Resources
Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park

  • Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park covers 4,000 square kilometers of forest of exceptionally high integrity, with a closed canopy stretching as far as the eye can see, except for clearings such as Wali, which features a forest lake much loved by elephants, bordered by an observation tower. 
    Photo credit : Scott Ramsay
  • A symbol of the park, Kingo was the first silverback gorilla to be habituated to human presence for the purposes of observation and scientific data collection, in order to improve our understanding of the park's ecosystems, to better protect them. 
    Photo credit : Kyle de Nobrega
  • Sheltered by tall trees, the base of Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, adjacent to the village of Bomassa, comprises several dozen buildings where about 200 staff members, researchers, ecoguards, administrators, and logisticians work tirelessly to protect the park. 
    Photo credit : Thomas Nicolon
  • The park boasts three long-term research sites that study the ecosystems and wildlife of the Congo Basin, producing unique observational data spanning more than twenty years, which is essential for understanding the life cycles of megafauna. 
    Photo credit : Kyle de Nobrega
  • In the trees overlooking the headquarters of the park in Bomassa, mantled colobus monkeys observe the bustling humans with curiosity. 
    Photo credit : Scott Ramsay
  • Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park is a leading research site, particularly for primates, where direct observation in a high-integrity forest allows for the collection of invaluable data, and enables responsible tourism that generates income for conservation and for the communities that support it. 
    Photo credit : Scott Ramsay
  • African grey parrots are an iconic species of the Congo Basin forest, poached to supply the pet trade, and classified as endangered since 2016. 
    Photo credit : Scott Ramsay
  • Long considered a single species, African elephants have been distinguished between forest and savanna elephants since 2021. As soon as they became a separate species, forest elephants were immediately classified as critically endangered, having lost 62% of their population between 2002 and 2011. 
    Photo credit : Will Burrard-Lucas
  • Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park is bordered by two villages, Makao and Bomassa, whose inhabitants play an active role in its management. A majority of households in these villages have at least one member employed by the park, creating vital job opportunities in a remote region of Congo. 
    Photo credit : Clément Kolopp
  • The first detailed observations of wild primates using different types of tools were made in Ndoki, where observing chimpanzees provided a wealth of information about these cousins of humans, who use tools to feed on ants, termites, and honey. 
    Photo credit : Sean Brogan
  • The Park is staffed with ecoguards responsible for enforcing the Republic of Congo's wildlife protection law, under the authority of the Ministry of Forest Economy. Since the signing of a public-private partnership between the Ministry and WCS in 2014, securing new investments has made it possible to better supply, equip, and train them. 
    Photo credit : Kyle de Nobrega
  • In 2024, the park became the world’s first Key Biodiversity Area identified for its ecological integ- rity according to standards set by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). 
    Photo credit : Kyle de Nobrega