Salonga National Park

Salonga National Park is a vast protected rainforest in the central Congo Basin of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important habitat for bonobos and other forest wildlife.

Congo Basin: The vast drainage basin and tropical forest region centered on the Congo River in Central Africa. Salonga protects a large tract of forest within this basin.
Bonobo: An endangered great ape found only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known for complex social behavior. Salonga is one of the most important protected habitats for this species.
Zaire: The name used for the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1971 to 1997. Salonga was established under this former country name.
Forest monitoring: The systematic observation of forest condition, change, and threats over time. Monitoring helps assess habitat change across Salonga’s enormous, difficult-to-survey area.
Tropical rainforest: A forest ecosystem in tropical climates with high rainfall and dense, layered vegetation. This ecosystem forms the park’s dominant habitat.
African forest elephant: A forest-dwelling elephant species native to the tropical forests of Central and West Africa. Its populations are among the wildlife the park’s protection can benefit.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Central African country containing much of the Congo Basin and its tropical rainforest. The park lies within this country and is managed under its authority.
Protected area management: The planning and administration of protected places to conserve nature and address human pressures. Salonga’s effectiveness depends on sustained management across a remote landscape.
Congo River: Africa’s second-longest river, flowing through the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Atlantic Ocean. The river system shapes access and drainage across the surrounding region.
Congo peafowl: A large forest bird endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This elusive endemic species occurs in the park’s rainforest landscape.

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