Category Archives: History of TL2

Death of a Great Conservationist

Lomami National Park would not exist without local champions. The most pivotal – one who both led and reprimanded – even foreign conservationists (us),– was the chief, Mama Jeanne Ulimwengu. For nine years she was the supreme leader of the Bangengele. She was buried last Sunday. There is contention over who shall replace her. She […]

Delcommune: Colonial Champion of the Lomami

In 1889, Delcommune killed these hippos on the Lomami just south of the rapids we call Badinga and he called Lissambo. Early European travelers on the Lomami fed their troops by killing hippos and elephants.  The Lomami’s first advocate was the 19th century businessman, Alexandre Delcommune. He was more than an entrepreneur – he was […]

Lomami’s Wild West

From the earliest colonial era through the present, Balanga West has always been too far away to matter. A classroom as it now is in Balanga West. Balanga West is the one hole in the map of our own inventories of 2007-2009. Not because we thought the Balanga West forest was unimportant, it was just […]

Lomami National Park: a New Protected Area in D.R. Congo

On July 19th 2016, the Lomami National Park took its place as Congo’s 8th national park, the first in more than forty years. The Parc National de la Lomami (PNL) markers are set along the southern limit with local chiefs. This gold nugget surfaced from the travail of many, long collaborations. The real debate started […]