Salonga National Park

• Description
• Documents
• Threats

Threats to the Site (1999)

The Park was inscribed on the List of the World Heritage in Danger for the first time in the period from 1984 to 1992 due to a serious decline in population of the white rhinoceros. As a result of actions undertaken by the World Heritage Committee, IUCN, WWF, the Frankfort Zoological Society, and the national authorities, the rhino population made a recovery from a meagre five individuals to around thirty-five animals, and the site was removed from the Danger List at the 16th session of the Committee.

More recently, however, the breakdown in civil order in the eastern part of the country has led to widespread attacks on the Park's infrastructure. Equipment has been looted and several staff have deserted the park. Nevertheless, reports from international conservation NGO's seem to indicate that remaining park staff are resisting poaching threats effectively. The overall threats to the integrity of the site are however unlikely to be mitigated until the law and order situation in the area improve.

History - List in Danger

• 1999