A new plane for Virunga National Park
You know me as the West Flanders pilot from the two seasons of Flying Doctors. For three years I give my life for the welfare of man and animal in the Virungapark. I crashed my plane last month and hence I call a warm call to support the purchase of a new aircraft for Virunga Park.
In 2014, I did something that provoked my whole affair. I flew a plane from Belgium to the Virungapark in East Congo, together with three young doctors. Flying Doctors, the adventure of my life. At least, I thought so. The real adventure had to start; Prince and Park Director Emmanuel de Merode asked me on arrival to work as a pilot for him. Our Belgian plane got the function of medical evacuation device for the parkkeepers, which are the goal of poachers and rebels. Until recently, I flew across our park daily to track elephant-hunted elephants, fly ashs, and provide remote area.
After almost three years of flying as a pilot of the park, I was crashed last month with my plane. My two passengers, all survivors and I survived the crash, but unfortunately our Cessna 206 did not.
I was immediately taken to Belgium, where I am still working on a series of operations. I want to fly back to Virunga as soon as possible. Not because Belgium is so bad, but because my heart is in the park and I am determined to continue my mission there. I only need a plane for this.
The Virungapark needs my help to fight poaching, and in turn I need a plane for it. The money (€ 125,000) goes into a new plane for the park.
My life could not have changed anymore in recent years. From the safe tarmac in Wevelgem to a much less safe home base - and I get this now a bit. After an attack by rebels, I lost both rangers and personal friends, and I used my Cessna 206 to bring their bodies back to their families.
The beautiful piece of African nature that Virunga is, remains a breeding ground for anyone who sees profits from its wealth. In addition to rebels, the park gets caught with illegal fishermen and poachers. I patrol every day in operations against poaching, for example, that for the last year no elephant has been killed anymore in the Virungapark. Our Cessna must have impressed the poachers.
My airplane brought Pinga (from Flying Doctors 2) baby at his new home, brings parkkeepers where they should be and helps save the last Virunga elephants. Thus, contributing to the preservation of Africa's oldest park, there is no feeling in Belgium for me. Therefore, I want to return to Congo as soon as possible to finish my work there and protect my park.
Stichting Virunga Belgium vzw stands for Virunga National Park. For more information, please visit https://virunga.org