Encouraging report on the Congo national parks

Most serious has been the slaughter of white rhino. Aerial and ground censuses combined with other data suggest that as many as 950-1150 have been killed or have left the national park, leaving a residue of about 100.

Inevitably there has been considerable destruction in some areas of North-eastern Congo in the fighting since 1963. Nevertheless, all national park areas are territorially intact.

The Garamba NP has suffered much more severely (in the fighting since 1963) and in 1963 was in fact completely occupied by well-equipped revel forces and soldiers from bases in the Sudan. The park organisation is now being built up again, but practically all equipment has been destroyed or removed, including the vitally important vehicles.