Pierre Peron, Virunga National Park communications officer, reports on the BBC News website that Safari Kakule, has been killed when the team he was with were attacked by Mai Mai militia.
The team of rangers defended their position and managed to apprehend a Mai Mai officer.
But the attack was extremely violent and they were greatly outnumbered. As they retreated from their position, Safari was hit by the attackers' gunfire.
Safari was an exceptional ranger, who had worked with the gorillas in Tshiaberimu for several years.