Tayna Nature Reserve

Central Africa > Democratic Republic of the Congo > Tayna Nature Reserve

Summary

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• Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) & Grauer's gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) are present in Tayna Nature Reserve.
• The population estimates are unknown.
• The great ape population trend is decreasing.
• The site has a total size of 900 km².
• Key threats to great apes include subsistence hunting, expansion of land for agriculture, wood harvesting, and artisanal mining.
• Conservation activities have focused on community engagement, gorilla rehabilitation and reintroduction, and conservation education.

Site characteristics

File:Gorilla and infant Tayna GRACE.jpg

Gorilla adult with infant © GRACE

Tayna Nature Reserve is located in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, within the transition zone between lowland forests and the Congo river to the west, and the Albertine Rift to the east (GRACE 2021). The reserve is not only important as one of the last strongholds for the critically endangered Gauer's gorilla, but it also sustains a wide species diversity, including endemic species. In addition the Grauer's gorilla and eastern chimpanzees, other species of conservation concern present at the site include owl faced monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, golden cats, Ruwenzori leopards, giant pangolins, forest elephants, aardvarks, red river hogs, giant forest hogs, and okapis (Vwirasihikya & Matsitsi 2003). The reserve was identified by Plumptre et al. (2016) as one of four priority areas for the conservation of Grauer's gorilla outside of national parks within the entire Albertine Rift.

Table 1. Basic site information for Tayna Nature Reserve

Area	900 km²
Coordinates
Designation	Nature Reserve
Habitat types	Subtropical/tropical moist montane forest

IUCN habitat categories Site designations

Ape status

Tayna holds one of the most important gorilla populations and represents a priority site for conservation efforts (Plumptre et al. 2015a, Maldonado et al. 2012). Survey information has been very limited in the past due to insecurity in the region. In 2012, a survey was halted after only a few days due to unresolved conflict between the Reserve and the survey team. In 2021, the first survey to cover the entire reserve was conducted. Survey teams recorded 305 gorillas nests, 280 chimpanzee nests, and 25 signs of other animals, including 5 species of monkeys, pangolin, forest buffalo, African grey parrot, leopard, and a single Okapi footprint (Fawcett & Kabuyaya Mbeke 2021). The gorilla population at Tayna is also considered a priority in terms of the preservation of genetic diversity (Valk et al. 2018). Based on historical museum specimens and modern faecal samples, Grauer's gorilla populations have experienced a rapid loss of genetic diversity. This decline is attributed to the loss of peripheral populations rather than a decrease in genetic diversity in the core range of the species (Valk et al. 2018). Tayna is located at the northeastern extreme of the Grauer landscape, potentially representing a unique genetic profile.

Table 2. Ape population estimates in Tayna Nature Reserve

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
Gorilla beringei graueri	2001-2002	450	1.00		Tayna Gorilla Reserve	Identification and analysis of traces (tracks, droppings,knuckle prints, hair), and nest counts	Vwirasihikya & Matsitsi 2003
Gorilla beringei graueri	2012	185-210			906 sq km, Tayna Nature Reserve	Monitoring data, transects, and partial count based on Nixon & Buckley 2006, Nixon unpubl. data as cited by Plumptre et al. 2015b	Plumptre et al. 2015b
Gorilla beringei graueri	2011-2015	541 (121-2414)	0.289		1869 sq km, Tayna-Kisimba-Ikobo	Index survey (reconnaissance walk) and line transect survey	Plumptre et al. 2016
Gorilla beringei graueri	2021			Present	Tayna Nature Reserve 900 sq km	Fast transect method (survey team swept a 100-metre-wide corridor looking for animal prints, food remains, dung and nests.	Fawcett & Kabuyaya Mbeke 2021
Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii	2021			Present	Tayna Nature Reserve 900 sq km	Fast transect method (survey team swept a 100-metre-wide corridor looking for animal prints, food remains, dung and nests.	Fawcett & Kabuyaya Mbeke 2021

Threats

The socioeconomic depression arising from over a decade of civil war placed enormous pressure on the forest resources and fauna in the region (Plumptre et al. 2015b). In addition, since 1996, the entire Grauer's gorilla range has been consumed in conflict, resulting in a breakdown of wildlife protection activities. Key ongoing threats at the site include agricultural expansion (Ayebare et al. 2018), subsistence hunting and wood harvesting, and mining (Plumptre et al. 2015b, Plumptre et al. 2016).

Table 3. Threats to apes in Tayna Nature Reserve

Category	Specific threats	Threat level	Quantified severity	Description	Year of threat
1. Residential & commercial development		Absent
2. Agriculture & aquaculture	2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops	High		Subsistence agriculture (GRACE 2021).	Ongoing (2021)
3. Energy production & mining	3.2 Mining & quarrying	High		Artisanal mining for minerals such as cassiterite, gold and coltan (Plumptre et al. 2015b).	Ongoing (2022)
4. Transportation & service corridors		Unknown
5. Biological resource use	5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	High		Bushmeat hunting for subsistence (Fawcett, K., pers. comm. 2022). Furthermore, several gorillas were killed (and an infant captured) in the Tayna Nature Reserve between 2004 and 2007, as reported by Nixon, S. (Plumptre et al. 2015b).	Ongoing (2022)
	5.3 Logging & wood harvesting	Low	1.57% forest loss within the reserve between 2000 and 2018. Considering a 5 km buffer zone around the reserve shows 5.06% forest loss in the same time period (GRACE 2021).	Logging for local subsistence, e.g., gathering fuelwood, timber harvesting for construction (Fawcett, K., pers. comm. 2022, GRACE 2021).	Ongoing (2022)
6. Human intrusion & disturbance		Unknown
7. Natural system modifications		Unknown
8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases	8.5 Viral/prion-induced diseases	Present, but threat severity unknown		Ebola outbreak that lasted 18 months, not directly inside the reserve, but in eastern DRC (GRACE 2021).	2017-2019
9. Pollution		Unknown
10. Geological Events		Absent
11. Climate change & severe weather		Unknown
12. Other options		Absent

