DRC crisis donations

Fears are growing for the thirty-nine ZSL-funded Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) wildlife rangers who were forced to flee into dense forest after their headquarters were stormed by rebels on Sunday.

ZSL’s Africa Programme Manager, Dr Noëlle Kümpel, said: 'The situation in Virunga is incredibly dangerous; the safety of the rangers caught in the crossfire is our first priority.

'These people have devoted their lives to protecting Virunga’s mountain gorillas - whose survival now also hangs in the balance.

'The Park’s dedicated rangers are critical to its future and they need continued support. We are asking people to donate money which will go straight to them and their families.'

The rest of the rangers based at the Park headquarters at Rumangabo and those at other patrol posts in the southern and central sectors of the Park have been evacuated along with their families to a camp in the town of Goma.

Funds are urgently needed to provide basic food, water, sanitation and medical care for the 670 people in the camp, which also experienced a cholera outbreak this week.