World Heritage Site)
Paluku Kighana was assassinated on May 9, 2012 he had served ICCN since 1995. Paluku worked with the elite team
Advance Guards. He was killed when his team fell into an ambush on their way to help civilians in a mini-bus who
were robbed and held-up on the national route.
Kasereka Kipako was 34 years old, he had worked at Virunga National Park since 2010. Kasereka left behind his
pregnant wife, and three children. He was assassinated in August 2013 when his patrol post was ambushed while his
colleagues were out on morning patrol.
Democratic Republic of Congo – Upemba National Park
Atamato Madrandele was assassinated on December 16, 2012. He was considered to be one of the great fighters for
conservation. Atamato was a key figure in the management and plans of Upemba National Park, he was Chief at the
Central Station at Lusinga. During his many years of service he had carried out numerous heroic feats, taken bullets
and saved the life of his chief. He was shot in the back by Mai Mai rebels.
Zambia - Zambezi National Park
Esnart Paundi was 38 years old she had worked at the Zambia Wildlife Authority for 16 years. She left behind four
orphans (her husbands are deceased). Her sister’s children and her brother were also under her care. She was hacked
to death by a bushmeat poacher. She was unarmed at the time, did not have handcuffs and the poacher who she had
arrested with her colleagues was hiding a machete.
Kenya (Kenya Wildlife Service)
Kipini Conservancy in Tana River County, two separate gunfights with suspected poachers on July 18, 2013. The victims
were a unit commanding officer and a ranger. The unit commanding officer was killed in an ambush when KWS
rangers and Kenya police were trying to recover the slain body of the ranger killed in the earlier bloody gun flight
with elephant poachers.
Thailand, Thung Yai World Wildlife Sanctuary and Pang Sida National Park
On September 12, 2013, two rangers were killed during a gunfight with poachers in Thung Yai World Wildlife Sanctuary
in Thailand. Boonsri Inthapanya, was 51 years old. Anthong Ngamying, was only 22 years of age he left behind
his pregnant wife. A poacher was gunned down during the shootout whereas 4 others managed to escape. In another
incident Taweesak Chomyong, on March 14 in Pang Sida National Park was shot dead by illegal rosewood loggers.
Please find below some links to donate support for victims.
Thin Green Line Foundation http://www.thingreenline.org.au/donate
Okapi Conservation Project http://www.okapiconservation.org/donations/
African Parks (Zakouma National Park (ZNP) https://www.african-parks.org/Donate.html
Gorilla CD The Official website of Virunga National Park http://gorillacd.org/category/fallen-rangers-widows-fund/
Freeland http://freeland.org/eng/wildlife-trafficking/act
On The Trail # 2. Robin des Bois
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