Salonga National Park

Salonga National Park is a massive protected area in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located within the Congo River basin. This park protects the largest tropical rainforest in Africa. It is also the second largest rainforest on Earth. The park covers approximately 36,000 square kilometers of land. It spans across several provinces, including Mai Ndombe, Equateur, Kasaï, and Sankuru. This vast area is vital for protecting a highly biodiverse ecosystem. Its size allows many species to evolve with very little disturbance from humans.

The ecology of the park relies on complex natural processes. In the southwestern part of the park, scientists identified 735 different plant species. A very high number of these plants, about 85%, use a process called zoochory. Zoochory is when animals help to disperse seeds to new locations. This relationship between animals and plants helps the forest stay healthy. The park also supports many large mammals at high densities. These include leopards, Bongo antelopes, and black-crested mangabeys. Even forest elephants maintain a viable population despite the pressure of hunting.

Many different types of animals live within these forests. The park is home to many primate species. These include the bonobo, the Dryas monkey, and the Allen's swamp monkey. You can also find the Thollon's red colobus and the golden-bellied mangabey. Other primates include the red-tailed monkey, the Potto, and the dwarf bushbaby. The mammal population also includes the giant pangolin and the long-tailed pangolin. Other creatures include the African golden cat, the red river hog, and the forest buffalo. Even aquatic animals like the Congo clawless otter and the hippopotamus live here.

The park's bird and fish populations are also very diverse. The Congo peafowl lives in both the primary and secondary forests. This bird is a threatened species and is the national bird of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Other birds include the cattle egret, the black stork, and the yellow-billed stork. In the water, researchers have identified 56 different fish species. These include types of catfish like Clarias monsembulai. You can also find African slender-snouted crocodiles living in the park's waterways.

The history of the park involves several important changes. It was originally established in 1956 as Tshuapa National Park. In 1970, President Mobutu Sese Seko issued a decree to set its current boundaries. The park was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. However, it was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1999. This was due to the civil war in the eastern part of the country. Poaching and the construction of houses also threatened the area. Fortunately, conservation improved, and the park was removed from the endangered list in 2021.

Human populations also play a role in the park's management. The Iyaelima people live in the southern region of the park. There is also a religious group called the Kitawalistes who settled there after the park was created. The Iyaelima work closely with park guards. In fact, their villages are often used as guard posts. Interestingly, bonobo populations are highest near Iyaelima villages. This suggests that the Iyaelima people do not harm these animals. This collaboration helps protect the park's most famous species.

Accessing the park is difficult due to its geography. There are almost no roads inside the protected area. Most of the park can only be reached by traveling by river. The Lokoro River flows through the northern and central parts. The Lula River flows through the southern region. The Salonga River winds northwest until it meets the Busira River. Some sections of the park are so remote that they have never been systematically explored. For those using land, a dirt road leads southeast from Monkoto Airport toward the park boundaries.