Some of the largest tracts of forest habitat in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are located in the Walikale and Lubutu territories. Although the forests are not formally protected by the government, the communities have designated them as protected areas and are working with the government to establish the land as formally recognized reserves. The forests of Walikale and Lubutu include important corridors between Kahuzi-Biega and Maïko National Parks and currently have healthy populations of Grauer’s gorillas, chimpanzees, leo­pards, and elephants. Although human density inside the forests of Walika­le and Lubutu are still quite low, the perimeters are some of the most densely populated and impoverished areas of DRC.

Unfortunately, poverty, proximity to wildlife habitats, the presence of a major roadway, and the increasing presence of mining extraction companies make the Walikale and Lubutu forests target areas for the illegal bushmeat and pet trades. Sadly, evidence of these illegal practices is growing at an alarming rate, and stories of confiscations are even making national headlines. Prior to 2000 only one eastern gorilla was confiscated by wildlife officials in the eastern DRC. In contrast, during the last 10 years, 17 eastern gorillas and more than 50 chimpanzee orphans were confiscated from northeast DRC alone. It is speculated that as many as 30 more chimpanzees came from this region but ended up in a sanctuary in southeast DRC (Pan African Sanctuary Alliance Database). Of those rescued, a large number were confiscated in the provincial capital of Goma and in villages located along the main road running between the Maïko and Kahuzi-Biega National Parks (see map).

When orphans are confiscated, wildlife authorities arrange for their care at one of the three facilities in northeastern DRC for rescued apes: GRACE (Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center) for Grauer’s gorillas, Senkwekwe for mountain go­rillas, and the Center for the Rehabi­li­tation of Primates in Lwiro for chim­panzees. These sanctuaries are essential components to anti-poaching efforts, but they are quickly exceeding their capacity due to the substantial increases in ape confiscations.

Conservation Action Plan

In early 2011, with support from the Arcus Foundation and The World We Want Foundation, the Congolese Wildlife Authorities (ICCN) and the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) facilitated a Conservation Action Plan (CAP) Workshop to assess the current status of gorillas and chimpanzees in eastern DRC. During the workshop, illegal poaching was identified as the number one threat to apes in northeastern DRC, and the Walikale and Lubutu territories were recognized as critical target areas for conservation efforts. Furthermore, conservationists identified conservation education for local communities and law enforcement agencies as one of 5 priority strategies to protect gorillas and chimpanzees in Walikale, Lubutu and other areas with high rates of ape poaching.

Ape Conservation Awareness Survey

Based on the priorities outlined during the CAP workshop, JGI joined with conservationists from Disney’s Animal Kingdom® to develop and implement a comprehensive conservation edu­cation program in the Walikale and Lubutu territories. To develop the program, a needs assessment survey was first conducted to identify key issues that should be addressed in the program. The survey consisted of 21 questions about people’s knowledge, attitude, and practices with regard to ape conservation. It was administered to 350 people living in the following 10 communities in the Walikale and Lubutu territories: Lubutu, Biruwe, Bisie, Ndjingala, Mubi, Walikale Centre, Itebero, Kasese, Pinga Centre, and Kalembe (see map). The survey results highlighted the severity of the bushmeat problem and the lack of knowledge concerning wildlife regulations and penalties, demonstrating the potential benefits of conservation education. 

Survey Findings

Here we present some of our key findings from the ape conservation awareness survey.

1. There is a lack of knowledge about the laws protecting apes and other wildlife and the penalties for breaking these laws. This knowledge varies greatly by community.
2. Although a large percentage of respondents consume bushmeat, none claimed to eat apes. Nonetheless, from the survey results, it is clear that ape hunting and consumption are major problems in Walikale and Lubutu. It is interesting that a few respondents listed domestic livestock as a type of bushmeat.
3. An overwhelming majority of respondents were supportive of ape conservation initiatives in their communities, indicating the potential for conservation programs to create positive change in the Walikale and Lubutu territories.