Human Conflict
Since the civil wars, the park has suffered somewhat. Land invasions and intense poaching have challenged the park authorities to the limit, but most rangers have remained active. Since 1994, about 140 rangers have been killed in the line of duty protecting the park from illegal poaching and land acquisition. Amongst other military activity, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) used the park as a safe location when they have come under sustained attack, such as Laurent Nkunda's offensives against them in April–May 2007. The park was occupied by Nkunda's forces on 26 October 2008, during the Battle of Goma.
Read more about this topic: Virunga National Park
Famous quotes containing the words human and/or conflict:
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