Mount Tshiaberimu Conservation Project - Protecting the endangered gorillas in Congo's Mountain of the Spirits

As human settlement has relentlessly transected the central African rainforest in recent times, remnant populations of primates and other endangered species have become isolated in “island” habitats. At MtTschiaberimu in north eastern DR Congo the Dian Fossey Conservation Project manages a monitoring,habituation and park infrastructure project to protect an isolated population of no more than 22 gorillas.

The project includes community development and sociological as well as ecological research and has succeeded in changing local attitudes despite the ongoing Congolese war.

Ranger patrols and gorilla monitoring - 

Rangers,trackers and wardens still provide the front line in gorilla conservation.The Fund supports the national wildlife authorities responsible for the gorillas’ day-to-day protection by providing specialist clothing and equipment, ranger training and support for monitoring activities.

DNA Research – Unravelling complex taxonomy

DFCP project staff collect gorilla faecal samples from remote locations for DNA analysis to help determine the gorillas’ taxonomy and further our understanding of their genetic make up and conservation needs. Two species and five sub-species of gorilla have been identified but remnant populations of gorillas, such as those at Mount Tshiaberimu in eastern Congo, still need to be identified.

Tree Planting – Reforestation in an area of high environmental degradation

In an area where more than 90% of fuel used in cooking and heating comes from wood from the forest - leading to widespread environmental degradation and ever-decreasing returns from the land- the Fund supports tree planting projects run by local NGOs. At Kahuzi-BiegaNational Park in Congo the Funds partner NGO, Pole-Pole Foundation, hasset up a tree nursery to provide both indigenous and fruit treesaplings for reforestation and food.