The Lekedi Biodiversity Foundation takes care of its park

The Lekedi Biodiversity Foundation has been managing the Lekedi Park since June 2021.

It will deploy additional resources to preserve biodiversity in Gabon. An update with Eric Willaume, Executive Director of the Lekedi Biodiversity Foundation.

What has changed since the management of the park was taken over by the Lékédi Biodiversity Foundation in June 2021?

Eric Willaume : Many things! Significant rehabilitation work on the trails has been undertaken to secure the entirety of the park’s 14,000 hectares. Regular patrols in collaboration with the Bakoumba water and forest department have helped limit the impact of poaching on the park’s biodiversity. These efforts will be continued and intensified in 2022. Additionally, in 2021, the park was equipped with a quarantine building, allowing for better responsiveness in welcoming orphans. A new biochemical analysis laboratory was also put into service for the park’s research teams and veterinary service. The acquisition of analytical equipment will continue in 2022.

Eric Willaume, Executive Director of the Lékédi Biodiversity Foundation

Has there been the introduction of new animals?

E.W. : Despite the difficult context due to Covid, reintroductions took place in 2021: three moustached monkeys as well as six white-bellied pangolins. The Pan-African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) accredited primate sanctuary also welcomed seven additional chimpanzees after their quarantine at the CIRMF (International Center for Medical Research of Franceville).

We are currently caring for more than thirty chimpanzees, three gorillas, and about ten guenons in our rehabilitation center. Ongoing wildlife inventories have further highlighted the richness of the park’s biodiversity. In addition to iconic species such as gorillas, chimpanzees, and frequently seen panthers, other more discreet species like giant pangolins, spotted otters, water chevrotains, and false gharials have been captured on our camera traps. Collaborations with national and international scientists will materialize in 2022 through inventory and study missions.

Have you deployed new measures to address Human-Wildlife conflicts?

E.W. : To address these issues, particularly between habituated Mandrills and the villages bordering the park, an innovative sentinel project was launched in 2021 to protect fields from attacks by wildlife. This project involves compensating young people from the affected villages to monitor the fields and non-lethally deter wild animals. Empowering these young people has led to a complete halt in destruction in one of the two villages. This initial success and the restored trust with the village have also enabled the development of a crop protection program against damage caused by livestock.