Armed men killed at least six rangers and wounded several others in an ambush in Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a sanctuary for endangered mountain gorillas, the park said.
The identity of the attackers was not immediately clear, said Olivier Mukisya, a spokeswoman for Virunga. Previous attacks on guards have been attributed to several militias struggling to control land and natural resources in eastern Congo.
“We confirm this sad news. A group of armed men attacked our positions in the Nyamitwitwi region, in the middle of Virunga national park, ”Mukisya told Reuters.
More than 200 rangers have been killed in the past, including last April 12 in the deadliest attack in recent memory.
Dozens of armed groups operate in eastern Congo, many remnants of militias who fought in civil wars at the turn of the century that resulted in millions of deaths from conflict, hunger and disease.
Virunga is located in the forest-covered volcanoes of Central Africa and is home to more than half of the global mountain gorilla population.
It is the oldest national park in Africa and the largest rainforest reserve, covering 7,800 km2 (3,000 square miles).