My name is Michel Matembera Kaboli. I am the Principal Officer of the Rangers at Mutsora in the Northen Sector. My number is 02215. I am in charge of monitoring.

I was born on November 17, 1957. I am married in Madeleine Masika Kahindo.We have eight children: four boys and four girls.I joined the park Rangers in Rwindi in 1982. I had always been interested in the park and had grown up very close to it. I was following in my father’s footsteps as  he was then a male nurse at the station of Rwindi. He taught me his trade which has been very useful during my time as a Ranger.
The life of a Ranger is not without risk. I remember it was at the beginning the war on a routine patrol that were hit. We were tracking some suspected poachers. As usual we set an ambush for the poachers and as they approached we came out of cover and ordered them to stop. As it turned out they were troops and they put down heavy fire on us.

We returned fire but soon realized that we were out-numbered ten to one, they had nearly surrounded us and it looked like they were going to finish us off. We had no choice but to jump in the river behind us; after that they left us alone. I think they didn’t want to waste their ammunition on us!
It’s not easy being a Park Ranger but that’s the life we have chosen.