On 3 March 2026, in the early hours of the morning, an armed militia attacked the headquarters of Upemba National Park (Upemba) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). During the assault, at least seven park rangers and staff were tragically killed, and several wounded rangers are still hospitalized.

As the attack unfolded, dozens of park rangers and staff fled into the surrounding bush to escape the violence. Some remained in hiding for up to 48 hours before reaching safety. Several were forced to walk more than twenty kilometers through remote terrain before they were able to regroup with colleagues and security forces.

The attackers are believed to be members of a Mai Mai militia that has been responsible for dozens of deadly attacks on Upemba park rangers and staff over the past decades. This militia has also been linked to large scale poaching in the region, including the killing of many of the last remaining elephant populations in Katanga Province.

During the raid, the militia group ransacked the park's headquarters in Lusinga. Vehicles, weapons, ammunition, and food rations were taken, along with the personal belongings of rangers and staff. Critical equipment including laptops, mobile phones, and communications infrastructure was also looted. This has significantly impaired the park's operational capabilities, leaving vulnerable wildlife populations (including elephants, buffalo and zebras) unprotected.

As the park begins the difficult process of recovering from this tragedy, urgent support is needed.

Below are some of the most immediate needs as Upemba works to support its rangers and staff and rebuild its operations:

• Ceremonial and burial support for those who lost their lives

• Emergency support for the families of fallen rangers and staff, including financial assistance for households that have lost primary breadwinners

• Immediate food, water, and medical supplies for rangers and staff who have been displaced by the attack

• Support to restore essential operations at Lusinga, including rebuilding damaged maintenance and operational infrastructure

Additional urgent needs will continue to be assessed as the situation develops.

Forgotten Parks, which manages Upemba National Park together with the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), will receive the funds raised through this campaign. All funds received will be used for the park’s recovery and the support of the families of its fallen rangers and staff.

The Mai-Mai militias responsible for the attack on Upemba National Park have also been linked to decades of violence across the region, where surrounding communities have endured repeated attacks, displacement, and loss of life.

Disclaimer: No funds will be used towards knives, explosives, ammunition, firearms, or other weaponry or accessories.