JRS is proud to support African Parks with a grant to sustain research and monitoring programs that are essential to effective conservation at two protected areas: Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Greater Zakouma Ecosystem in Chad.

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Garamba National Park (GNP), which has been managed by African Parks in partnership with ICCN since 2005, in maintaining a groundbreaking research and monitoring program to improve our understanding of the wildlife populations and priority species, to inform park management decisions. In recent months, chimpanzee monitoring study and increased the capacity of the Research & Monitoring (R&M) team, resulting in a series of surveys during the reporting period, including the Elephant Demographic Survey (EDS), large mammal aerial survey, annual giraffe population assessment, and a carnivore survey. Camera traps registered other species including bongo antelope, red river hog, blue duiker, red duiker, bushbuck, and baboons captured on video. View some of these camera-trap videos and photos below. Over time, these data can provide information on species densities and patterns of change.

 

JRS supports African Parks’ research program of large mammals and ostriches in Chad’s Zakouma National Park (ZNP), along with adjoining Siniaka Minia Wildlife Reserve (SMWR) and Bahr Salamat Faunal Reserve (BSFR). In partnership with the Government of Chad, African Parks has been managing Zakouma since 2010. Monitoring activities include aerial surveys, animal collars, and ground patrols by law enforcement and research and monitoring teams to track large fauna and collect research data. This ecosystem is a complex mosaic of habitats that constitute a unique refuge for lions, giraffes, elephants and rhinos in the region. View ZNP camera-trap photos below.