Two rangers killed in famed DR Congo wildlife reserve
Saturday September 19, 2020
Two rangers were killed in DR Congo's famous Okapi Wildlife Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, by a ragtag militia group, a top conservation official said Friday.<br>Thursday's attack in the restive Ituri province was staged by the Mai-Mai, a group of vigilantes protecting local communities, said Cosma Wilunga, the head of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature.<br>"Two rangers were killed in the surprise attack by the Mai-Mai at the reserve but the motive is unclear as of now," he told AFP.<br>"The army was nearby and came to the rescue of the rangers. Together they chased the attackers away," he said.<br>The okapi, a mammal from the giraffe family with zebra-like stripes, is only found in this region of DR Congo.<br>The wildlife reserve is spread over nearly 14,000 square kilometres (5,400 square miles) and houses several endangered species.<br clear="all">
