People | WCS Congo Blog

Safeguarding the fish stocks of the Ndoki landscape

Posted on June 7, 2017

Fishing is an important traditional activity for the people living along the Sangha, Motaba and Ndoki Rivers, which snake along the boundary and through the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, are traditionally fishermen. Encamped on its banks, they rely heavily on the rich fish diversity of these rivers, their tributaries and wetlands. As traditional fishing methods evolve and the human population of the area grows, coupled with...

Marching forward for wildlife

Posted on March 3, 2017

by Forrest Hogg

In the build-up to World Wildlife Day 2017, the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park anti-poaching force gathered on the grassy lawn at the Park’s headquarters in Bomassa. The Congolese National Anthem was chanted as the modest troop of some 50 rangers saluted the flag’s ascent. The day marked an important step in the Park’s march to protect its forest elephants and the integrity of Ndoki’s World Heritage...

Conserving Congo’s only Community Reserve

Posted on February 6, 2017

by Zanne Labuschagne

Created in 2001, Congo’s only community reserve includes extraordinary biodiversity: the highest known local densities of gorillas in the world, large populations of chimpanzees, as well as the full range of other Congo forest creatures. The area is managed by the Ministry of Forestry Economy and Sustainable Development (MEFDD) in partnership with WCS Congo, through funding from USAID’s CARPE program. Commercial hunting and wildlife trafficking...

Rene and Moise

Posted on August 2, 2016

by Mark Gately

It is with profound sadness that we share with you the tragic loss of two of the most dedicated and longstanding WCS Congo team members, René Rufin Aleba and Moise Zoniaba. Several of the current WCS staff here in Congo have worked together since the beginning of the project in the early nineties. Moise and René were two such employees, and for their fellow longstanding...

Kingo “the loud voice”

Posted on April 27, 2016

by Zanne Labuschagne

The serenity of the forest is punctuated by the crash of figs as they hit the leaf litter on the forest floor, sent plummeting down by several gorillas feeding in the canopy 20 meters overhead. The rest of the family group is scattered in the undergrowth around us. Kingo the group’s silverback is lying on a bed of leaves in front of us in a...

Roadblock leads to poacher arrests

Posted on April 24, 2016

by Zanne Labuschagne

At the end of March 2015, at a routine roadblock on a logging route cutting through the forest, a pastor from the Ngombe village in northern Congo was caught with a basket loaded full of elephant meat. The pastor was arrested by the Ministry of Forestry Economy and Sustainable Development (MEFDD) ecoguards manning the barricade, and taken to the Ngombe police station for questioning. MEFDD...

Jana Robeyst

Posted on April 14, 2016

by Mark Gately

It is with great sadness that we are sharing the tragic news that Jana Robeyst died on April 8th 2016, whilst pursuing a promising career dedicated to the study and conservation of wild forest elephants at Mbeli Bai. She was an amazing scientist and wonderful person who loved her work and was living her dream. She will be truly missed by everyone who ever had...

A growing engagement

Posted on April 1, 2016

by Tim Rayden

Say 'Congo' and most people will think of thick, impenetrable forests. Few people realise that one third of Congo's surface area is covered by savannah. The WCS Batéké project works in the area around the Lefini reserve in central Congo. Trees cover only about 20% of the landscape, meaning that the wooded areas are increasingly under pressure from a growing human population. The reserve was...

A walk to Wali

Posted on March 28, 2016

by Zanne Labuschagne

During a recent visit to Nouabale-Ndoki National Park I had the pleasure of taking a walk to Wali bai guided by Gabi Mobalambi. Gabi started working for WCS Congo in 1997. At the time he was an eco-guard posted as an assistant to researchers working at Wali bai. Eight years in the field working alongside several botanical experts, and a keen interest in the natural...

Mapping out a long term solution

Posted on March 15, 2016

by Sam Nziengui Kassa

The formal gazettement of the Ogooué-Leketi National Park (OLNP) in south-western Congo is a primary objective of WCS Congo’s Bateke Plateau project. The protection of the OLNP would create a trans boundary protected area of half a million hectares. The area is regarded as a priority site for the protection of great apes, and is of considerable ecological significance due to its location in the...