Blog

Inspiration, discovery and conservation in action from Congo’s wild places.

Largest study ever in Western Equatorial Africa shows gorillas in deep trouble

Posted on September 24, 2019

In 2018, scientists from ten different organizations assembled the largest survey dataset ever on western lowland gorillas and central chimpanzees. We collated the information on great apes nests from 59 sites in five countries surveyed over 11 years between 2003 and 2013. The study indicated that although there were more gorillas than previously published, they were in deep trouble- declining by a shocking 2.7% every year. On the basis of the results, we were able to...

Scientific research, an essential tool for the conservation of forest elephants

Posted on August 12, 2019

by Flore Monteau

For more than 25 years, scientists have been monitoring, studying and observing Mbeli bai’s wildlife in the Nouabalé-Ndoki national park. The Mbeli study is named after the bai , or clearing, where the research is conducted. Forest elephants, a still little known and often overlooked sub-species, are frequently observed in this unique landscape. The Mbeli study has contributed essential knowledge to the development of improved elephant conservation strategies that better address the threats posed by...

Donatien, the Indigenous person who wants to become a research assistant

Posted on August 9, 2019

by Zanne Labuschagne

Donatien Mengonga, Bayaka indigenous tracker, has a dream: to become a research assistant at the Mondika site in the northern Republic of Congo. WCS's scientific skills development programme has enabled him to resume his studies....

Richard Malonga, Director of WCS’s Republic of Congo Program

Posted on July 22, 2019

by Flore Monteau

Mr. Richard Malonga has been appointed Director of WCS's Republic of Congo Program, succeeding Mr. Mark Gately. Richard Malonga's experience with WCS Congo began almost 25 years ago in 1995, when Richard first worked as a volunteer for WCS, helping to set up our very first database to track bushmeat consumption. He then played a key role in the launch of the PROGEPP project in the buffer zone of Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, an innovative model...

Nouabale-Ndoki National Park celebrates 25th Anniversary

Posted on July 17, 2019

by Zanne Labuschagne

BRAZZAVILLE, REPUBLIC OF CONGO (June 18th, 2019) – Her Excellency Rosalie Matondo, the Republic of Congo’s Minister of Forestry Economy, the U.S. Ambassador, Todd Haskell, and the Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS’s) Africa program, Tim Tear celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park – a stunning protected area, and World Heritage Site, that spans 1,621 square miles (4,200 square kilometers) of pristine lowland rainforest safeguarding some of Central Africa’s best-known wildlife....

Securing a brighter future for bongo

Posted on May 17, 2019

by Zanne Labuschagne

With their rich red flanks dissected by perfect, white stripes, bongo are one of the most striking antelope in Africa. During recent surveillance flights over the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, a large herd of bongos was observed in one of the area’s forest clearings – a very rare sighting. This charismatic species, suffered a severe die-off in 1997. The die-off, which spread across the forests of northern Congo, was caused by an outbreak of biting, Stomoxys...

Congo’s first Run for the Wild

Posted on April 30, 2019

by Zanne Labuschagne

Songs echoed out across the forest as the first group of participants headed to the start line in the park truck, bouncing along 5 kilometres of red-earth road, giant trees whizzing past. The build up was intense in Bomassa last Saturday morning as the village prepared for the start of the very first Nouabale-Ndoki National Park Run for the Wild. ...

Protecting Congo’s Wildlife – Earth Day 2019

Posted on April 22, 2019

by Zanne Labuschagne

Central Africa’s rainforests are home to our closest relatives, to the world’s largest land mammal and many other weird and wonderful creatures. There is so much still to be discovered about these forests and the animals that live in them, but we are destroying intact forests and forest species so fast that we risk losing them before we know what secrets they hold. ...

If the Fish Don’t Come

Posted on March 18, 2019

by Ben Evans

The wet season in northern Congo is a powerful thing to witness. Torrential rain can fall continuously for several days. Roads turn into sliding mosaics of water and mud. Rivers small and large swell up, rising so quickly you can almost see it. The air is heavy and people dash between houses in the brief dry spells. ...

Chimps Are Losing Their Culture, Study Says

Posted on March 8, 2019

by Zanne Labuschagne

A sweeping new study published in the journal Science says that chimpanzee’s complex cultures – including the use of tools and other behaviors – are being lost as human disturbance expands into previously wild areas. The ten-year study, led by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, spanned 46 locations 15 countries providing the most complete description of chimpanzee culture to date. WCS, Lincoln Park Zoo, and...