Maiko National Park

Central Africa > Democratic Republic of the Congo > Maiko National Park

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Summary

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• Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) & Grauer's gorillas (Gorilla beringei graueri) are present in Maiko National Park.
• The chimpanzee and gorilla population trends are decreasing.
• The site has a total size of 10,830 km².
• Civil conflict and the rise of armed groups controlling artisanal mines have led to widespread poaching in the area.
• The main conservation activities reported include, monitoring surveillance patrols, local community engagement, and providing non-monetary benefits to the local community.
• The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (DFGF) and Flora and Fauna International (FFI) have implemented community conservation projects near Maiko National Park.

Site characteristics

Located in eastern DRC, Maiko National Park is the only protected area that harbours Grauer’s gorilla alongside important populations of okapi, Congo peafowl and forest elephant (Maldonado et al. 2012).

Table 1. Basic site information for Maiko National Park

Species	Gorilla beringei graueri, Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii
Area	10,830 km²
Coordinates	Lat: -0.438204 , Lon: 27.470303
Type of site	Protected area (National Park)
Habitat types	Sutropical/tropical moist lowland forest
Type of governance	Governance by government

Types of sites Governance types Habitat types

Ape status

Based on the encounter rates of nests of the 2005 and 2014 surveys, both chimpanzee and gorilla populations at Maiko National Park declined by 95.24% and 99.52% respectively (Plumptre et al. 2015). However, due to security issues, the surveys conducted have been infrequent, and they only covered sections of the park. For a more accurate assessment on the status of great apes, a survey covering the entire area is needed (Plumptre et al. 2015).

Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Maiko National Park

Species	Year	Occurrence	Encounter or vistation rate (nests/km; ind/day)	Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI)	Abundance estimate (95% CI)	Survey area	Sampling method	Analytical framework	Source	Comments	A.P.E.S. database ID
Gorilla beringei graueri	2020-2023	Present			127	Maiko National Park	Reconnaissance walk		Kyungu Kasolene et al. 2024	The survey was carried out in the accessible zones of Maiko National Park, using patrol-based reconnaissance routes (RECCE), GPS, CyberTracker, and SMART Mobile. The analysis also employed the SMART database, IKA (Indice Kilométrique d’Abondance), and other tools.
Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii	2020-2023	Present			196	Maiko National Park	Reconnaissance walk		Kyungu Kasolene et al. 2024	The survey was carried out in the accessible zones of Maiko National Park, using patrol-based reconnaissance routes (RECCE), GPS, CyberTracker, and SMART Mobile. The analysis also employed the SMART database, IKA (Indice Kilométrique d’Abondance), and other tools.
Gorilla beringei graueri	2014-2015			0.001	15.0	Maiko National Park	Survey data, Reconnaissance walk, Line transects		Plumptre et al. 2015	Abundance and density estimates are based on encounter rate data (from transects whenever possible).	COD0080, COD0081 COD0082, COD0084, COD0086, COD0088, COD0122, COD0144, COD0158, COD0159, COD0162, COD0226
Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii	2014-2015			0.006	60.0	Maiko National Park	Survey data, Reconnaissance walk, Line transects		Plumptre et al. 2015	Abundance and density estimates are based on encounter rate data (from transects whenever possible).	COD0080, COD0081 COD0082, COD0084, COD0086, COD0088, COD0122, COD0144, COD0158, COD0159, COD0162, COD0226
Gorilla beringei graueri	2011-2012				111-417	Maiko National Park North	Informed guess		Plumptre et al. 2015		COD0080, COD0081 COD0082, COD0084, COD0086, COD0088, COD0122, COD0144, COD0158, COD0159, COD0162, COD0226
Gorilla beringei graueri	2011-2012				306-866	Maiko National Park South	Reconnaissance walk		Nixon et al. 2005, Nixon 2010, as cited by Plumptre et al. 2015		COD0080, COD0081 COD0082, COD0084, COD0086, COD0088, COD0122, COD0144, COD0158, COD0159, COD0162, COD0226

Sampling methods Analytical frameworks

Threats

In eastern DRC, the civil war gave rise to the formation of armed groups that controlled artisanal mines in the area. Armed groups and miners relied on hunting bushmeat. Gorillas are highly prized as bushmeat because of their large size and they are killed relatively easily since they move in groups on the ground. Insecurity and lack of law enforcement continue to be a concern; the presence of militia groups have made it very difficult to assess great ape populations at the site and protect them (Plumptre et al. 2016).

Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Maiko National Park

Category	Specific threats	Threat level	Description	Year of threat
11 Climate change & severe weather	11.2 Droughts	Present (unknown severity)	Droughts reported among the climate change events, that negatively impact Grauer’s gorillas and their habitats (Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024).	Ongoing (2024)
11 Climate change & severe weather	11.3 Temperature extremes	Present (unknown severity)	Increasing global temperatures reported among the climate change events, negatively impact Grauer’s gorillas and their habitats (Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024).	Ongoing (2024)
11 Climate change & severe weather	11.4 Storms & flooding	Present (unknown severity)	Floods and extreme weather reported among the climate change events, that negatively impact Grauer’s gorillas and their habitats (Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024).	Ongoing (2024)
2 Agriculture & aquaculture	2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops	Present (unknown severity)	Forest being cleared for agricultural plantations reported (Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024).	Ongoing (2024)
3 Energy production & mining	3.2.3 Artisanal mining	High (more than 70% of population affected)	Widespread artisanal and semi-industrial extraction gold, diamond, coltan, and cassiterite (Plumptre et al. 2015; Kyungu Kasolene et al. 2024; Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024).	2015-Ongoing (2024)
5 Biological resource use	5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	High (more than 70% of population affected)	Hunting of gorillas in the southern part of the park has been recorded; outside of the park, a nearby population has been exterminated (Nixon 2006, Plumptre et al. 2015). Armed hunting and trapping with nylon snares and metal collars reported (Kyungu Kasolene et al. 2024).	2006-Ongoing (2024)
5 Biological resource use	5.1.1 Subsistence bushmeat hunting	Present (unknown severity)	Artisanal miners rely on bushmeat once they are deep in the forest (Plumptre et al. 2015). High demand for bushmeat; armed conflicts exacerbate poaching (Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024).	2015-Ongoing (2024)
5 Biological resource use	5.1.4 Capture for the live animal trade	Present (unknown severity)	Opportunistic live trade of chimpanzee and gorilla infants in the region; ICCN confiscated 16 gorilla infants between 2003 and approx. 2012 (Maldonado et al. 2012).	2003-Ongoing (2012)
5 Biological resource use	5.3 Logging & wood harvesting	Present (unknown severity)	Forest clearing for charcoal, and timber reported (Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024).	Ongoing (2024)
6 Human intrusions & disturbance	6.2 War, civil unrest & military exercises	Present (unknown severity)	Rebels, miners and poachers live in temporary or more permanent settlements in the park (BirdLife International 2020). Presence of armed groups in all sectors (north, center, south) reported (Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024; Kyungu Kasolene et al. 2024).	2020-Ongoing (2024)
7 Natural system modifications	7.1 Fire & fire suppression	Present (unknown severity)	Wildfires also reported among the events that negatively impact Grauer’s gorillas and their habitats (Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024).	Ongoing (2024)
8 Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	8.4 Pathogens	Present (unknown severity)	Great apes are also at risk from disease transmission from miners, including ebola, respiratory infections, and other zoonotic diseases (Plumptre et al. 2015; Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024).	2015-Ongoing (2024)

Threats

Conservation activities

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (DFGF) and Flora and Fauna International (FFI) established three community conservation projects near Maiko. DFGF works at Nkubu Conservation Area, which covers about 1,000 square kilometers between Maiko National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a second stronghold for Gauer's gorillas. On the western edge of Maiko, FFI works in two unofficially designated reserves; REGOLU, founded in 2004, and REGUMUKI, founded in 2007. Both sites are in the process of becoming officially recognized community forests, and they cover 500 and 1,000 square kilometers respectively (Fritts 2019).

Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Maiko National Park

Category	Specific activity	Description	Implementing organization(s)	Year of activity
2 Counter-wildlife crime	2.11 Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g., SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of patrols	Patrols and monitoring using SMART, and other monitoring tools reported (Kyungu Kasolene et al. 2024).		Ongoing (2024)
2 Counter-wildlife crime	2.12 Implement community control of patrolling, banning hunting and removing snares	Community engagement and supporting activities for in order to implement robust monitoring (Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024).	Maiko National Park (MNP), DRC Government	Ongoing (2024)
4 Education & awareness	4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use	Working with local community members to facilitate educational and awareness programs on behalf of the MNP (Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024).	Maiko National Park (MNP), DRC Government	Ongoing (2024)
5 Protection & restoration	5.2 Legally protect ape habitat	The site is a National Park since, 1970.		1970-Ongoing (2026)
7 Economic & other incentives	7.2 Provide non-monetary benefits to local communities for sustainably managing their forest and its wildlife (e.g., better education, infrastructure development)	Infrastructure improvement activities reported (Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024).	Maiko National Park (MNP), DRC Government	Ongoing (2024)

Conservation activities

Challenges

Table 5. Challenges reported for Maiko National Park

Challenges	Specific challenges	Source	Year(s)
1 Site management	1.2 Need for improved coordination	Maldonado et al. 2012	Ongoing (2012)
2 Resources and capacity	2.1 Lack of capacity/training	Kyungu JC. pers. comm. 2025	Ongoing (2025)
2 Resources and capacity	2.2 Lack of staff	Kyungu JC. pers. comm. 2025	Ongoing (2025)
2 Resources and capacity	2.3 General lack of funding	Kyungu JC. pers. comm. 2025	Ongoing (2025)
2 Resources and capacity	2.4 Lack of continuous/long-term funding	Kyungu JC. pers. comm. 2025	Ongoing (2025)
3 Engaged community	3.1 General lack of community engagement or support	Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024	Ongoing (2024)
4 Institutional support	4.1 Lack of law enforcement	Plumptre et al. 2015	Ongoing (2015)
6 Safety and stability	6.2 Insecurity	Kyungu Kasolene et al. 2024; Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024	Ongoing (2024)
6 Safety and stability	6.3 Civil unrest/war	Maldonado et al. 2012	Ongoing (2012)
6 Safety and stability	6.3 Civil unrest/war	Consolee, Luan, & Cong, 2024	Ongoing (2024)

Challenges

Enablers

Table 6. Enablers reported for Maiko National Park

Enablers	Specific enablers	Source	Year(s)
2 Resources and capacity	2.6 External partnerships that add expertise or resources	Kyungu JC. pers. comm. 2025	Ongoing (2025)
1 Site management
3 Engaged community
4 Institutional support
5 Ecological context
6 Safety and stability

Enablers

Documented behaviours

Table 7. Behaviours documented for Maiko National Park

Category	Behavior	Observation type	Prevalence	Observation dates	Source	Habituation	Species	Comment
	Not reported

Behaviours

Exposure to climate change impacts

As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, Kiribou et al. (2024) extracted climate data and data on projected extreme climate impact events for the site. Climatological characteristics were derived from observation-based climate data provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP, www.isimip.org). Parameters were calculated as the average across each 30-year period. For 1981-2010, the EWEMBI dataset from ISIMIP2a was used. For the two future periods (2021-2050 and 2071-2099) ISIMIP2b climate data based on four CMIP5 global climate models were used. For future projections, two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) were used. RCP 2.6 is a scenario with strong mitigation measures in which global temperatures would likely rise below 2C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3C by 2100. For the number of days with heavy precipitation events, the 98th percentile of all precipitation days (>1mm/d) was calculated for the 1979-2013 reference period as a threshold for a heavy precipitation event. Then, for each year, the number of days above that threshold was derived. The figures on temperature and precipitation anomaly show the deviation from the mean temperature and mean precipitation for the 1979-2013 reference period.

