Biodiversity
The Odzala-Koukoua National Park is one of the most important strongholds for elephant and western gorilla conservation remaining in Central Africa and is arguably one of the most spectacular wilderness areas in the world. The Park covers approximately 13,500 km2 of mixed and Marantaceae forest types. An abundance of forest clearings support exceptional densities of a number of charismatic mega-vertebrates and a diverse mix of forest and savanna wildlife species including forest elephant, forest buffalo, hippos, bongo, sitatunga, bushbuck, Bates' pygmy antelope, eight species of duiker, gorilla, chimpanzees, monkeys, leopard, golden cat, and spotted hyaena. Odzala is also home to the last remaining lions in the Republic of Congo.
However, gorilla populations are currently threatened by the Ebola viruses and populations are now known to have been seriously affected by the disease. Escalating elephant poaching activities, particularly towards the periphery of the Park, are also threatening one of the most significant forest elephant strongholds in Central Africa. What was once a vast wilderness of remarkable biodiversity is now under extreme pressure from both natural and human-induced threats.