DRC elephants thriving in war
23/06/2006 19:58  - (SA)  

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Kinshasa - Elephant populations were recovering in a national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo's war-torn east, mostly due to anti-poaching efforts, said conservationists on Friday.

According to the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and DRC's Nature Conservation Institute (ICCN), the numbers of other large mammals, such as buffalo and Ugandan kob, are also swelling in Virunga National Park.

The park sits on the DRC's border with Rwanda and is the oldest national park in Africa. It once boasted the highest density of large mammals in the world.

It is home to many of the world's few remaining mountain gorillas.

But the park has been at the heart of two wars in the last decade.

Poaching spiralled out of control and a plethora of national armies and rebel groups fought over territory and natural resources.

However, a census carried out earlier this month found that wildlife was beginning to return to the Virunga,.

"The results of the census are encouraging, and proof that protecting the park's wildlife can be done in the most turbulent conditions," said Deo Kujirakwinja, head of WCS's Virunga project.

Guards paid $1 a month

"Poaching is still taking a toll on wildlife and the rate of recovery is being slowed as a result, but it is clear that the efforts of ICCN and its partners are finally leading to a reduction in the level of poaching."

According to the census, the elephant population has increased from 265 to 340 in the last three years.

The number of buffalo has also swollen - from 2 300 to 3 800 - during the same period.

But protecting the DRC's animals has come at a high price for the guards, who are paid $1 a month by the government but receive some support from other organisations.

According to the conservation groups, over 100 guards in Virunga Park have been killed since 1996. A guard was also killed in May.

Conservationists hope that by protecting large mammals in Virunga, as well as other parks in the DRC, the vast former Belgian colony will be able to attract tourists.

Congo is due to hold its first free elections in over 40 years next month.

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