Mbeli Bai Gorilla Study is working to save:
Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
Endemic to the Congo Basin. Estimated population is 100-200,000. Seventy-five percent of population lives outside of protected areas. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listing is Critically Endangered.
Forest Elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis)
Endemic to the Congo Basin. Estimated population is unknown but probably rapidly declining, in contrast to the savanna elephant population which has been increasing. Fifty percent of population lives outside of protected areas. IUCN listing is Near Threatened.
Habitat
Lowland tropical forest in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo. There are about 420,000 hectares (1.04 million acres) of forest in the national park, 100% of which is virgin timber, no second growth. The park is part of a tri-national protected area system (Sangha Tri-National) and is surrounded by 3 logging concessions of which has Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.
Critical threats to wildlife
- Increase in bushmeat consumption and habitat destruction
- Lack of accurate knowledge about western lowland gorilla and other large forest mammal biology
- Lack of qualified local (Congolese) researchers and educators
- Lack of local (and international) knowledge about wildlife and the effect of bushmeat hunting and logging
- An increase in human disturbances (logging & poaching) outside the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park and the lack of efficient law enforcement practices
Mbeli Bai Gorilla Study Success Stories
- Over 330 western gorillas habituated to observation. The current visiting population consists of approximately 130 gorillas in 10 breeding groups, 4 non-breeding groups, and 13 solitary males.
- 14+ years data collection on gorilla social behavior and group dynamics (the largest database of demography and social behaviour so far accumulated on this species).
- Club Ebobo conservation education program established in three primary schools in the local villages of Bomassa (122 children), Makao (110 children) and the logging town Thanry-Congo (355 children).
- Successful introduction of Club Ebobo to the college in Thanry-Congo.