Democratic republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second largest country in Africa, covering 905,355 square miles. At least 60% of the country is forested, and consists of 85% of the Congo Basin Rainforest. That works out at over half a million square miles of rainforest, and this forest holds an incredible array of wildlife. There are 49 species of primate, including 3 great ape species – Chimpanzee, Eastern Gorilla and Bonobo (this is the only country which hosts Bonobos).

Both African forest and bush Elephants live within the borders of this country, alongside hippopotamus and a small number of Southern white rhino. The northern white rhino was lost in the last few decades and only 2 now remain, and while they are genetically distinct, having last interbred around 14,000 years ago. While their genes may have changed over those years, it is clear that they are still incredibly similar animals which fill the same hole in the ecosystem. As such, it should not be a danger to introduce Southern white rhinos into former Northern white rhino range – so long as the poaching threat is no longer there and the rhino stand a reasonable chance of thriving in their former home.

5 cats call the DRC home, including Lion (The west African subspecies, essentially the same as the Asiatic lion) Leopard Serval Caracal and African golden cat. There are a wide array of genets alongside several civets and at least 8 species of mongoose. Side striped jackals live here, and while there used to be wild dog, they are either close to local extinction or have already gone.

Many of the country has not been fully explored, and there are probably quite a few mammal species or sub species hidden deep in the forest.

Below is a sightings map for the DRC. If you live in the country or work in conservation, our aim is to develop a usefully large data set of where wild animals live across the world. As these start to be used, we will adjust what can be seen without logging in.

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