Walikali Gorilla & Forest Conservation Project
Background
The Walikale (pronounced ‘Wally-Kally’) territory of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is situated between the Kahuzi-Biega and Maiko National Parks and to the west of Mount Mitumba. The Walikale territory still has vast tracts of pristine virgin rainforest with high levels of biodiversity that includes good numbers of chimpanzee, elephant, leopard and even okapi towards its western limits. Concerned by the decline in the local gorilla population, this vast reserve was set up by the local community and is home to one of the largest remaining populations of eastern lowland gorillas.
It is estimated that in the last five years the gorillas have suffered an 80 to 90% decline in numbers. Because they are only found in the most politically sensitive areas of the DRC it has not been possible to get a reliable, recent estimate of their population size, but it is thought to be between just 2,000 and 3,000. The causes for this decline are the hunting of the gorillas as bushmeat, often as an associated activity with 
coltan mining, and the destruction of their habitat. The Walikale Forest is at present remote and inaccessible and human pressure on the forest is negligible. However, the region as a whole is one of the most densely populated in Africa and as the population encroaches on the area there is a very serious threat of deforestation and water pollution from mining activities. As the forest is outside the national parks it is officially regarded as a buffer zone between them, and as such it suffers from no protection whatsoever and is extremely vulnerable.
The Project – Walikale Gorilla and Forest Conservation Project (WGFCP)
In 2002 the local chiefs and communities of the area approached the The Gorilla Organisation (TGO) to ask if they would assist them in helping to protect the biodiversity of the region.
Insitigated and managed by the local community in conjunction with TGO the Walikale Gorilla and Forest Conservation Projects aim is the long-term preservation of the Walikale Forest and its high levels of biodiversity, including the protection of a significant population of eastern lowland gorilla.
Over thirty people are employed as trackers. Funding from Tusk via the Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation has allowed the project to equip and train the trackers, plus build outposts in different sectors of the forest enabling the teams to spend five days in the field. To date a total over 400 gorillas in 70 different groups have been identified along with 18 other mammal species. Records are also taken of any human activity, and already, thanks to the patrols and the sensitisation work, the project has seen a reduction in the level of trapping in the area since the beginning of the project.
The Tusk donation, as well as funding the construction of a project office, allowed the project manager to increase the awareness of environmental issues within the local communities surrounding the forest through work with schools and healthcare projects.
Comments from the field
“Tusk's ongoing support has enabled the Gorilla Organization to steadily develop the project in a politically troubled area, where as a result it can be difficult to attract regular support. Now that the Tusk Trust is supporting 100% of the budget it will be possible to develop the project to its full capacity.”
Dan Bucknell, Gorilla Organisation
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