Maika Penge

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Summary

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• Eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) are present in Maika Penge.
• The population size is unknown.
• The population trend is unknown.
• The site has a total size of 25,000 km².
• Key reported threats to chimpanzees include uncontrolled logging, hunting and mining.
• Conservation activities include monitoring and patrolling.

Site characteristics

Maika‑Penge is a large hunting domain (domaine de chasse) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, covering approximately 25,000 km² and situated in Haut‑Uele Province within the chiefdoms of Azanga, Mboli, and Mayogo Ma Bozo. The site was formally established by Ministerial Order No. 5520/220 of 31 December 1959 and transferred to ICCN in 1974, providing a long‑standing legal foundation for conservation management. Despite this institutional framework, the protected area is currently in a critical condition due to a combination of ecological, governance, and socio‑economic pressures. The site is currently in a critical condition and faces serious conservation threats due to intense anthropogenic pressure (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026). The ecological value of Maika‑Penge is significant. The domain contains humid montane forest, mixed forest, savanna, and saline habitats, and hosts key species such as forest elephants, eastern chimpanzees, leopards and giant pangolins among others. Chimpanzees and elephants are confirmed for the site in 2026, reinforcing its relevance for regional great‑ape conservation planning, as previously recognized in State of the Apes 2013 (Plumptre et al. 2010, Arcus Foundation 2013). However, the absence of a detailed habitat map, faunal inventory, or floristic inventory limits the ability to assess species distribution and habitat condition. No detailed public habitat map, faunal inventory, or floristic inventory was available at the time of compilation (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).

Table 1. Basic site information for Maika Penge

Species	Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii
Area	25,000 km²
Coordinates	Lat: 2.919662 , Lon: 28.044461
Type of site	Protected area (Forest Reserve)
Habitat types	Subtropical/tropical swamp forest, Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest
Type of governance	Governance by government

Types of sites Governance types Habitat types

Ape status

Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Maika Penge

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
Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii	2026		0.35			Maika Penge	Reconnaissance walk	Spatial mapping	UNIUELE/ICCN	Subseque nt recce will take place ; 15 camera traps are also on site and will be checked around 16th June 2026

Sampling methods Analytical frameworks

Nest © Achille Diodio

Threats

Human pressures are widespread and include poaching, illegal timber exploitation, artisanal mining, bush fires, and extensive transhumance. The presence of Hema and Mbororo livestock keepers with large cattle herds contributes to habitat degradation and increases human–wildlife contact. Weak governance further exacerbates these pressures. Chronic poverty, limited livelihood alternatives, and insufficient social infrastructure deepen local dependence on natural resources. Overall, Maika‑Penge remains a site of high conservation importance but requires support, strengthened low enforcement capacity, updated ecological data, and reinforced partnerships to address the complex threats affecting its long‑term integrity (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).

Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Maika Penge

Category	Specific threats	Threat level	Description	Year of threat
5 Biological resource use	5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Low (up to 30% of population affected)	Persistent hunting pressure threatens rare and endemic wildlife and likely affects primates and other mammals (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).	Ongoing (2026)
5 Biological resource use	5.3 Logging & wood harvesting	Medium (30-70% of population affected)	Uncontrolled logging for energy needs and timber extraction are accelerating deforestation (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).	Ongoing (2026)
3 Energy production & mining	3.2 Mining & quarrying	Present (unknown severity)	Artisanal and illegal mineral exploitation is degrading habitats and increasing insecurity (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).	Ongoing (2026)
7 Natural system modifications	7.1 Fire & fire suppression	Low (up to 30% of population affected)	Recurrent fires can damage forest and savanna habitats, reduce regeneration, and alter species composition (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).	Ongoing (2026)
8 Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases	8.4 Pathogens	Present (unknown severity)	Greater overlap between people, livestock, and wildlife increases the risk of disease transmission. Close to 2026 to Ebola emergence area (Wamba-Isiro 2006-2012) (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).	Ongoing (2026)
2 Agriculture & aquaculture	2.3 Livestock farming & ranching	Present (unknown severity)	Livestock movement and grazing throughout the site increase disturbance, habitat degradation, and competition with wildlife (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).	Ongoing (2026)

Threats

Conservation activities

Conservation actions at Maika-Penge began with the creation of the hunting domain and reserve in 1959, followed by transfer of management responsibility to ICCN in 1974. The site remains under ICCN management and continues to be monitored through eco-guard deployment and occasional joint patrols with local community members, although limited resources constrain regular surveillance and biodiversity monitoring. Boundary delineation is based on rivers and roads, but the limits are not yet fully materialized on the ground (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).

Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Maika Penge

Category	Specific activity	Description	Implementing organization(s)	Year of activity
5 Protection & restoration	5.2 Legally protect ape habitat	Maika-Penge Hunting Domain and Reserve (DCMP) was created by Ministerial Order No. 5520/220, Agri, of 31 December 1959. Completed in 1974. Management responsibility was transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture to ICCN by Departmental Order No. 036/DECNT/BCE/78 of 13 July 1974 (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).	ICCN	1974-Ongoing (2026)
2 Counter-wildlife crime	2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols	Eco-guards are deployed for surveillance and biodiversity monitoring, but only limited route patrols are organized because of the lack of technical and financial partners. Occasional joint patrols with local community members. Eco-guards sometimes work with local community members to deter poaching and monitor illegal activities (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).	ICCN	Ongoing (2026)
2 Counter-wildlife crime	2.11 Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g., SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of wildlife law enforcement patrols	Recce and camera trap deployment with the UNIUELE, Isiro (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).	University of the Uélé (UniUélé)	Ongoing (2026)

Conservation activities

Challenges

Table 5. Challenges reported for Maika Penge

Challenges	Specific challenges	Source	Year(s)
1 Site management	1.4 Conflict on land tenure	Toloko Lilungu pers. comm. 2026 (boundaries are not clearly demarcated on the ground, and the site map is outdated. Customary chiefs and local authorities reportedly authorize access and exploitation without legal mandate or documentation)	Ongoing (2026)
2 Resources and capacity	2.2 Lack of staff	Toloko Lilungu pers. comm. 2026	Ongoing (2026)
2 Resources and capacity	2.3 General lack of funding	Toloko Lilungu pers. comm. 2026 (lack of financial and logistical resources prevents regular patrols).	Ongoing (2026)
2 Resources and capacity	2.6 Lack of biomonitoring/survey data	Toloko Lilungu pers. comm. 2026 (absence of technical and financial partners limits research, monitoring, and broader management actions).	Ongoing (2026)
2 Resources and capacity	2.8 Lack of evidence of conservation effectiveness	Toloko Lilungu pers. comm. 2026 (persistent poaching threatens wildlife and weakens conservation implementation).	Ongoing (2026)

Challenges

Enablers

Table 6. Enablers reported for Maika Penge

Enablers	Specific enablers	Source	Year(s)
3 Engaged community	3.3 Volunteer workforce	Diodio pers. comm. 2026 (University of UNIUELE students are collaborating with ICCN to perform general biodiversity inventories and will focus on apes in 2026).	Ongoing (2026)
3 Engaged community	3.6 Local community engagement and support	Toloko Lilungu pers. comm. 2026 (eco-guards are deployed and occasionally work with local communities to deter poaching and illegal activities).	Ongoing (2026)

Enablers

Research activities

Collaborations with the University of Haut‑Uele (UNIUELE) represent an emerging opportunity to strengthen scientific knowledge and build national capacity for the long‑term conservation of Maika‑Penge. Although the site currently lacks regular research and biomonitoring, universities have active biology, ecology, and natural‑resource management departments currently investing their scarce ressources in supporting field studies, student training (MSc thesis and PhD), and applied conservation research. The site director and the UNIUELE professors are looking for international partnerships in the area (Laudisoit, Diodio & Lilungu pers. comm. 2026).

Ground nest © Achille Diodio

Documented behaviours

Table 7. Behaviours documented for Maika Penge

Category	Behavior	Observation type	Prevalence	Observation dates	Source	Habituation	Species	Comment
	Ground nesting				Diodio et al. 2026
	Snail consumption				Diodio et al. 2026

Behaviours

References

Arcus Foundation. (2013). State of the Apes: Extractive Industries and Ape Conservation. Cambridge University Press.

Plumptre, A. J., Rose, R., Nangendo, G., Williamson, E. A., Didier, K., Hart, J., … Hicks, C. (2010). Eastern Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii): Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan 2010–2020. IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.

Page created by: Anne Laudisoit, Achille Diodio, Napoleon Toloko Lilungu Date: 2026-05-31