View source for Salonga National Park (South Block)

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[[Central Africa]] > [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] > [[Salonga National Park (South Block)]]

= Summary = <!-- An overview of the site, with one sentence for each section. May include a site map -->
* Bonobos (''Pan paniscus'') are present in the south block of Salonga National Park.
* It has been estimated that 9,246 (CI 3,596-20,720) individuals occur in the site.
* The bonobo population trend is stable.
* The site has a total size of 17,127 km².
* Hunting is the most important threat to bonobos; expansion of land for agriculture and disease transmission threaten the bonobo population to a lower extent, but may increase in severity in the nearby future.
* Conservation activities have focused on biomonitoring, anti-poaching patrols and surveillance with SMART software application, education and awareness raising, and presence of researchers and staff.
* Salonga is the only national park in the geographic range of bonobos.
<div><ul> 
<li style="display: inline-block;">[[File: Anga station.jpg | 300px | thumb| right |View of Salonga National Park, South Block, from the guard Station of Anga © Mattia Bessone]]
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File: Stream Anga sector.jpg | 300px | thumb| right | A small stream on the path to Iyaelima, Sector of Anga © Mattia Bessone]]
<li style="display: inline-block;">[[File: Luilaka river.jpg | 300px | thumb| right | Luilaka river, Sector of Monkoto © Mattia Bessone]]
</ul></div>
= Site characteristics = <!-- A paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, and a table of key information -->

Salonga National Park (SNP) is the largest protected area of pristine rainforest in the African continent (33,500 km²). Located south of the Congo river, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is a [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/280/ UNESCO World Heritage] site and a stronghold for many endangered species. SNP, is divided into two blocks, North and South, separated by a 45 km wide inhabited buffer zone. Since 2015, the park is co-managed by the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN) in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature ([https://www.wwf-congobasin.org/where_we_work/priority_places/salonga_national_park/ WWF]).
In addition to bonobos, SNP harbours one of the few remnant populations of forest elephants (''Loxodonta cyclotis'') in the country. SNP is also home to 8 species of monkeys: Thollon’s red colobus (''Piliocolobus tholloni''), the Angola Pied Colobus (''Colobus angolensis''), Allen’s Swamp Monkey (''Allenopithecus nigroviridis''), Red-tailed monkey (''Cercopithecus ascanius''), Wolf's mona monkey (''Cercopithecus wolfii''), De Brazza’s Monkey (''Cercopithecus neglectus''), the Black Mangabey (''Lophocebus aterrinus'') and the Golden-bellied mangabey (''Cercocebus chrysogaster''). A large ungulate community is found in the Park, including the forest buffalo (''Syncerus caffer'') and the endangered Bongo (''Tragelaphus euryceros''), along with large carnivores such a the leopard (''Panthera pardus'') and the African golden cat (''Caracal aurata''). Finally, SNP is a stronghold for other endangered mammals such as the Giant ground pangolin (''Smutsia gigantea''), and for stunning birds such as the endemic Congo peafowl (''Afropavo congensis''). The entomofauna and floral diversity is equally rich, with many species expected being still unknown to science .

'''Table 1. Basic site information for Salonga National Park (South Block)'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="basic-information"
| Area <!-- Please include units: km2/ha e.g 200ha -->
|17,127 km²
|-
|Coordinates
| -2.533783 S, 20.907380 E
|-
|Designation
|National Park
|-
|Habitat types <!-- List IUCN Habitat Classification 3.0 categories present (without number), see link below -->
|Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical/tropical swamp forest, savanna, plantations, permanent rivers, lakes
|}
[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/habitat-classification-scheme IUCN habitat categories] [[Site designations]]

= Ape status = <!--An overview of ape population status (population sizes, trends, etc.), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->

After the first confirmation of bonobo presence (Kano 1984) only a few studies have estimated bonobo abundance in SNP’s southern block. Reinartz et al. (2006), conducted preliminary surveys in the South block between 2000 and 2002. Between 2002 and 2006, Grossmann et al. (2008) used a combination of recces (across the whole block) and line transects (over 5,500 km²) to estimate bonobo density and abundance using Distance Sampling. They reported an average density of 0.39 weaned bonobo/km² for the whole block. Then, between 2016 and 2018, Bessone et al. (2020), surveyed the whole block using a combination of Camera-Trap Distance Sampling (CTDS) and SCNC. Results from CTDS returned an estimated density of 0.54 weaned bonobo/km², with preliminary SCNC results providing estimates similar to those obtained by Grossmann et al. (2008) using the same method (Bessone et al. in preparation). Accordingly, the bonobo population trend of SNP block South was stable over the past decade.

