Establishing a conservation presence to protect okapi in Mount Hoyo, eastern DRC
Project description
Virunga Foundation is supporting ICCN’s (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature) efforts to establish a wildlife corridor in the Semliki Valley, connecting Virunga National Park to Mount Hoyo Reserve in the Ituri Forest—an essential step for okapi conservation. Through immediate action, Virunga aims to lay the groundwork for long-term conservation efforts in the region, initially focused on okapi but ultimately benefiting the wider protected area.
Threats
Habitat loss & degradation
Poaching
This work will begin with the re-establishment of an ecological monitoring station at Mount Hoyo’s headquarters, including the deployment of camera traps and the training of community ecological monitors to assess the okapi population and identify key threats. The data collected will guide the development of future conservation strategies.
Project objectives
To establish an immediate conservation presence in the Semliki Valley between Virunga National Park and Mount Hoyo Reserve, in order to protect the endangered and fragmented population of endemic okapi.
Project activities
- Establish an ecological monitoring station at Mount Hoyo, including a small data lab with internet and radio communication, a workstation, and a safe storage facility.
- Establish baseline okapi monitoring capacities and collect early population distribution and behavioural data at Mount Hoyo through camera trap deployment.
- Recruit and train eight members from the local community to become ecological monitors.
This project is implemented by Virunga Foundation, Democratic Republic of the Congo
