I was born in Goma on 12th March 1960 and started working as a Ranger in 1980. Nothing in the world could ever stop me from doing this job. Being a Ranger is enriching, interesting and above all challenging.

I have 11 children; 6 girls and 5 boys, with my wife Jeannette Kavira. My father was a Ranger in Uganda, and he actually wanted me to work with him over there. But one day I took a vacation in Rwindi (in the southern sector of Virunga) with my aunt and I was so impressed with all the animals that I saw roaming the plains. I was in awe of the Rangers and their work. When I got back to Goma I could think of only one thing: how to return to the park. I wrote to ICCN asking for a job, told my father what I was doing, and within 3 months I and 3 friends were in the gainful employment of ICCN. That is when my life as a Ranger in Virunga National Park started.

My long life as a Ranger has been full of eventful days and nights. Six months ago I was on patrol and we came across poachers. We were able to arrest 3 next to a steep hill. We were feeling pleased with the result of our mission, and we started walking up the cliff edge back to our patrol post. When we got to the top one of the detainees tried to flee. As I tried to stop him I slipped and fell right to the bottom of the cliff. I remember hearing my men when they came to rescue me, but I am not sure how I ended up at hospital, with a fractured right shoulder blade. Today I am gradually recovering and almost back to my original health.

Conservation is not easy, but despite the difficulties nothing in the world could stop me.