Rebels holding Mountain Gorillas hostage

This has to be one of the most despicable acts of cowardliness I've ever heard. The BBC are reporting that 200 rebel Mai Mai militia fighters have attacked a nature reserve in DR Congo, killed one ranger, critically injured another three and are now threatening to slaughter a group of endangered Mountain Gorillas if the government try and bring them to justice.

WildlifeDirect director Emmanuel de Merode said the Mai Mai attack may be a reprisal for a government clampdown.

"Our understanding is that this was a deliberate attack on the Congolese wildlife authorities," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa.
[...]
"The efforts of the Congolese rangers to protect these have been quite successful but at a huge human cost."

"Over 97 rangers have been killed in Virunga National Park since the war started in 1996," he said.

Full story at: BBC NEWS - DR Congo rebel threat to gorillas.