AISHA, CAPTAIN FRANCIS, KWESI, and new recruit DESMOND are in a jeep traversing the Virunga southern boundary. CAPT FRANCIS slows as he spots something on the ground, stops the jeep. YOU ARE DESMOND, A NEW RECRUIT TO THE VIRUNGA RANGER CORPS. FRANCIS, KWESI AND AISHA WHILE TRAINING YOU, LEAD YOU ON A BUSH INVESTIGATION FRANCIS Desmond, can you tell us what this is?
KWESI And there are no arrows, so they were probably all used.
AISHA Which means we may find some bad news soon...
CAPT FRANCIS Kwesi, take Desmond and explore the bank, to the south. Aisha and I will go north. We will radio you if we find anything. DESMOND and KWESI WALK ALONG RIVER BANK, CAREFUL TO KEEP DISTANCE DUE TO THE MANY HIPPOS. DESMOND Do you think we may have a chance to save the elephant?
KWESI We must try.
You have to look for the foot-marks... You will have an idea of which animal is roaming in that location.
DESMOND Is it true the poachers tried to assassinate the warden again?
KWESI Warden de Merode, yes. He survived. They shot him in a roadside ambush.
DESMOND It is like a war that never ends. They destroy the animals, but they target us as well.
KWESI This is our Virunga, our forest. When I see what these poachers do, I think they are monsters. To poision a watering hole with cyanide, and to kill all the animals that drink from there, just to get 8 tusks... It is worth the fight. Cut to
AISHA with CAPT FRANCIS
AISHA Looks like there is a lion who has been limping... perhaps a thorn in her paw.
CAPT FRANCIS I hope she is better before mating season. She had a lot of cubs last year.
AISHA If it doesn't heal soon we can tranquilize her to help her.
AISHA Here is a broken bottle, and lizard skin.
CAPT FRANCIS Ah, this is where they camped. Kutisha!
AISHA and CAPT FRANCIS see an elephant on the horizon. It is wounded, with two arrows in its haunches, and wounds from other arrows that did not stick. CAPT FRANCIS Kwesi, we have found a wounded tembo... she is staggering. Return to our position please.
KWESI Aye aye, we will be there in fifteen minutes.
KWESI Have you been in helicopter, my friend?
DESMOND Only once for training.
KWESI I once had to do a helo search for wounded. We followed tracks in the tall grass until we found an adult rhino, in distress. Her calf and another young rhino were nearby. We hovered above checking for bullet wounds, she stumbled away and collapsed. Blood was gushing out of her nostrils and mouth. We watched her die in front of us....
DESMOND How do you keep going?
KWESI My father was a ranger for 34 years.
DESMOND I joined because of the debt my family owes Ranger Sebinyenzi. He was only 40 years old and had been protecting Virunga for over 20 years. 8 kids. I want to make sure he did not die in vain.
KWESI and DESMOND proceed through the brush towards their comrades. Two poachers, who had been hiding from Capt Francis and Aisha, jump out from behind an anthill with weapons drawn.KWESI fires his weapon above their heads, they drop their rifles and give up.
KWESI Desmond, radio the others.
CAPT FRANCIS and AISHA return. The three experienced rangers arrest the two poachers. CAPT FRANCIS Call the base, Aisha, we need to get medical care to her.