Nov. 28 (UPI) -- A park ranger at Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo died Wednesday of injuries sustained when armed militants attacked a ranger post, park officials said.
Kasereka Masumbuko Ezéchiel died in the attack at the post on Lake Edward.
"Ranger Kasereka has been a brave member of Virunga's ranger team since 2012," a statement from Virunga National Park said. "The Park wishes to express our profound condolences to his family for their tragic loss. We offer our sincerest gratitude for his dedicated service to Virunga National Park and the local community."
Park officials said the attack was neutralized and they are investigating.
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More than 175 rangers have died protecting the national park over the past 20 years as anti-government rebel groups, local bandits and rare animal hunters roam the area.
In May, a park ranger was killed and tourists were kidnapped and later released in an attack. Six rangers died in April in the park's worst loss of life.
In an interview with National Geographic last year, Virunga National Park Director Emmanuel de Merode said three main groups are responsible for the violence.
"The Allied Democratic Forces and National Army for Liberation of Uganda operate together in the north. They are an extremist Islamic movement operating to undermine the government of Uganda," de Merode said. "Then the Mai-Mai, who are Congolese, operate in the center of the park. In the south is the Democratic Forces for Liberation of Rwanda, many of whom were responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda."
In 2014, Netflix released Virunga, a documentary on the park's rangers who are tasked with protecting the critically endangered mountain gorilla. The Virunga Mountains are one of only two places in the world where the gorilla is found, along with Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The 3,000-square-mile park is home to hundreds of native species -- including 218 mammal, 706 bird and 109 reptile species.
