African Great Apes programme: Key achievements

Highlights from WWF African Great Apes projects

Western Lowland Gorilla. Mpassa project manager Liz Pearson with orphaned gorillas reintroduced into the wild. Projet Protection des Gorilles, Gabon/Congo West-Central Africa: Nigeria to DRC.
© WWF-Canon / Martin HARVEY

The WWF African Great Apes Programme has supported targeted, strategic field interventions to address the threats facing these flagship species. In spite of the odds, and thanks to the hard work and dedication of WWF field staff and their partners, the projects have come through with some impressive results and made significant contributions to African species conservation.

Read below about some our achievements to date:

The first truly national conference in DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) since the civil war was organized to discuss great ape conservation and a draft action plan is being finalized.
In Kahuzi-Biega National Park, DRC, after a pause in operations caused by hostilities, 630 anti-poaching patrol days between May and July 2003 led to the arrest of 52 poachers and the seizure of 3 firearms and more than 700 snares, as well as 2 live chimpanzees. Since the start of 2004, anti-poaching patrols in Kahuzi-Biega National Park have increased by 68% (from an average of 238 patrols per month in 2003 to 477 in the first half of 2004). With the recruitment of new personnel and the re-opening of new ranger posts, ICCN staff are operating in the lowland sector of Kahuzi-Biega NP for the first time since the civil war and they now control some 70% of the park area (compared to 10% at the start of 2003). Despite on-going insecurity in the region and rebel army activity, ICCN maintains regular monitoring of more than 80 Grauer's gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega.
In Salonga National Park, DRC, capacity was developed to census and monitor large mammals and the first systematic, park-wide survey of bonobos was conducted. This indicated a lower than expected occurrence of bonobos and high levels of human disturbance. A new project was then started to increase the monitoring and protection of bonobos in Salonga in FY05.
In the Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, increased numbers, duration and coverage of anti-poaching patrols led to the conviction of 9 poachers with some receiving 4 year prison terms and fines of up to US$ 6,000. No more incidents of Mountain gorilla poaching have occurred in Rwanda since October 2002!
In Minkebe National Park, Gabon, mobile surveillance teams conducted anti-poaching operations in the park and in two adjacent logging concessions to reduce bushmeat hunting.
In Gamba Protected Areas Complex in Gabon, a gorilla group has been habituated and ape-watching tourism opportunities are under development.
In Cameroon WWF has started initiatives that will lead to the establishment of two new gorilla sanctuaries: one will provide a haven for Africa's rarest ape, the Cross River gorilla, in Kagwene Mountains; the other will conserve western lowland gorillas and central chimpanzees in Mengame.
For the first time, in 2003 both wildlife and human health experts were brought together to develop a strategy for containing ebola. WWF then supported field teams in Minkebe, Gabon, to start implementing elements of the strategy by increasing anti-poaching operations and raising awareness in 13 local villages of the dangers of eating bushmeat.

Although we have a lot of successes to shout about, we cannot be complacent and we must consolidate our efforts. Funds are desperately needed to help support a range of new and on-going projects