Two dedicated park wardens tragically lost their lives Wednesday when their two-seater surveillance plane crashed within Democratic Republic of Congo’s renowned Virunga National Park.
The ill-fated aircraft, engaged in a vital “surveillance support flight,” plummeted this afternoon in the Ishango area, confirmed park spokesman Bienvenu Bwende to AFP.
The Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation reported the craft went down as the two brave men sought to ensure the safety of other agents operating within the vast park.
Authorities from the Institute swiftly announced that a thorough investigation into the precise circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking aviation incident has already commenced.
Virunga National Park, established in 1925 as Africa’s oldest nature reserve, is globally celebrated for its breathtaking lush landscapes and critically endangered mountain gorilla population.
However, this invaluable natural sanctuary regrettably lies deep within a volatile conflict zone that has relentlessly torn apart eastern Democratic Republic of Congo for three tumultuous decades.
A significant portion of the park’s territory is currently under the control of the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group, thereby exacerbating regional instability and pervasive danger.
Conversely, the strategic Ishango region, situated near the Ugandan border, remains firmly administered under the watchful governance of the Kinshasa government.
