Okapi Wildlife Reserve

3 November, 2013

The Reserve contains 101 mammal species (Crit X OUV)

African elephant (forest elephant)

"The inselbergs of the region are a unique habitat which harbor an endemic flora"

See (www.unep-wcmc.org

Forest buffalo

"combined with swamp forests that grow alongside the waterways" (OUV)

Congo Basin

"As a Pleistocene refugium, the forest contains dense evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, dominated by Mbau trees (Gilbertiodendron dewevrei). The Nepoko, Ituri, and Epulu rivers flow through the reserve, surrounded by swamp forests. The granite outcrops in the north of the reserve protect critical habitat for Encephalartos ituriensis, a threatened species of cycad. Because of its relatively stable climate during the repeated ice ages, the wildlife reserve, and the Ituri Forest as a whole, protects a unique biological community." (Wiki)

dwarf bushbaby, potto

Forest elephants are under intense pressure from ivory poachers. Many players are involved including uncontrolled elements of the Congolese army (FARDC) and armed militia. Hunting for the commercial bushmeat trade is also intense, and has increased significantly since the rehabilitation of the national road RN4 was completed in 2008

x. to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.

Some 4000 people live inside the reserve, mostly Mbuti pygmies." and " although not a factor in the criteria for natural sites, the OFR is of special interest for its cultural values as it is inhabited by traditional nomadic pygmy Mbuti and Efe hunters" (AB).

See www.msnbc.msn.com

"The reserve is inhabited by traditional nomadic pygmy Mbuti and Efe hunters"

"The end of the Pliocene epoch (2.5-6 million years ago) saw a number of long necked giraffids evolve, but largely unsuccessfully with only 2 surving to this day"

See www.giraffeconservation.org

DD : “The Reserve has a small guest house which receives a small but steady flow of visitors. The rehabilitated RN4 highway improved access for tourism.” (IUCN Outlook 2020)

DRC fully off-limits

Okapi: "Okapi Wildlife Reserve contains flora of outstanding diversity and provides refuge to numerous endemic and threatened species, including one-sixth of the existing Okapi population." (OUV)