Rebel attack on Virunga National Park ranger patrol kills three in DR Congo

More than 130 rangers have been killed in the last 15 years protecting wildlife. Please help support their families.

More than 130 rangers have been killed by rebels - Please help their families

October 2012. Armed Mai Mai rebels have again attacked a ranger in Congo's Virunga National Park, killing two ICCN park staff and one soldier who was assisting the rangers. In addition, three soldiers were wounded, one critically. Five Mai Mai PARECO rebels were killed during the attack, as well as two wounded and captured. The wounded rebels are currently in custody at the hospital in Vitshumbi.

The attack took place at Mwiga Bay, an area just west of the fishing settlement of Vitshumbi on Lake Edward in the park's central sector, where a dramatic increase in the presence of armed militias has led to a growing number of attacks on park staff.

The park's Chief Warden, Emmanuel de Merode, said after the attack, "The civil war has brought an influx of militias into the park, intent on poaching and attacking the local population. This is bringing overwhelming pressures on our small team of rangers whose duty it is to protect the wildlife and the people living in and around the park. Once again, we are deeply shocked and saddened by the deaths of our colleagues."

Civil war has made the park's staff highly vulnerable
The outbreak of civil war in May this year has provoked the withdrawal of the military from many areas of Virunga National Park, leaving the park's staff vulnerable to the many illegal armed groups that frequent the area.

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/virunga-rangers012.html

Police: Man claims leprechauns beat him up for dancing

A “bunch of leprechauns” beat up a man in Belltown on Saturday, the bruised and bloodied victim told police.

Police say they received reports about the fight around 1:55 a.m. on Bell Street near the Alaskan Way Viaduct, but when they arrived they saw numerous people running from the scene.

Police then saw a man on the ground, who was covered in blood and holding his head and screaming in pain.

When police asked the man who was involved in the fight he said, “It was a bunch of leprechauns,” that were mad because he was dancing with a girl, according to police.

He told police one of the assailants was wearing a white tank top, but could not provide any more details about the leprechauns.

A witness at the scene told police a group of men beat him up.

The man was taken to Harborview Medical Center with multiple head injuries and cuts and bruises on his face, back, knuckles and elbows.

Police were unable to find the leprechauns or anyone else involved.

http://downtownseattle.komonews.com/news/crime/759270-police-man-claims-leprechauns-beat-him-dancing

Sea lion makes like 'Jaws' on rowboat crew

OTAGO, New Zealand, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- A crew of eight New Zealand rowers say a sea lion attacked and cracked their boat in two places before chasing them swimming back to shore.


"I saw this dark figure looming under the boat, I felt it hit and seconds after water came gushing up it was panic stations," rower Matt Smail told the Otago Daily Times.

The eight-man University of Otago rowing crew was about 650 feet offshore when the incident took place and the crew decided to swim to the closest boat ramp for safety, the newspaper reported Thursday.

"It was the best 1km (0.6 miles) we rowed all morning. We went flat tack," Adam Garden said.

When the crew pulled the boat out of the water, the sea lion "came up for another inspection," he said.

"It walked up the ramp and gave us a bit of a snarl."