IUCN Threats list

Conservation activities

Since the late 1990s community leaders have led an effort to protect the area; in fact, the site was created from land donated by community members (GRACE). By protecting the land, local communities aimed to prevent the loss of local forests, wildlife, and sacred cultural sites to agricultural expansion and commercial cattle ranchers (GRACE). The site was officially declared the Tayna Nature Reserve in 2006 by the government of DRC. The reserve is managed by the community in partnership with the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) center, and the ICCN. Conservation activities at the reserve are divided into four main strategies: 1) Gorilla rehabilitation, 2) Gorilla conservation (reintroduction of rehabilitated gorillas back into the wild), 3) Conservation education, and 4) Community engagement, e.g., assisting local communities with finding sustainable solutions for co-existing with wildlife, promoting local conservation leadership and building pride (GRACE).

Table 4. Conservation activities in Tayna Nature Reserve

Category	Specific activity	Description	Year of activity
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	5.17. Provide sustainable alternative livelihoods; establish fish- or domestic meat farms	GRACE supports domestic livestock initiatives started by local women’s groups, including a guinea pig program (https://gracegorillas.org/grace-about-the-organization/#our-programs).	Ongoing (2022)
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	GRACE provides conservation education programs with schoolchildren and local communities (GRACE).	Ongoing (2022)
	10.2. Involve local community in primate research and conservation management	Extensive training of local community members to lead field data collection, e.g., monitoring gorillas and other wildlife, as well as human activity signs in the reserve (GRACE 2021).	Ongoing (2022)
	10.5. Implement multimedia campaigns using theatre, film, print media, and discussions	Conservation outreach through a radio program; the Tayna radio station estimates its audience is 60,000 people (GRACE 2021).	Ongoing (2022)
11. Habitat Protection	The site is a Nature Reserve.		Ongoing (2022)
12. Species Management	12.24. Rehabilitate injured/orphaned primates	Sanctuary for rescued orphans and illegally captured gorillas, which are confiscated by the ICCN; GRACE cares for the rehabilitation and release outside the reserve, within the Grauer's range (GRACE). Currently GRACE is working towards the release of gorillas in Virunga National Park to reinforce the functionally extinct population at the park (Fawcett, K. pers. comm. 2022).	Ongoing (2022)
13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives	13.1. Provide monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g. REDD, employment)	Jobs brought to local communities through conservation (Fawcett, K. pers. comm. 2022, GRACE).	Ongoing (2022)
13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives	Other	Many community engagement activities focus on women to support their empowerment, and because they're the primary users of natural resources. For example, GRACE is working with women’s groups to build and install more efficient stoves to significantly reduce the amount of wood needed per household. (GRACE).	Ongoing (2022)

Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)

Challenges

Table 5. Challenges reported for Tayna Nature Reserve

Challenge	Source
Civil unrest	Plumptre et al. 2015
Lack of capacity/training	Fawcett, K. pers. comm. 2022
Poverty reduction and improving human livelihoods along with conservation goals.	Fawcett, K. pers. comm. 2022

Research activities

There is a permanent presence of monitoring teams in the Tayna Nature Reserve led by the community management authority RGT in partnership with GRACE. Damien Caillaud, Associate Professor at UC Davis is a GRACE science advisor for this work.

Documented behaviours

Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Tayna Nature Reserve

Behavior	Source
Not reported

External links

GRACE website
GRACE Facebook

References

Fawcett, K. & Kabuyaya Mbeke, J. (2021): Survey of Great Apes (Gorilla beringei graueri, Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in Tayna Nature Reserve, Eastern DR Congo. Unpublished report, Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center.
Plumptre, A.J., Ayebare, S. & Kujirakwinja, D. (2015a). Priority Areas for Conservation in the Maiko, Tayna, Kahuzi Biega Landscape. Unpublished Report for USAID and USFWS.
Plumptre, A.J., Nixon, S., Critchlow, R., Vieilledent, G., Nishuli, R., Kirkby, A., Williamson, E.A., Hall, J.S. & Kujirakwinja, D. (2015b). Status of Grauer’s gorilla and chimpanzees in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Historical and current distribution and abundance. Unpublished report to Arcus Foundation, USAID and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Plumptre, A. J., Nixon, S., Kujirakwinja, D. K., Vieilledent, G., Critchlow, R., Williamson, E. A., ... & Hall, J. S. (2016). Catastrophic decline of world's largest primate: 80% loss of Grauer's Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) population justifies critically endangered status. PloS one, 11(10), e0162697.
Plumptre, A. J., Ayebare, S., Kujirakwinja, D., & Segan, D. (2020). Conservation planning for Africa's Albertine Rift: conserving a biodiverse region in the face of multiple threats. Oryx, 55(2), 302-310.
Vwirasihikya, K.P. & Matsitsi, S.D. (2003). Census in the Tayna Gorilla Reserve. Gorilla Journal 26.

Page completed by: Dr. Katie Fawcett & A.P.E.S. Wiki team Date: 23/03/2022