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The Itombwe Massif, Democratic Republic of Congo: biological surveys and conservation, with an emphasis on Grauer's gorilla and birds endemic to the Albertine Rift

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

Ilambu Omari ,
John A. Hart ,
Thomas M. Butynski ,
N. R. Birhashirwa ,
Agenonga Upoki ,
Yuma M'Keyo ,
Faustin Bengana ,
Mugunda Bashonga  and
Norbert Bagurubumwe
Ilambu Omari
Affiliation:
Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), BP 852, Bukavu, République Démocratique du Congo.
Thomas M. Butynski
Affiliation:
Zoo Atlanta's Africa Biodiversity Conservation Program, PO 24434, Nairobi, Kenya.
N. R. Birhashirwa
Affiliation:
Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), BP 852, Bukavu, République Démocratique du Congo.
Agenonga Upoki
Affiliation:
Faculté des Sciences, Universitée de Kisangani, Kisangani, République Démocratique du Congo.
Yuma M'Keyo
Affiliation:
Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), BP 852, Bukavu, République Démocratique du Congo.
Faustin Bengana
Affiliation:
Centre de Formation et de Recherche en Conservation Forestièere (CEFRECOF), Epulu via Bunia, République Démocratique du Congo.
Mugunda Bashonga
Affiliation:
Centre de Recherches en Sciences Naturelles (CRSN), Lwiro via Bukavu, République Démocratique du Congo.
Norbert Bagurubumwe
Affiliation:
Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), BP 852, Bukavu, République Démocratique du Congo.
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Abstract

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In 1996, the first major biological surveys in the Itombwe Massif in over 30 years revealed that significant areas of natural habitat and remnant faunal populations remain, but that these are subject to ongoing degradation and over-exploitation. At least 10 areas of gorilla Gorilla gorilla graueri occurrence, including eight of 17 areas identified during the first survey of the species in the massif in 1959, were found. Seventy-nine gorilla nest sites were recorded and at least 860 gorillas were estimated to occupy the massif. Fifty-six species of mammals were recorded. Itombwe supports the highest representation, of any area, of bird species endemic to the Albertine Rift highlands. Twenty-two of these species were recorded during the surveys, including the Congo bay owl Phodilus prigoginei, which was previously known from a single specimen collected in Itombwe nearly 50 years ago. No part of Itombwe is officially protected and conservation initiatives are needed urgently. Given the remoteness and continuing political instability of the region, conservation initiatives must collaborate with traditional authorities based in the massif, and should focus at the outset on protecting the gorillas and limiting further degradation of key areas.

Keywords

Afromontane forestsAlbertine RiftDemocratic Republic of Congoendemic avifaunagorillas
Type
Research Article
Information
Oryx , Volume 33 , Issue 4 , October 1999 , pp. 301 - 322
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1999

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