The Situation in Maïko National Park
Maïko National Park was created November 1970 to protect the critical
populations of Grauer's gorilla, chimpanzee, okapi, bongo, forest elephant
and Congo peacock sheltered within its boundaries. Unlike Kahuzi-Biega
and Virunga, Maïko is not a World Heritage listed site and, therefore,
does not benefit from similar international attention and support.
Based on forest reconnaissance, John Hart and Claude Sikubwabo (1994)
consider Maïko may be the richest forest park in the Democratic Republic
of Congo in terms of biodiversity. As a result of their 1989-1992 survey,
they identified two distinct populations of Grauer's gorilla in Maïko
National Park. In 1996 John Hart and Jefferson Hall estimated those populations
to be 826 (range 444-1090) and 33 (range 18-45) in the north and south
respectively, with the northern population remaining relatively stable
and offering the best hope for conservation. However, before the war there
was already some human occupation in Maïko and elephant poachers
worked from temporary camps inside the park. Small scale commercial ivory
and live animal (including infant gorillas) trade had already established
routes through Butembo, Kisangani, Lubutu, Bafwasende and Walikale. The
vast surface area of the park and inadequate infrastructure made surveillance,
control and protection very difficult.
Claude Sikubwabo Kiyengo in Maiko
The current conflict erupted in June 1998. Two years later, with war
still ravaging the terrain, Conservateur Masasu (Maïko north) described
the situation (June 2000) from safe haven at Epulu. He reported that the
Maiko staff salaries have not been paid for the past three years. The
staff feel seriously ignored and unappreciated in comparison to the World
Heritage Site parks. He is forced to reside in the village of Butembo
(nearly 100 km from the park) because he is no longer able to pay rent
for his house in Manguredjipa. This indicates that there is no "protective"
presence within the park territory, the only effective deterrent against
illegal activity.
He further reported that the critical wildlife of Maïko National
Park are facing complete disaster as a result of the current crisis. For
example he cited events in February 1999 when an adult male gorilla was
killed and relates that soldiers based in Manguredjipa kill at least 2
elephants per week to sell the meat.
The primary factors influencing the poaching and exploitation of minerals
are the rebellion and the presence of humans who suffer the resulting
miseries of war and economic deprivation. Mineral prospectors and the
process of digging for gold (a lucrative clandestine career) impact the
water courses and shorelines of the rivers and scarring the landscape.
Rudimentary mechanical traps, nets, snares, capture devices, etc. are
employed to hunt bushmeat and threaten the lives and the well-being of
gorillas. A single trapper may maintain as many as 500 traps.
Due to the armed conflict and inability of park personnel to staff their
posts, there is little direct news from Maïko. However, the Okapi
Faunal Reserve (OFR) lies just to the north of Maiko and the Epulu station
(OFR) offers a relative perspective. John and Terese Hart generously provide
information from Epulu. They write that the northeastern Democratic Republic
of Congo remains completely unstable, and in August 2000 two new "rebel"
movements emerged, including an offshoot group based in Bafwasende. The
Bafwasende group include in their territorial claim the occupation of
half of northern Maïko.
We can reasonably assume that the situation at OFR is representative of
northern Maïko. In personal communications, the Harts relate that
they are having to fight a continuous battle against incursion, illicit
mining, elephant poaching, military deserters turned bandits/poachers,
etc. Most of these "elements" have some complicity with local
people, local authorities and the occupying governments. All are involved
in chaotic extractive activities, including bushmeat, but mainly driven
by the search for minerals (gold, colombo-tantalite, diamonds). The Harts
do not yet see an end to instability in the region. Meeting with Terese
Hart, Conservateur Masasu reported similar incursions into Maïko
north, but with the presence of more dangerous armed rebel and military
deserters as well.
A Médecins sans Frontières volunteer from Kisangani who had been
in the Lubutu and Oso region (Maïko south) in the recent past did
not even know of the existence of the park, but his description to John
Hart of the meat trade in the region was very worrying.
The Harts maintain that despite these depredations, much of the value
remains in the region (including Ituri and Maïko) and the capacity
for renewal is still there - as there is no serious loss of forest cover
or incursion by logging from timber companies, though these remain ultimate
risks. The Harts insist that there is still much worth saving - and fighting
for. They identify success in OFR as continuous vigilance on the ground
and support for whatever interventions can be achieved. Sadly, Maïko
lacks such a constituency.
However, Conservateur Masasu asks us to pursue peace, sensitization and
education of the human population living close to the park, formation
of personnel to control and organize ecological activities at the local
level, material (equipment) and financial support for the staff and project
assistance for the park.
The organisation of international support is absolutely necessary and
indispensable to save the treasures of the Maïko National Park. It
is my hope that this article will introduce Maiko to the broader public,
encourage support and potentially peak the interest of an NGO to adopt
Maïko.
Jo Thompson
Dr. Jo Thompson has been studying wild bonobos at the Lukuru Wildlife Research Project since 1992. She conducts survey and educational campaign expeditions. Since 1997 she has incorporated research, conservation and education efforts within the South Block, Salonga Park.
Reference
Hart, J.A. and Sikubwabo, C. 1994. Exploration of the Maïko National
Park of Zaire 1989-1992: History, environment and the distribution and
status of large mammals. Wildlife Conservation Society, New York.