The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated (Kiribou et al. 2024).

Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Maiko National Park

Value	1981-2010	2021-2050, RCP 2.6	2021-2050, RCP 6.0	2071-2099, RCP 2.6	2071-2099, RCP 6.0
Mean temperature [C]	23.7	24.8	24.6	25	26.1
Annual precipitation [mm]	1972	1949	1952	1895	2084
Max no. consecutive dry days (per year)	3.8	10.3	10.2	13.1	10.9
No. days with heavy precipitation (per year)	7.1	8.5	9.4	8.3	11.4

Table 9. Projected exposure of apes to extreme climate impact events in Maiko National Park

Type	No. of years with event (2021-2050, RCP 2.6)	% of site exposed (2021-2050, RCP 2.6)	No. of years with event (2021-2050, RCP 6.0)	% of site exposed (2021-2050, RCP 6.0)	No. of years with event (2070-2099, RCP 2.6)	% of site exposed (2070-2099, RCP 2.6)	No. of years with event (2070-2099, RCP 6.0)	% of site exposed (2070-2099, RCP 6.0)
Crop failure	13	0.01	11.5	0.01	11	0.01	26.5	0.01
Drought	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Heatwave	3.5	42.08	2.5	48.12	3.5	35.42	11.5	53.66
River flood	4.25	0.31	5.75	0.63	3.75	0.45	9.5	0.79
Tropical cyclone	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Wildfire	30	0.32	30	0.27	29	0.38	29	0.26

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  Precipitation anomaly in Maiko National Park

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  Temperature anomaly in Maiko National Park

External links

Maiko National Park

References

BirdLife International. (2020). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Maiko National Park. Online: http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/maiko-national-park-iba-congo-the-democratic-republic-of-the/text link

Consolee, K. T., Luan, X., & Cong, L. (2024). Anthropogenic Pressures on Gorillas: A Case of Grauer’s Gorillas in Maiko National Park, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Diversity, 16(4), 236. doi:10.3390/d16040236

Fritts, R. (2019, July 16). Agriculture, mining, hunting push critically endangered gorillas to the brink. Online: https://news.mongabay.com/2019/07/agriculture-mining-hunting-push-critically-endangered-gorillas-to-the-brink/

Kyungu Kasolene, K., Malema, C., & Mayanga, P. (2024). La diversité faunique face aux activités anthropiques entre 2020 et 2023, un enjeu pour la conservation du Parc national de Maiko. Annales de l’Université de Goma, XIV(2), 510–522.

Maldonado, O., Aveling, C., Cox, D., Nixon, S., Nishuli, R., Merlo, D., Pintea, L., & Williamson, E. A. (2012). Grauer’s gorillas and chimpanzees in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Kahuzi-Biega, Maiko, Tayna and Itombwe Landscape): Conservation Action Plan 2012–2022. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation & Tourism, Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature & the Jane Goodall Institute. 66 pp. link

Plumptre, A. J., Nixon, S., Critchlow, R., Vieilledent, G., Nishuli, R., Kirkby, A., …, & Kujirakwinja, D. (2015). Status of Grauer's Gorilla and Chimpanzees in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Historical and Current Distribution and Abundance. Wildlife Conservation Society. doi:10.19121/2015.report.dmx3094100000

Plumptre, A. J., Nixon, S., Kujirakwinja, D. K., Vieilledent, G., Critchlow, R., Williamson, E. A., …, & Hall, J. S. (2016). Catastrophic Decline of World's Largest Primate: 80% Loss of Grauer's Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) Population Justifies Critically Endangered Status. PLOS ONE, 11(10), e0162697. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0162697

Kiribou, R., Tehoda, P., Chukwu, O., Bempah, G., Kühl, H. S., Ferreira, J., …, & Heinicke, S. (2024). Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts. PLOS Climate, 3(2), e0000345. doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345

Page created by: APES Atlas Team Date: 2020-12-03

Page updated by: JEAN CLAUDE KYUNGU Date: 2025-08-15