Update from the Field - 2023
OCP Staff photo - July 2023
I was able to visit Epulu this past July, and travel was everything but easy (7 different airports on the way in, 8 different airports on the way back) with the cancellation problems occurring outside of DRC; it took me 5 days to get home. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived in Epulu because for the first time staff working for OCP at our 6 field offices around the Reserve were all together in Epulu. I met with all the staff and then met separately with the education, agroforestry, & healthcare teams, and the logistical and administrative personnel to discuss successes, problem areas and our needs going forward. We worked on the remaining projects for 2023 and outlined budget priorities for 2024. We have many real needs that need funding; increased transport costs, costs to use MAF charter flights to collect funds and supplies in Bunia, and salary increases for staff. Rosie and I inspected the work at the clinic where a generator/storage building was under construction and an incinerator was also near completion to neutralize hazardous waste and keep it out of the environment.
Two Spanish filmmakers accompanied me into DRC, and facilitated interviews, filmed the area around Epulu and were busy filming ICCN ecoguards on patrol. They went along when we collected memory cards from the camera traps in the forest east of Epulu. The purpose of their visit is to produce a 5-minute introductory teaser to interest prospective clients to fund a major documentary on okapi and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.
Inside the Reserve it is generally safe. There was an incident a few months ago where a ranger was killed in an ambush probably by poachers. The army followed up and arrested some of the culprits, but appears that the group has been dispersed. The rangers are very well trained, and I saw that firsthand while I was in the forest checking camera traps. There were sounds near us and the rangers went into defensive positions in a semicircle, rifles loaded, scouts went out to investigate and communicated with bird calls. Suddenly an elephant crashed through the vegetation nearby and moved away from us. The ability of the rangers to protect the station and people is at a very professional level, many times that which was in place in 2012 when Epulu was attacked. It was a very rewarding trip as I was able to witness first hand the maturity and effort of our staff in moving conservation forward in an environment filled with challenges but infused with hope for a better tomorrow.
John Lukas
