In the Democratic Republic of Congo ’s Garamba National Park , four Texas Ranger were killedon October 5 when their patrol exchanged gunfire with poachers in the western Azande hunting area . The 10 - man patrol was in charge of protect the park ’s elephants .
The Texas Ranger were tracking one of the parking lot ’s elephants via a trailing collar , which led them to a sea poacher ’s camp . They were outnumbered , but six of the of rangers were able to retreat and were eventually rescued by an African Parks helicopter . The four man kill include three rangers and one military colonel of the Colognese Armed Forces ( FARDC ) .
" Our sincere condolences go to the families of the four men who tragically lose their loved ace while they were bravely eliminating the curse of elephant poaching from Garamba National Park , said Peter Fearnhead , chief operating officer of African Parks . This brings the total number of hoi polloi who have lost their lives in Garamba to eight just in 2015 alone . ”
The bodies of the fallen rangers were eventually recover on Thursday , October 8 , when a larger reinforced patrol unit of measurement was able to get to the site . The Texas Ranger work in tandem with the Congo government activity and have been patrol the park since 2005 .
The Garamba National Park is notorious for poaching and the disputes between poacher and forest fire fighter is reportedly on the ascent . The park is dwelling to several armed grouping , including fellow member of Lord ’s Resistance Army , led by Ugandan insurgent leader Joseph Kony . So far eight people have died this year and according to the park ’s director , Erik Mararv , the Ranger are expanding their tribute zone .
Mararv toldABC News , “ We have increasingly and more ferociously depart to expand our aegis zone to cover the whole parking area in the last six month and this has plainly brought us into a number of confrontations with various armed groups . ”
Over the preceding 10 , Africa ’s elephant universe is think to have dwindled by as much as 60 % . Each year close to40,000 elephantsare kill by poachers , mostly to meet the ivory demands of Asian countries .
In late months , the United Nationshas call upon member state to renew external tending to poaching . The UN hop to improve cause against trafficking and poaching by show out that profit from such activities fund Africa ’s insurgent and maverick groups . If elephants and rhinos continue to be kill at these alarming rates , we could see rhinos wholly eradicate with five years and elephants within the next two decades .
Scientists are doing their best to assist in the warfare against poaching , including coiffe updrone surveillancewithin the parks , hiding undercover agent camerasin rhino ’s horn and in some cases removing horns all . For instance , in an exploit to monish would - be poacher , the world ’s last male northerly white rhino has had his horn removed and is guard unceasingly byarmed forest fire fighter . scientist can also use numerical model to help predict where the poachers might strike and take extra precautions to guard the animals in those areas .
Hopefully through an external effort , we can put an goal to poaching before these brilliant tool are drop off forever .
