Country/Region: Democratic Republic of Congo
Partner: Okapi Conservation Project
The okapi, also known as the “forest giraffe,” is one of the world’s least-known mammals, only discovered by the western world in the early 20th century. Native to the tropical forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the okapi has been a protected species since 1933 and is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Human activities such as slash-and-burn agriculture, deforestation, poaching, and illegal mining have caused a significant decline in okapi populations. Their survival depends entirely on healthy, intact forests. The presence of illegal armed groups in and around key protected areas worsens the situation by enabling poaching and deforestation, and obstructing conservation efforts.
This project aims to strengthen the defenses of the Okapi Wildlife Reserve (OWR) by supporting ICCN ecoguards and securing key agroforestry sites. The Okapi Conservation Project (OCP) has a longstanding partnership with the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN), providing essential support for rangers who protect and monitor wildlife in the Ituri Forest. This support includes equipment, training, daily wages, performance bonuses, and healthcare for the rangers and their families.
With additional funding from Fondation Segré for 2024, this project will provide patrol rations, healthcare, and logistical support to ecoguards, increasing their effectiveness in safeguarding the Reserve. Security fences will also be constructed around agroforestry sites in Mungbere and Wamba to protect seedlings and local community resources.
These efforts will not only help conserve the okapi, a national symbol of the DRC, but also protect the broader ecosystem that the species relies on for survival, serving as an indicator of forest health.