Odzala-Kokoua National Park - Congo

Odzala-Kokoua totals 13,500 KM2 and has been an African Parks project since 2010.  It is situated in the heart of the second largest tropical rainforest in the world (after the Amazon), and harbours some of the rarest and most enigmatic species on the planet.  The park is home to the Critically Endangered western lowland gorilla, forest elephant, at lest 444 bird species, and an almost unparalleled floral diversity.

The stats....

• 22,000 gorillas confirmed in 2015 census;
• Over 106 eco-guards employed;
• Established in 1935, Odzala is one of Africa's oldest national parks.

The Highlights

• The "poacher to protector" programme, which permits poachers to become rangers in exchange for their firearm and full disclosure, has led to 56 confiscated firearms and improved park intelligence;
• A gorilla habituation programme is being implemented to improve tourism for local communities;
• Over 100 jobs have been created within park management;
• Since 2012, 5% of commercial revenue has gone into a Community Fund channeling US$82,000 in support of local projects;
• A mobile health clinic established serving 400 people in 39 villages around the park.

What next for Odzala-Kokoua?

• Provide new income streams for local communities, including planting 40,000 cocoa saplings outside of the park in rehabilitated cocoa fields;
• Following formal training from agricultural experts, communities are planting trees that are expected to start bearing fruit in two to three years;
• Continue with gorilla habituation at multiple sites within the park to aid tourism to deliver needed local benefits;
• Survey transects to evaluate wildlife population trends in order to better protect them;
• Implement a tourism development plan to increase tourism numbers and revenue.

All of this information has been taken from the African Parks website.  If you want to find out even more about Odzala-Kokoua National Park then why not grab a cuppa and click on the link below - happy browsing!

Odzala-Kokoua National Park 

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