Inventory of the Fauna in the Low Altitude Part of Kahuzi-Biega

In February 2006, the area of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP) was divided up for monitoring purposes. This decision of the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) has provided the park with 4 monitored sectors. The station head is responsible for all 4 sectors; the rangers of the individual sectors are supervised by the heads of the different ranger posts.
A first step will be to determine the distribution and abundance of species in order to help orient the patrols and to determine the most appropriate location of ranger posts in the various sectors.
To initiate this, the park collaborated with its partner organisation, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), in launching an expedition to make an inventory in the low altitude part of the park in March 2006. The inventory was focused on Luyuyu and Nzovu, both of which fall within the domain of Nzovu Post, and on Swiza, which is located in the area of Lulingu Post.
Unfortunately, the inventory could not be completed due to technical problems in the field; a follow-up is therefore required. We would like to ask our project partners to consider the possibility of helping us further in conducting a census in the low altitude section of the KBNP, which could not be surveyed for a long time. Although the presence of monitoring staff is still insufficient in these sectors, this initiative would be a step towards conducting a census in these remote corners.

Good News from the Chimanuka Group
On August 30th, 2007, a new baby gorilla was born into the Chimanuka group. Now totalling 30 or 31 individuals, this group contains the highest number of individuals of all the gorilla groups in the KBNP. Remember that the group had two sets of twins 2 years ago.
The birth of the new baby gorilla is a great joy to the KBNP and a morale boost to the rangers, guides and trackers of the park who do not rest day or night in their efforts to protect those gorillas that are still with us. This increase in gorilla numbers is another testimony to the bravery of the KBNP staff who have decided to continue to protect the gorillas even as the situation is deteriorating in the country in general, and the eastern part of the country in particular.
While the park authorities were celebrating the news with the guides and trackers, they took the opportunity to express their gratitude to the various partner organisations who continue to support the efforts of the KBNP staff in the field, including especially Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe.

Radar Birhashirwa Nishuli

Radar Birhashirwa Nishuli has been working in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park since 1985. He was the Head of the Environmental Education Unit and is now Provincial Director and responsible for the Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

Kahuzi-Biega Overview

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