The Okapi Wildlife Reserve, located deep within the Ituri Forest in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, stands as one of the Congo Basin’s most critical strongholds of biodiversity. Established in 1992 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, it covers nearly 14,000 km² of ancient equatorial rainforest—an ecosystem that shelters a remarkable array of endemic and threatened species.

The okapi, the reserve’s emblem and a national symbol of the DRC, finds here one of its last natural havens. Roughly one-sixth of the global population is believed to survive in this protected area. Alongside this elusive animal live a multitude of mammals, including forest elephants, bongos, buffaloes, leopards, and a wide variety of primates. More than 370 bird species have also been recorded, some of them found nowhere else in the Congo Basin.

The reserve’s natural wealth coexists with Indigenous communities, particularly the Mbuti and Efe, whose long-standing traditions of hunting and gathering have long contributed to the forest’s ecological balance. Today, conservation programs seek to work hand-in-hand with these communities to reconcile wildlife protection with improved living conditions.

Despite its protected status, the reserve continues to face persistent threats. Poaching, deforestation, illegal mining, and regional insecurity have all weakened its ecosystems. The expansion of artisanal gold mining, in particular, destroys forest cover and severely disrupts wildlife. Teams from the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation, together with international partners, are working to strengthen monitoring efforts and combat these illicit activities.