KEEPERS OF THE JUNGLE

In the heart of the impenetrable Gabonese forest, they are the pioneers of one of the most innovative nature conservation efforts ever attempted by man. Their goal: save and protect the largest wild zones of West Africa populated by lowland gorillas, elephants, arboreal crocodiles, hippopotamuses, panthers, etc. Over 300 unique endangered species. People from different backgrounds are drawn together and linked by the same goal and extraordinary actions. 5 x 26 minutes to experience firsthand challenge of creating nature reserves in Gabon.

In the heart of the impenetrable Gabonese forest, they are the pioneers of one of the most innovative nature conservation efforts ever attempted by man. Their goal: save and protect the largest wild zones of West Africa populated by lowland gorillas, elephants, arboreal crocodiles, hippopotamuses, panthers, etc. Over 300 unique endangered species. People from different backgrounds are drawn together and linked by the same goal and extraordinary actions. 5 x 26 minutes to experience firsthand challenge of creating nature reserves in Gabon.

Episode 1: “The Trail of the Primates”

What does the creation of these thirteen national parks in Gabon imply? First of all, it is necessary to secure all the protected sites. Before tracing the borders of the parks, making inventories and studying the animals, it is essential to end all pressures on wild fauna, especially poaching. The large primates are among the most threatened animals. Today, we can’t exactly know how many gorillas and chimpanzees still live in the parks of Loango and Moukalaba Doudou. Hajlmar Kuehl, a young German biologist appointed by the WWF, carries out the survey with a team of Gabonese trackers. At the same time, the defence is being organized. With the incitation of Bas Huijbregts and Manassé MBa II, the park authorities are bringing in more actions around and inside the parks to inform the local populations of the existence of those protected area.

Episode 2: “Trapped”

What are the responsibilities of the manager of a national park? He is in charge of the public awareness campaigns and supervises operations against poachers. This government official is also a senior police officer and represents the official authority of the park. For this reason, he’s the one carrying out the inquiries and drawing up the reports when poachers are arrested. During a patrol, Manassé M’ba and four ecoguards arrested two bush meat smugglers in the park of Loango. Among the traps he finds several elephant traps. For Augustin Mihindou, the park manager, an example must be set. He must strike hard and bring the two poachers and their chief to a court of justice. Bas Hujbregts feels the same way, you can’t show any weakness.

Episode 3: “Endangered Elephants”

Even if there are more elephants than gorillas in the parks of Loango and Moukalaba Doudou, the elephants are just as threatened as the gorillas. The last official survey reports eleven thousand elephant and nine thousands people. Men and elephants living together is a difficult issue. Today the keepers of the jungles must protect the elephants from poachers. But they must also help the villagers whose manioc fields and banana growths have been devastated by the pachyderms. How will they face this new difficulty? The ecoguards will get a special training. Bas Hujbregts, Manassé M’ba and the ecoguards of the Sette Cama unit visit all the plantations to make sure that the elephant/human conflict doesn’t aggravate. Marc Dethiers and his team are trying to count the elephants in their natural habitat. The topography of the parks doesn’t make their task any easier.

Episode 4: The Mystery of the Turtles

The beaches of the Loango Park are visited every year by hundreds of Luth turtles. Gabon is considered the second egg-laying site in the world of this highly endangered species. But for two years now, the number of turtles coming to the Loango beaches has been decreasing. What lies behind this mystery? Bas Verhagen, a young Dutch biologist working for the WWF with a team of Gabonese students is relentlessly looking for the few turtles that still come to lay egg on the vast Loango beaches. Their work is a race against the clock. If the turtles have laid eggs, the biologists must imperatively find them and transfer them to the hatchery. At the same time, Bas Hujbregts sets up a flying over of the coast of Loango with a helicopter. He wants to find out if the turtles have found other places on the coast or if they have deserted the area.

Episode 5: What about tomorrow?

The creation of the 13 parks aims at protecting wildlife but also at promoting tourism. On the issue of tourism, there’s still a lot a work ahead? Will the keepers of the jungle be ready on time? In the Loango Park, Marc Dethiers looks for the best place to set up hides from where the tourists will be able to observe the buffalos, the hippos and the elephants. The ecoguards mark out hiking trails in the forests. In the same time, around the lagoon, Allison Mc William and a group of ecoguards work on developing new products for the visitors. Allison is certain that the success of the parks depends on the personal investment of the villagers. It is crucial that they financially benefit from the creation of the parks. The idea is to develop the local crafts. At the same time, Bas Huijbregts, Manasse M’ba and Augustin Mihindou make the people aware of the issues surrounding the parks creation and put the final signs that delimit the parks.