Searching for Bonobo in Congo

In 2015 these African Grey nestlings, and many more, were pulled from their nests for the trade.

At Lake Ndjale, the Kasuku River suddenly hits a rock formation and slips sideways, the current veers from north to east and slows, widens to 3 km from bank to bank. 

The upland forests that lined the Kasuku River’s northern flow break into higher islands, mixed with swales, flooded forests, and rattan swamps.  Paddling through at the time of floods, we are amazed by the diversity of habitats near the upstream mouth to this 10 km long lake. 

And the presence and abundance of Parrots astounds. In the drier months there are many fewer, but from December through March the parrots fly by in flocks and sit at the entrance to nest holes.  In places their raucous communication deafens.

In the Ndjale nesting grounds, the African Greys nest almost exclusively in the tree locally known as Onya;  the tree frequently has hollows and holes; perhaps it stands dead for many years.  I am trying to figure out what its scientific name is – but for now, Onya.

This Onya is dead and standing.

An African Grey sitting at its nest hole in December 2024

Ndjale Lake is also amazing for its local guardians, the villages of the Yenge community that took initiative even before our first visit in 2015. 

In one of many small villages on the bank of Lake Ndjale, all part of the greater Yenge community.

In 2015, when Andrew visited he realized that adult parrots were not being captured around Lac Ndjale; nevertheless, we were horrified by the scale of nest-robbery and by the buyers who came and sat in the villages from January through March.  In particular we were horrified by the high mortality rate. 

Nest-robbers prefer older nestlings but will take even these very young ones although their likelihood of survival is low.

We later found out that not long before Andrew’s 2015 visit, Mongo climbers came in from an adjacent province.  They were part of a group of Mongo itinerant climbers that moves into areas of parrot abundance, and moves on when the parrot numbers plummet following their ruthless exploitation.

Parrot buyer with wares for exchange. She will also pay cash. There is a market for nestlings and for adults. She deals in both.

The Losoma village of its own initiative chased them away.  The villagers, themselves, were adept climbers; they could climb and bait “their’ adult parrots if they wanted, but they considered adult captures would put their nestling trade at risk.  Although it was not really for conservation reasons that they chased away the Mongos, they nevertheless, showed solidarity and community strength in doing so.

Losoma climbers of the Yenge community scale their trees without problem.

We have visited Losoma village, and the greater Yenge community many times now.   They are fighting other environmental risks to their livelihood:

• dry-season fires that destroy forest (266 km² were destroyed between June and Oct 2024) and
• the use of poisons (often pesticides) for fishing.

The fires of 2024 were far more severe than usual.

Fishing is the main source of income; fishing poisons have driven down the catch and size of fish.

Under their Chef Papy, the community organized and addressed letters to the provincial government.  They confronted offenders, and all this with little outside help…and little effect.

Meeting at Losoma, the chief’s village in the Yenge community.

What impresses us, and draws us to them, is their recent interdiction of the capture of parrot nestlings as well as adults.  Because it is now illegal within the Province , and perhaps because they realize how little of the market share the community receives, nest robbing has stopped in Yenge.  With minimal help from us, they monitor the nesting area.   

Nestlings confiscated from a neighboring community by the Yenge monitors.

A recent visit, accompanying monitors to the nesting grounds.

But there is more to it, they realize they need help to attack other environmental problems and have asked for our help:

• They need to turn traditional rights into legal rights;
• They need to publicize so that neighbors and outside exploiters know what is forbidden;
• They need the authority to arrest and prosecute offenders.

Moise Imani, of our P3CK, in blue jacket, helped with community organizing.

A group of villages that are now proud defenders of parrots, is ready to become defenders of their incredibly unique and locally loved environment.  We will do what we can to help.