Odzala-Kokoua National Park is one of Africa’s oldest national parks, designated in 1935 and receiving Biosphere Reserve status in 1977. It is one of the world’s largest remaining intact forest systems. Its biodiversity is nothing less than exceptional; with over 440 bird species, it was recognised as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International. While it is best known for its western lowland gorilla and chimpanzee populations, there are an estimated 100 mammal species in the park, including buffalo, bongo and many other antelope species.
The region’s protected areas support the largest forest elephant population in Central Africa, but the species is under threat as a result of poaching pressure. Today, effective conservation law enforcement has resulted in stable populations making use of wildlife corridors across the region.
Gorilla numbers have been severely under threat due to diseases such as Ebola, as well as the illegal wildlife trade for pets and bushmeat. With the increased conservation law enforcement and the addition of the Lossi Gorilla Sanctuary, this downward trend is being reversed.
Monitoring and Surveys
Odzala’s parkwide triennial forest transect and human impact survey – which took place throughout 2022 and included the first systematic forest transect survey for the Lossi Gorilla Sanctuary since 2006 – was replicated in the adjacent forestry concession IFO Ngombé. This is a key conservation area almost equal in size to the park and host to a significant gorilla population. The survey was done in partnership with IFO Ngombé and Nature+.
Camera traps and timelapse videos are shedding light on the use of bais (natural clearings in the forest) by wildlife, which use these key landscape features as a source of minerals, including salt. Quarterly aerial savannah surveys show promising wildlife numbers across the park.
Two habitat plots – 1km2 areas across different habitat types – were established in swamp forest and open marantaceae forest respectively. These microplots allow for intense levels of research that cannot be conducted at a macro scale; combined, they should reflect the real state of the ecosystem.
A arboreal camera trap installed 20 metres high in a tropical-forest tree monitored species at tree level and caught footage that often goes unnoticed by ground camera traps. This included three rare species: the Gabon squirrel galago, Nagtglas’ African dormouse and the African palm civet. Habituation of gorilla groups continues on a daily basis.
A total of 14 collared elephant are providing insights on wildlife corridors, which contributes to conservation law enforcement strategies, community engagement to reduce human-wildlife conflict and regional management objectives.
© Irene GaleraConservation Law Enforcement
Despite their vast size, tropical forests are sensitive to disturbances within the ecosystem, and the demise of keystone species, such as forest elephant, can cause the decline of many others. Therefore, effective conservation law enforcement is essential in ensuring the fragile balance is kept. While bushmeat poaching remains a constant threat, our highly trained ranger team, coupled with positive community engagement, helps to curb illegal activity within the park. Odzala’s Information Analysis (IA) unit contributes to the confiscation of ivory, pangolin scales and the removal of AK-47s, typically used for elephant poaching. As a result, wildlife numbers are predominantly stable, with some populations increasing.
A fully functional control room has been completed, with an increased number of operators collecting real-time data using EarthRanger technology that uses data including vehicle movements, ranger team locations, movements of collared animals and illegal incidents, all of which helps the park to respond effectively to information received from teams in the field. In addition to basic field ranger training, all rangers receive annual refresher training, including human rights training sessions held in collaboration with Congolese human rights NGO, Cercle des Droits de l'homme et du Développement (CDHD).
A focus area for the ranger teams is engaging with surrounding communities to ensure they have good knowledge and understanding of national wildlife laws and access to natural resources, as well as encouraging communities to engage with park management to report any challenges.