As the son of a ranger, I spent my youth surrounded by wildlife and have conservation in my blood. I became a ranger in 1997, during the first Congolese Civil War. I was stationed at Tshiaberimu and was involved in protecting the small group of gorillas there during a period when no salaries or support was being received. Many of my fellow rangers have been killed trying to protect wildlife.

There are still some hippos in Virunga

In 2007, I became the first Congolese graduate of the College of African Wildlife Management in Tanzania. I am now back in Virunga and am doing my best to apply my training to the benefit of Virunga’s wildlife. I work very closely with Atamato. I also consider myself to be an expert ornithologist, so if you have any questions about the birds of Virunga, don’t hesitate to ask!

Surveying elephant damage in the north of the park

On patrol with my fellow Rangers