Samantha, is this the only salary the rangers are getting? There’s no salary from the Congolese government, is that correct?

s.

Hi Sheryl. Basically yes. I mean they do get dribs and drabs, that varies between $2 and $10 a month - Atamato would be toward the $10 a month and Rangers of a lower grade toward $2 a month. sometimes it comes and sometimes it doesn’t. In short though, for the work they do, and the responsibility they have of being the guardians of Virunga National Park and all its outstanding beauty, it is simply not enough.

You got that right - it isn’t nearly enough. I am daily amazed at their level of dedication because they have a really tough job.

s.

To think that they do this brave thing for so little pay in the name of their wildlife and country instead of chosing to poach, exploit charcoal industry, and become a part of the bushmeat trade is just hard to express how much I admire them - there are no words!!

Sheryl – Thank you for feeling how tough life is for us working in a country that is just coming out of the civil war. The new government wants the situation to change, but it will not be immediate, it will take time.
Wanda – There is a lot of money from destroying the park but our choice is to protect as much as possible and that people will link hands with us to help us with contributions. We think that it is wise to use natural resources in a sustainable way without spoiling them.