Support the protection of the Tsoulou Nature Reserve in Congo

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In the southwest of Congo, on the border between rainforest and savannah, lies the Tsoulou Reserve, established in 1963.

However, the core zone (over 300 km2) and a wide periphery around it has been protected only on paper since the late 1980s (like many reserves and national parks in Africa) and there is no control by the state or any other external structure. Valuable nature with rare ecosystems and endangered species is gradually being destroyed by the encroachment of unregulated agriculture, charcoal production and especially indiscriminate poaching.

The abandoned reserve was chosen by Save-Elephants as a major area of interest and future management because, despite its harsh history, it still has enormous potential and rich biodiversity. From 2022, they are taking the first steps for basic monitoring, species protection and local awareness here, and from 2025 onwards the management of the protected area should officially fall to them in cooperation with the Congolese Ministry of Nature Conservation. They are working towards signing a cooperation protocol that will make Save-Elephants the manager of the area. The long-term goal is to rehabilitate the entire area, both in terms of populations of rare species of plants and animals, and to set up an economic model of operation and exploitation that will allow local people to find work and livelihoods without destroying the wildlife as they have done so far.

The area is still home to the critically endangered forest elephants (dozens of individuals are recorded) and many other species such as hippos (the last few), the still relatively numerous forest buffalo, several species of antelope (sitatunga, wildebeest, waterbuck, chocholat), warthogs, waterbuck, warthogs, and servals, Smaller carnivores (civets, civets, promyx, nandinas), and many species of nocturnal and diurnal primates, including the mysterious colourful mandrills and even our close relatives the western lowland gorillas and chimpanzees, which inhabit mainly the northern periphery of the territory in the greater rainforest area. The reserve is also a paradise in terms of birds, to name but a few, such as grey jacco parrots, golden eagles, palm eagles, turacos, African beaks, grey-necked crows and a whole plethora of species of strdimilas, vultures and kingfishers. Herpetologists will also find something for themselves. The numerous watercourses and reservoirs host a variety of fish species, amphibians and invertebrates, led by huge catfish and shrimps.

Black bee-eater

In terms of geomorphology, Tsoulou is also unique, as it is a karst area with atypical limestone hills, overhangs and caves and even several crystal clear water streams (an unprecedented phenomenon for Africa) that spring directly from underground. The longest and most powerful of these is the Blue River, several metres deep and almost 4 km long, which may be one of the main attractions for future sustainable and regulated ecotourism.

At the moment, activities in the area are focused on three main themes:

Anti-poaching action - eye on the hippo

1) Baseline surveys and biomonitoring using direct observations and photo traps to better understand the surviving biodiversity,

2) periodic removal of the non-native aquatic invasive plant species tocosellids from karst clear rivers where they cause enormous ecological damage and

3) working with local people on the periphery in an effort to reduce the level of bushmeat poaching, while helping them protect their small fields from forest elephants using solar-powered electric barriers.

In this way, Save-Elephants reduces resource conflicts between us and we set the stage for long-term coexistence between people and wildlife.

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