Care for Chimp Infants Confiscated from Poachers

The holiday season is always a busy season for the ICCN rangers in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. There is a marked uptick in poaching events around the holidays as poachers hunting bushmeat and profits enter the forest during this time of year. The ICCN rangers respond in kind with an increase in patrol efforts, focusing on areas that are known to be frequented by poachers. By utilizing local knowledge and intelligence reports the ICCN rangers were able to focus their efforts where they would be most effective. In the month of December alone rangers performed a total of 51 patrols, more than 10% of the year’s total, in an effort to protect okapi and the other wildlife in the reserve.

The increased presence of the ICCN ranger patrols in the forest increases the likelihood of encountering poachers and apprehending them, while also serving to deter poachers from hunting in the first place. The tireless effort of the ICCN rangers removes poachers, snares and illegal firearms from the forest. These arrests and seizures protects the wildlife that lives in the forest.

Funding from donors like you help the ICCN monitor wildlife, remove snares, and enforce the laws in the OWR. Your support provides tools and equipment for rangers to complete their jobs in a demanding environment as well as provide access to health care to keep them on patrol. Thank you so much for your continued support!