Forest elephants and gorillas find a sanctuary in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, yet as encroaching deforestation progresses, human-animal interactions, giving birth to myths and legends, are becoming increasingly common.
In the heart of the Congo Basin rainforest lies Odzala-Kokoua National Park, a key biodiversity area with largely intact rainforest ecosystems [1][2]. The park, home to lush primary forests crossed by rivers such as the Mambili and Lokoué, remains a priority for conservation efforts, given the significance of the Congo Basin's ecosystems [1].
However, the park faces indirect pressures that can contribute to deforestation, including wildlife trafficking, infrastructure expansion, and human activities that can lead to habitat degradation [2]. These pressures can decrease forest cover and disrupt habitats critical for wildlife survival.
Wildlife, including carnivores, are monitored in the park, with habitat loss posing a potential threat to their populations [4]. Although specific findings on savanna carnivores in the park were not included in the excerpts, ongoing monitoring of wildlife populations vulnerable to habitat loss suggests continued research in this area.
Regarding zoonotic diseases, no direct evidence from recent studies on Odzala-Kokoua was found linking deforestation to zoonotic disease emergence. However, scientific literature recognizes that deforestation can increase human-wildlife contact, heightening the risk of zoonotic pathogen spillover, a concern relevant to tropical forest regions like the Congo Basin [3].
The ongoing conservation and scientific efforts are crucial to mitigating deforestation impacts on wildlife and reducing zoonotic disease risks in Odzala-Kokoua National Park. As humans encroach more on the forest, the chances of zoonotic diseases making the jump into the human population increase [5].
The relentless appetite for bushmeat, the march of industry, and the looming shadow of climate change are contributing to the destruction of the Congo rainforest [6]. Agriculture, logging, mining, and a swelling population are causing annual loss of the jungle in the Congo [7]. Settlements in the region rely heavily on slash-and-burn agriculture, leading to habitat loss and an ecological nightmare of a cycle.
The Congo Basin, Earth's second-largest rainforest, has lost 23 million hectares of forest since 2003 [8]. Government corruption allows for unchecked encroachment into the Congo rainforest [9]. Weakening the rainforest will have global implications, including the growing proximity between humans and wildlife, which facilitates the transmission of zoonotic diseases [10].
Among the Ba'Aka, a forest-dwelling people, stories of the "one who stops rivers" have been passed down for centuries [11]. The local African legend of Mokele-mbembe, often associated with deforestation, remains a fascinating part of the region's folklore [12]. Conservationists like Laura Vlachova and Selah Abong'o believe that the resurgence of Mokele-mbembe stories reflects a shrinking ecosystem [13][14].
The conservation manager at African Parks, Gwili Gibbon, notes that the populations of endangered gorillas and chimpanzees continue to decline year after year [15]. Surveys in 2006 and 2007 uncovered an astonishing 125,000 gorillas in the Lac Télé Community Reserve [16].
Despite the challenges, efforts to preserve Odzala-Kokoua National Park and its rich biodiversity continue. The park serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between humanity and nature, and the need for conservation and sustainable practices to ensure the survival of our planet's most precious ecosystems.
