Tsoulou: A forgotten paradise waiting to be rescued
In the southwest of Congo lies the Tsoulou Reserve - a place where rainforest meets savannah, wildlife breathes its last breath and the future depends on outside help.
Once a protected area, it is now at the mercy of poachers, illegal farming and logging. Yet rare forest elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, hippos, mandrills, dozens of species of birds, primates, carnivores and fish survive here. Tsoulou remains one of the most valuable biodiversity refuges in Africa.
And not only that, but it is a unique place in terms of nature. Tsoulou is a karst area with caves, limestone hills and crystal clear rivers that spring directly from underground. The largest of these is the Blue River, several metres deep and almost 4 km long, which is one of the greatest geological wonders of the region and has enormous potential for future sustainable ecotourism.
Black bee-eater
Since 2022, the Czech organization Save-Elephants has been taking steps to save the area. They monitor the local wildlife, educate the locals and try to take over the official management of the area in cooperation with the Congolese Ministry of Nature Conservation.
At the moment, activities in the area are focused on three main themes:
Anti-poaching action - eye on the hippo
1) Baseline surveys and biomonitoring using direct observations and photo traps to better understand the surviving biodiversity,
2) periodic removal of the non-native aquatic invasive plant species tocosellids from karst clear rivers where they cause enormous ecological damage and
3) working with local people on the periphery in an effort to reduce the level of bushmeat poaching, while helping them protect their small fields from forest elephants using solar-powered electric barriers.
In this way, Save-Elephants reduces resource conflicts between us and we set the stage for long-term coexistence between people and wildlife.
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