Dzanga-Sangha National Park

Dzanga-Sangha National Park

The Dzanga-Sangha National Park is a protected reserve in the south-west of the Central African Republic, established in 1990, covering an area of 6865,54 km2. The park is one of several sites in the Dzanga-Sangha Complex of Protected Areas, and forms part of the Sangha Trinational Landscape, along with Lobéké National Park in Cameroon and Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo. The Dzanga-Sangha Forest Reserve is an ecologically rich area with a wide range of megafauna species including Western Lowland Gorillas, African Forest Elephants, Bongo Antelopes, African Forest Buffalos, White-Nosed and Moustache Monkeys, Grey-Cheeked Mangabeys, bushpigs, duikers and a variety of bird species. The area is home to one of the highest densities of gorillas in the world, with an estimated 2,000 gorillas living in the reserve, which has been an important site for research on Western Lowland Gorillas and Forest Elephants in particular since the reserve was established. Thousands of insect species are also found here, as well as rodent species such as the Cane Rat, the Giant Rat and the Porcupine. The reserve is also famous for its Dark-Crowned Forest Eagles, which have an average wingspan of 1.55 meters, and the magnificent Blue-Breasted Kingfisher. The WWF has been involved in the Dzanga-Sangha Primate Habituation Program in the park since 1997. Together with the local Baka population and other stakeholders, since 2001 the park has promoted "gorilla tourism", which allows tourists to visit and spend time with a family of gorillas.