Census in the Tayna Gorilla Reserve
The first faunal inventory of the Tayna Gorilla Reserve was organized
from July 2001 to May 2002. It was carried out by local technicians and
will serve as an example for other community conservation projects.
The survey was concerned mainly with primates and large mammals, but also
took in other animals. Two main methods were used: identification and
analysis of traces (tracks, droppings, knuckle prints, hair, food leftovers)
and counts of gorilla and chimpanzee nests. The results were as follows:
- 450 gorillas (density: 1 gorilla per km²),
- 17 primate species,
- 70 mammal species.
Among the mammals are several endangered or vulnerable species. In addition
to the gorillas, they include the following species: chimpanzee, owl faced
monkey, l’Hoest’s monkey, golden cat, Ruwenzori leopard, giant
pangolin, forest elephant, aardvark, red river hog, giant forest hog and
okapi.
Pierre Kakule Vwirasihikya and David Sivalingana Matsitsi
Pierre Kakule Vwirasihikya has been working
in the Virunga National Park since 1982 and became a Senior Warden in
1988. He took part in gorilla monitoring in the park. Currently, he is
both the Tayna Gorilla Reserve Coordinator (since 1998) and the UGADEC
Executive Secretary (since 2002). He won the ASP Conservation award in
2002.
David Sivalingana Matsitsi is the Scientific Director of the Tayna
Gorilla Reserve.