Patrol Efforts are Reducing Threats to Okapi and Elephants

New ICCN Guards

In recent months, increased patrols by the Institute in Congo for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) targeted poachers and miners resulting in the confiscation of many pieces of ivory and bushmeat and the destruction of poaching and mining camps. Patrols are ongoing and will continue to target elephant poachers and miners that return to work the closed mines. The capacity of ICCN to protect the wildlife was recently enhanced by adding 49 newly trained recruits, increasing both the number of patrols executed as well as the area covered. These expanded patrols resulted in more snares collected, more elephant poachers arrested and the closure of additional illegal mines. We have seen an observable reduction in the bushmeat trade due to the eviction of over 15,000 miners from the reserve in the last 16 months. The protection provided by ICCN and the Congolese army has permitted Okapi Conservation Project staff to fully operate all of our education, agroforestry and community assistance programs that benefit communities living in and around the Reserve.  To read more click here.