Meet the Gorilla Habituation Team in Odzala-Kokoua National Park

Odzala-Kokoua National Park, along with Lossi Gorilla Sanctuary and the surrounding forestry concessions in northwestern Congo, is home to one of the world’s largest populations of western lowland gorillas, estimated at around 30,000 individuals. Classified as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List, these gorillas play a key role in maintaining the ecological balance of their rainforest habitat, through seed dispersal and the regulation of plant growth. 

Habituation – the process of desensitising wild animals to humans – is not only a tourism driver but a key prerequisite for research. Much of what we know today about western lowland gorillas, about their health and behaviour, stems from active, long-term monitoring of habituated groups. This takes years of patience and dedication: Every day, teams venture out into the dense forest to track the gorillas who change their nesting sites day-by-day. Hours are spent simply observing the gorillas and gradually moving closer to them, allowing the gorillas to become accustomed to people.

An estimated 30,000 western lowland gorillas live in the forests of northwestern Congo, making up one of the largest populations in the world.© Irene Galera

In 2015, Odzala-Kokoua initiated its own gorilla habituation programme, starting with two habituated groups in the south. However, after one group broke apart and the other one moved outside the protected area, a new group was identified in 2022. This new group is conveniently located near the park’s eastern headquarters, within walking distance from Camp Imbalanga, Odzala-Kokoua’s self-run tourism destination. By 2025, the park aims to open the “Imbalanga” gorilla group to visits by small numbers of tourists.

Fifteen dedicated Congolese staff members – three primatologists, ten trackers and two cooks – work in rotation to habituate the Imbalanga gorilla group. We are excited to introduce you to some of the passionate members of this team:

Gloire Bitelemono

Working his way up from intern to lead primatologist, Gloire has been able to receive specialized training in Cameroon and Rwanda. © Irene Galera

Gloire Bitelemono began working at the park as an intern in 2019. He was promoted to assistant primatologist in 2019 and to lead primatologist in 2022. “I have had the privilege of studying two fascinating groups: the Imbalanga group (in the east of the park) and the Brazzaville group (in the south). My passion for this work led me to benefit from specialized training in Garoua, eastern Cameroon [supported by African Parks], to hone my skills in primatology. I also visited Rwanda in 2023, Volcanoes National Park and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Campus.”

Marlene Beh

The only woman to work as a gorilla tracker in Odzala-Kokoua, Marlene wants to empower the women in her community to take on challenges. © Irene Galera

Originally from the village of Sembe in the north of the park, Marlene Beh, a single mother of three, is the only woman to work as a gorilla tracker in Odzala-Kokoua and – according to our research ­­– the only woman gorilla tracker in the entire country. She walks up to eight hours a day through the dense Marantaceae forest to keep track of the gorilla group. “It is crucial to pay attention to every detail to better understand the gorillas’ lifestyle and interactions. Each observation is a precious puzzle piece. It's physically and mentally demanding work, but incredibly rewarding. Being a woman in this field is not easy, but it shows my children and all the young girls in our community that they can take on challenges.”

Bienvenu Mambioto

Bienvenu is an expert in tracking both gorillas and forest elephants, and has lent his expertise to our Incubation Programme Partner Conkuati-Douli National Park in Congo. © Irene Galera

Aged 54 and from the village of Lango, Bienvenu Mambioto is the longest-serving tracker at Odzala-Kokoua National Park. With invaluable experience and undeniable appreciation from the whole team, he has been working in the Research and Monitoring department since 2014. Bienvenu works mostly in gorilla habituation, but also leads elephant tracking for collaring missions. He recently visited African Parks’ Incubation Programme Partner Conkouati-Douli National Park, also in the Republic of Congo, to help with elephant collaring. Walking for hours through the forest, Bienvenu is deeply connected to his work and to nature. “When meeting a gorilla, it is crucial to maintain a respectful distance and remain calm. Sudden gestures or loud noises can frighten the animal and provoke unpredictable reactions. We must avoid prolonged direct eye contact, as this can be perceived as a threat. It is also important to follow established protocols to ensure our safety and that of the gorillas. This is a responsibility I very much take to heart. I hope to continue to contribute to the protection of our flora and fauna, while sharing my knowledge with future generations, whether as a guide or trainer.” 

Marina Nsoni

As part of her Environmental Sciences degree in Brazzaville, Marina spent sixty days with Odzala-Kokoua’s gorilla habituation team. © Irene Galera

Marina Nsoni is a student of Environmental Sciences at the Denis Sassou N’Guesso University in Brazzaville. In 2024, she spent sixty days in Odzala-Kokoua working with the gorilla habituation team at Imbalanga. Every year, the park offers internship opportunities to Congolese researchers and University students to promote local conservation talent. In 2024, two doctoral students, one masters student and seven undergraduates from Congolese universities will benefit from this initiative. “I spent a month immersed in the forest, working on the topic of gorilla diets. The experience was particularly enriching, allowing me to spend time with trackers who taught me a lot. I would like that the park continues providing opportunities for young people, particularly by enabling them to take part in training and field research programmes. These experiences are essential for the professional development of students and for the conservation of our natural heritage.”

Threats and Conservation

Across Africa, gorillas face serious threats from poaching, habitat loss, and the spread of zoonotic diseases. From 1994 to 2004, an Ebola epidemic led to an estimated 95% decline in gorilla numbers around Lossi Gorilla Sanctuary and across Odzala-Kokoua. With the help of African Parks’ effective conservation law enforcement measures, and Ebola creating a deterrent, targeted poaching of gorillas in this region has since reduced, but zoonotic disease exposure remains the key threat to the species. To protect habituated gorillas, Odzala-Kokoua’s habituation team strictly adheres to health and safety protocols, including the IUCN guidelines from the Great Ape Survival Partnership. This includes the use of masks, maintaining distance to the animals and only sending healthy habituation team members into the forest.

15 October 2024 — Kalya Koltes, African Parks

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