'''Table 2. Ape population estimates in Salonga National Park (South Block)'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="population-estimate-table"
! Species
! Year
! Abundance estimate (95% CI)
! Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI)
! Encounter rate (nests/km)
! Area
! Method
! Source
! Comments
! A.P.E.S. database ID
|-
|''Pan paniscus''
|2016-2018
|9,246 (3,596 - 20,720)
|0.54 (0.21-1.21)
|
|17,000 km², SNP South block
|Point transects (Distance)
|Bessone et al. 2020
|
|
|-
|''Pan paniscus''
|2015
|1,042 (419 - 2,591)
|0.38 (0.15 - 0.96)
|3.19
|2,700 km², Salonga Lokofa
|Line transects (Distance)
|WCS 2015
|
|
|-
|''Pan paniscus''
|2006
|1,282 (699 - 2,533)
|0.51 (0.28 - 1.01)
|2.20
|2,500 km², Salonga Iyaelima
|Line transects (Distance)
|Grossmann et al. 2008
|
|
|-
|''Pan paniscus''
|2005
|541 (281 - 1,119)
|0.27 (0.14 - 0.56)
|1.15
|2,000 km², Salonga Lokofa
|Line transects (Distance)
|Grossmann et al. 2008
|
|
|-
|''Pan paniscus''
|2000
|
|1.36
|8
|<10 km², Salonga Beminyo
|Line transects (Distance)
|Reinartz et al. 2006
|
|
|-
|''Pan paniscus''
|2000-2002
|
|2.78
|24.4
|25 km², Salonga Lokofa
|Line transects (Distance)
|Reinartz et al. 2006
|
|
|}
[[File:biomonitoring team.jpg | 300px | thumb| right |Biomonitoring team © Bernard Ikembelo]] 
= Threats =     <!-- a text overview of threats, followed by a table of key threats -->

The bonobo is a taboo animal in some part of the South block, particularly (but not exclusively) in the Iyaelima area (Thompson et al. 2008), where the highest bonobo densities of the site have been observed, despite the presence of 8 permanent villages (Grossmann et al. 2008). However commercial hunters reach very deep into the site and hunting remains the main threat to the ape population (Hart et al. 2008). In addition, the frequent human presence within the site exposes bonobos to human-transmitted diseases such as the Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever. Two recent Ebola outbreaks were recorded north of the site, in Mbandaka (2018) and Boende (2014). Both are major centres in the region, with constant movement of people and traders from, and to, these towns. In spite of growing human populations, forest clearing for agricultural purposes is still concentrated outside the site, and the surface of cultivated areas inside the block has not changed since 2003 (IUCN 2020).

'''Table 3. Threats to apes in Salonga National Park (South Block)'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="threats-table"
!align="left"|Category <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE THREAT CATEGORIES -->
!Specific threats <!-- For specific threats, please use list of comma separated keywords from the IUCN list linked below -->
!Threat level <!-- For threat level, please use keywords: low, medium, high, present, absent, unknown-->
!Quantified severity <!-- Enter any available quantification of the threat, e.g., the proportion of the area affected by the threat, hunting sign encounter rates-->
!Description <!-- Add descriptive information -->
!Year of threat <!--  Enter specific year(s), “ongoing”, or “unknown”. If the threat is ongoing, please add the year of reference in parentheses -->
|-
|1. Residential & commercial development
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
|2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops
|Low
|<10% of the site (IUCN 2020).
|A small proportion of the site is concerned, with slash and burn concentrated outside the site borders.
|Ongoing (2020)
|-
|3. Energy production & mining
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|4. Transportation & service corridors
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|5. Biological resource use
|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals
|High
|Throughout the site (> 50%), but variable severity across areas.
|SNP has a history of intense poaching for ivory and bushmeat. Bonobos are taboo in some area of the Park, but are nevertheless hunted for commercial purposes, demand for bonobo meat and parts coming from cities outside the block. Signs of both traditional and professional hunting can be found everywhere in the block. (Hart et al., 2008; Bessone et al., in preparation).
|Ongoing (2020)
|-
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|7. Natural system modifications
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
|8.5 Viral/prion-induced diseases
|Low
|Throughout the site (> 50%).
|The frequent presence of humans, particularly (but not solely) due to the presence of 8 villages within the site borders, exposes bonobos to human-transmitted diseases such as Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever, with two recent outbreaks north of the Park, in Mbandaka (2018) and Boende (2014).
|Ongoing (2020)
|-
|9. Pollution
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|10. Geological Events
|
|Absent
|
|
|
|-
| 11. Climate change & severe weather
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|12. Other options
|
|Absent
|
|
|
|-
|}
[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/threat-classification-scheme IUCN Threats list]

= Conservation activities =       <!-- A summary of the conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->

'''Table 4. Conservation activities in Salonga National Park (South Block)'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="conservation-actions-table"
!align="left"|Category <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE CATEGORIES -->
!Specific activity <!-- For specific threats, please use list from the list linked below, OR enter “Not reported” -->
!Description <!-- Add descriptive information -->
!Year of activity <!-- Add descriptive information -->
|-
|1. Residential & commercial development
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|3. Energy production & mining
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|4. Transportation & service corridors
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|5. Biological resource use
|5.6. Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols
|Regular patrols are conducted by the Park management and have significantly increased over the past 5 years (IUCN 2020).
|Ongoing (2020)
|-
|5. Biological resource use
|5.10. Provide better equipment (e.g. guns) to anti-poaching ranger patrols
|Park management (IUCN 2020).
|Ongoing (2020)
|-
|5. Biological resource use
|5.11. Provide training to anti-poaching ranger patrols
|Park management (IUCN 2020).
|2018 and 2020
|-
|5. Biological resource use
|5.15. Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g. SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement patrols
|Park management (IUCN 2020).
|Ongoing (2020)
|-
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|7. Natural system modifications
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|9. Pollution
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|10. Education & Awareness 
|10.1. Educate local communities about primates and sustainable use
|Park management (IUCN 2020)
|Ongoing (2020)
|-
|11. Habitat Protection
|11.2. Legally protect primate habitat
|National Park since 1970.
|Ongoing (2020)
|-
|12. Species Management
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives 
|13.5. Permanent presence of staff/manager
|
|Ongoing (2020)
|-
|}
[[Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)]]

