Download Republic of the Congo – Wildlife and Environment Equatorial forest

Republic of the Congo – Wildlife and Environment
Equatorial forest covers much of Republic of the Congo's landscape, stretching from the Massif de
Chaillu and Mayombe forests in the south to enormous tracts of primary forest in the north. These
forests form part of the larger Congo Basin, a region that spans six countries and contains a quarter
of the world's tropical forests. Congo's forests have not always covered their current area, but have
naturally expanded and contracted over long periods of time and with ice ages and droughts.
Countrywide, more than 400 mammal, 1 000 bird, 700 fish and nearly 10 000 plant species, of which
3 000 are found nowhere else, have been recorded. The country's remote northern forests harbour
the highest known gorilla densities, with an estimated 125 000 western lowland gorillas. A recent
census by Wildlife Conservation Society also revealed that unexpectedly large numbers of great apes
are alive and well in these remote northern forests. The news effectively doubled the estimated
worldwide population of western lowland gorillas. Other large mammals include forest elephants,
forest buffalo and the bongo.
The forests of the Congo have long been a source of food and shelter for hunter-gatherer societies,
who have been hunting duikers, bush pigs, monkeys, and other mammals for generations. Animal
products such as skins, horns, feathers, and bones play important roles in cultural and religious
ceremonies. However, as human populations grow and their natural resource base continues to
shrink due to industrial exploitation, they seek access into formerly remote areas. Increasingly, roads
crisscross the forest, and urban societies are putting down new roots there. As a result, many of the
region's large mammals, such as forest elephants, western gorillas, and chimpanzees, have become
endangered.
Odzala National Park, where Wilderness Safaris operates, holds globally significant populations of
western lowland gorilla and forest elephant as well as a plethora of other species: over 430 bird
species and more than 100 mammal species, of which around 50 are classified as medium- or largesized. It has the highest number (11) of diurnal primates for any forest block in central Africa, as well
as central Africa’s highest density of chimpanzees. Other species include forest buffalo, leopard,
lowland bongo and giant forest hog. Lepidopterists will be amazed by the number of butterflies
that the area holds.
© Wilderness Safaris 2013