ICCN Ranger Graduation

The Okapi Conservation Project is committed to helping the Congolese protect their wildlife and forests. We provide special training opportunities for members of the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), who are responsible for the management of wildlife and protected areas in the Congo. ICCN rangers Somba and Dugira recently completed a year-long wildlife management and conservation course at Southern Africa Wildlife College (SAWC) based in the Rep. of South Africa. The well-respected SAWC courses immerse students in theoretical, practical and technical conservation studies. The two rangers, and their classmates from around Africa participated and completed the various SAWC classes and home studies and recently graduated. They now return to Epulu with the responsibility of sharing their recently gained knowledge with their ICCN ranger colleagues working in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, and leading efforts to conserve the wildlife of the Ituri Forest. The opportunity to attend the SAWC was provided through a grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.