Initial Phase of Camera Trap Study Proves Successful

During the last year as the security situation inside the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) gradually improved, we were able to put in motion a plan to better monitor the okapi populations’ response to the reduction of the number of miners traveling through and living in the Reserve. Through a grant from WCN’s Cross Partner Exchange Program, Jim Sanderson of the Small Cat Conservation Alliance advised OCP on which camera traps to purchase, how to set and place them, and provided feedback on image quality and camera settings to the staff in the field.

On my trip to DR Congo in July, I brought in 5 camera traps, metal ‘bear proof’ housings, spare batteries, cables, locks and memory cards. The camera brand ‘Covert’ did not go over very well with Congolese custom officials, but nonetheless with a lot of unpacking and repacking to satisfy security checks along the way, all five cameras and accessories made it to Epulu.

The objective of the first phase of the project was to train a team of OCP staff, ICCN rangers and volunteers to set up, monitor, collect and sort images and be able to move the camera traps around the forest. “TEAM OKAPI” was formed and is made up of Jean Paul M’monga (OCP/ICCN), Berce Nsafuansa (WCS), ICCN rangers Marceline Kpetule, Alain Masumbuko, Muyisa Muzaliwa and Talaguma Ilebe, Zaituni Lubenga (OCP) and Mbuti guides Mustafa Tapi and Michael Jackson.  To read more click here.