In the early hours of this morning a villager near the Gorilla Sector (near Bukima) was killed by a forest elephant. The elephant was trying to steal potatoes from the fields, and the villager was trying to scare him away. Innocent tells me that the man was hit with the trunk of the elephant and fell to the ground and died.

The villager was with 2 other men who were sitting in their field next to the Gorilla Sector at about 4am in case elephants came to steal the crops. We know – and we have talked about this many times – that elephants, buffaloes and gorillas all leave the confines of Virunga National Park to crop raid.

We have trained community members in crop protection and that it is important have a fire. Unfortunately these men did not have a fire – and so the elephant was not scared off at all, but startled by the presence of the men.

The community is understandably upset and angry. ICCN will cover all funeral costs and will make a cash payment to the family. This is the least we can do for the time being, and at a later date we will have to see how we can alleviate the family’s suffering. I have sent this money to Innocent this morning from donations that you have made on our website. This money is usually for the Ranger’s widows, and other emergencies. This is an emergency.