The Loaka Hunters’ Cooperative in support of gorillas

Located within an ecological corridor between Conkouati National Park and the Dimonika Biosphere Reserve, the project area is home to significant biodiversity, and preliminary biological surveys conducted by ESI Congo have confirmed the presence of the western lowland gorilla, whose populations face significant hunting pressure. This species is estimated to account for approximately 95% of the world’s remaining gorilla populations. Given the still substantial connectivity of the habitats in which they live, and their diverse genetic pool, it appears reasonable to concentrate part of conservation efforts on this subspecies, which could represent the only long-term viable taxon for the species as a whole.

A range of factors contribute to the decline of lowland gorillas (notably the expansion of the commercial bushmeat trade and the spread of the Ebola virus), making it essential to establish a reliable assessment of remaining populations (density and distribution at local, regional and global level) in order to optimise conservation efforts.

In this context, ESI Congo wishes to concentrate its efforts on the region’s main gorilla hunting area (15,000 ha within the corridor), and to collect sufficient data and indicators there to identify the populations present within the study area. A significant component focused on informing and raising awareness among local communities about the health risks associated with consuming gorilla meat, and about conservation issues, will be carried out (targeting local communities and the schools of Loaka). 20 hunters will be trained in gorilla population surveying and integrated as technicians into ESI Congo’s team, while 55 hunters will be trained in legal hunting practices and gorilla conservation. A cooperative will be formed with some of the hunters, to jointly manage the area’s hunting resources sustainably (as a downstream outcome of the project).