Bonobo (Pan paniscus), DRC Photograph by Jo Thompson   Central Africa: Northern central part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests   160,200 square miles (414,800 square kilometers) -- about the size of Idaho and South Dakota combined Relatively Stable/Intact

· A Remote Sanctuary
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern

A Remote Sanctuary

This ecoregion is one of the few places on Earth that is still largely untouched, partly because it’s so hard to get here! Just about the only way to reach this place is by boat, and as a result large intact blocks of forest remain, providing a home for antelopes, forest elephants, and several primate species, including the rare bonobo, or pigmy chimpanzee, and the lowland gorilla. Much of this area is seasonally inundated, which makes entry--and therefore logging--difficult. The scattered trees, dense undergrowth, deep mud, and overall impenetrability of the swamp forests have led to the nickname "the Green Abyss."

Special Features

Because scientists haven’t been able to gather a lot of information in this ecoregion, they are unsure of the number of plant and animal species living here. Currently, the number of known species is low, especially when compared to the great diversity of plants and animals known to exist in other Congo Basin rainforest regions. If it turns out that some of the species one would expect to find here are absent, it may be because of the extended dry periods the ecoregion has experienced in recent years.

	DeBrazza’s monkeys are experts at hiding among tree branches--and not just because of their protective, cryptic coloration. Even if you were looking straight at a DeBrazza’s, you still might not spot it, because these monkeys can remain perfectly still for up to eight hours at a time!

Wild Side

This ecoregion may not be known for its species richness, but it houses many important mammal species. For example, slender, long-limbed crested mangebeys live only in the Central Congo. Carrying their long, tapered tails over their backs, these monkeys cruise the forest, filling their large cheek pouches with food. DeBrazza’s monkeys swim slowly in the Congo’s waters or swing lazily through the trees looking for fruit. Small, shy antelopes called forest duikers tiptoe on short, spindly legs through the Congo’s lowland forests. Five species of forest duikers live in this ecoregion, venturing out only at night to forage for plants. This ecoregion also holds the majority of the world’s population of pygmy chimpanzees, as well as forest elephants, lowland gorillas, buffaloes, and bongos. Occasional open grassy clearings, locally called bai’s, are very important to many species such as gorillas and elephants that feed on grass, roots, and mineral deposits.

Cause for Concern

Luckily, this ecoregion’s habitat remains largely unexploited by humans, and logging is still not much of an issue here. However, poaching is a problem. Hunters of the rare bonobo chimpanzee pose a grave threat to the few members of the species that remain. As human populations increase, as logging methods become more refined, and as access becomes better, these forests could also become subject to exploitation.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.