DRC: The Upemba eco-guards rewarded at the African Conservation Awards 2026

The park rangers of Upemba National Park, in the Haut-Katanga province, have won the "Best Ranger Team" award, which recognizes the best ranger team, at the African Conservation Awards 2026. The announcement was made last Tuesday by the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA). The award will be presented soon during an official ceremony, the park officials specify. This award recognizes the courage, dedication, and professionalism of this team responsible for monitoring the park and fighting poaching. Despite this recognition, the rangers continue to perform their job in difficult conditions, marked in particular by insecurity and lack of financial resources. The rangers, also called rangers, ensure the protection of natural spaces and wild species. They patrol the parks, sometimes on foot and day as well as night, to prevent poaching, monitor natural habitats, and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. Established in 1939, Upemba National Park is among the oldest national parks in the DRC. Its rangers have participated in the protection of its ecosystems and wildlife for decades. However, this mission also involves significant risks. According to Antonio Longagi, the park's communications officer, the rangers have suffered several attacks this year, which have cost some of their colleagues their lives. "We have lost colleagues and it has not broken the courage, it has not broken the determination of the rangers to preserve these natural jewels," he testifies. He also laments the lack of funding that the park has suffered for several years, estimating that this situation complicates the work of the teams in the field. Recognition in the face of conservation challenges The "Best Ranger Team" award highlights the work of the Upemba rangers, who continue their missions despite threats and material difficulties, indicates Antonio Longagi. Beyond this distinction, the challenges remain significant to ensure the sustainable protection of the park and its biodiversity, particularly by strengthening the available resources and the security of the teams responsible for its supervision.