= Challenges = <!-- Overview of challenges in ape conservation -->

'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Salonga National Park (South Block)'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="challenges-table"
!align="left"|Challenge <!-- Do not change categories -->
!Source <!-- Source for challenge mentioned -->
|-
|Not reported
|
|-
|}

= Research activities = <!-- Overview of research activities -->

Reinartz et al. (2006; 2008), Grossmann et al. (2008), Maisels et al. (2010), WCS (2015) and Bessone et al. (2020) conducted surveys estimating bonobo and other species densities. Hart et al. (2008) reported on the impact of human activities on bonobos, and Thompson et al. (2008) on traditional culture of the Iyaelima people, with regard to bonobo conservation.nIn the buffer zone, west of the site, the LuiKotale Bonobo Project is conducting research on habituated bonobos, focusing on all aspects of bonobos’ ecology, physiology, behaviour and evolutionary history, as well as on ethnobotany (Hohmann and Fruth, 2003).

===Documented behaviours===   <!-- List of any behaviours observed at the site, including citations -->

'''Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Salonga National Park (South Block)'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="behaviors-table"
!align="left"|Behavior
!Source
|-
|Not reported
|
|-
|}

=External links=
[https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/280/ Salonga National Park UNESCO World Heritage]<br>
[https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/explore-sites/wdpaid/10906 Salonga National Park IUCN World Heritage Outlook]<br>
[https://www.wwf-congobasin.org/where_we_work/priority_places/salonga_national_park/ Salonga National Park WWF]<br>

===Relevant datasets===
[http://apesportal.eva.mpg.de/database/archiveMap A.P.E.S Portal]

= References =
Bessone, M., Kühl, H. S., Hohmann, G., Herbinger, I., N'Goran, K. P., Asanzi, P., . . . Beka, B. (2020). Drawn out of the shadows: Surveying secretive forest species with camera-trap distance sampling. Journal of Applied Ecology, 57(5), 963-974.<br>
Fruth, B., Hickey, J. M., Andre, C., Furuichi, T., Hart, J., Hart, T., . . . Reinartz, G. (2016). Pan paniscus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T15932A102331567.<br>
Grossmann, F., Hart, J. A., Vosper, A., & Ilambu, O. (2008). Range occupation and population estimates of bonobos in the Salonga National Park: application to large-scale surveys of bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In The Bonobos (pp. 189-216): Springer.<br>
Hart, J. A., Grossmann, F., Vosper, A., & Ilanga, J. (2008). Human hunting and its impact on bonobos in the Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. In The Bonobos (pp. 245-271): Springer.<br>
Hohmann, G., & Fruth, B. (2003). Lui Kotal: a new site for field research on bonobos in the Salonga National Park. Pan Africa News, 10(2), 25-27.<br>
IUCN (2020). Salonga National Park - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment. IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org.<br>
Kano, T. (1984). Distribution of pygmy chimpanzees (Pan paniscus) in the central Zaire basin. Folia primatologica, 43(1), 36-52.<br>
Thompson, J. M., Nestor, L. M., & Kabanda, R. B. (2008). Traditional land-use practices for bonobo conservation. In The Bonobos (pp. 227-244): Springer.<br>
Maisels, F., Nkumu, P., Bonyenge, A., & Naky, P. (2010). Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo: Terrestrial Wildlife and Human-Impact Monitoring Programme. Survey Report–Eastern Sector of Park. Unpublished report, Wildlife Conservation Society, New York.<br>
Reinartz, G. E., Isia, I. B., Ngamankosi, M., & Wema, L. W. (2006). Effects of Forest Type and Human Presence on Bonobo ( Pan paniscus) Density in the Salonga National Park. International Journal of Primatology, 27(4), 1229-1231.<br>
Reinartz, G. E., Guislain, P., Bolinga, T. M., Isomana, E., Inogwabini, B.-I., Bokomo, N., . . . Wema, L. W. (2008). Ecological factors influencing bonobo density and distribution in the Salonga National Park: applications for population assessment. In The Bonobos (pp. 167-188): Springer.<br>
WCS (2015). Survey of the Lokofa Block of the Salonga National Park: preliminary report. Wildlife Conservation Society, Kinshasa, DRC.<br>

<br>
'''Page completed by: '''Mattia Bessone''' Date:''' 07/12/2020 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->