The photos in the Portfolio ‘Gorilla Family’ were all taken at the Mondika research centre, where researchers have habituated two gorilla groups, Kingo and Buka, to human observers. ‘Habituation’ means that the gorillas are completely accustomed to human presence, and are happy to feed, play, sleep and do everything else that they would usually if the humans weren’t around. Visitors are able to spend up to an hour with the gorillas, watching them up-close and gaining an incredible insight into the way in which they move through the forest, and interact with each other and with their environment. Mondika is one of only three sites in the world that can boast habituated western lowland gorillas, and offers a unique experience for visitors. Photography is challenging, however, given the low light conditions in the forest.
Mondika is situated on the border of the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in northern Congo, and for the past decade the site has been managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Congo’s Ministry of Forestry Economy, Sustainable Development & the Environment. The site is very difficult to access, and is located a four-hour boat ride and three-hour walk from the nearest large town; that walk includes a 30-minute treck through a swamp; a trip to Mondika is certainly not for the faint-hearted. Accommodation for visitors currently comprises large tents pitched on covered platforms, with a wooden dining room in the centre of the camp to eat meals and socialise in the evening.
The site’s isolation means that the gorilla groups in Mondika and the surrounding forest have for many years been unaffected by illegal activities such as poaching, and the now permanent present of anti-poaching teams is intended to make sure that the site is safeguarded long into the future. It is hoped that the development of ecotourism will contribute to this protection, with small numbers of visitors contributing to the long-term sustainability of the site.
Researchers are keenly aware of the potential risks to the health of the gorillas posed by the presence of humans. To reduce this risk, there are strict regulations governing vaccinations and other health requirements for all visitors to the site, and the research teams themselves participate in a long-term health monitoring programme. All visitors must wear face masks when they are with the gorillas, and must remain at least seven metres away from the gorillas at all times.
In addition to spending time with the gorillas, one of the highlights of a visit to Mondika is the chance to watch the skilled gorilla trackers in action. The trackers are all employed from the Bayaka community in nearby Bayanga, in the Central African Republic, and have spent many years living and working in the forest. As a result, their tracking skills are second to none, and they are able to focus on the smallest of clues on the forest floor as they catch up with the gorillas in the morning, and then stay on their trail as they move through the forest during the day.
There are currently two gorilla groups that are followed by researchers at the Mondika site – Kingo’s group, and Buka’s group. Researchers have been following Kingo since the late 1990s, and he has been well habituated since the early 2000s. During that period his group has prospered, and has always contained several females, and with that a regular conveyor belt of new babies to ensure that the group continues to grow. A visit to Kingo’s group is always interesting, with the younger members of the group of playing and interacting, and providing an interesting spectacle for visitors. The second habituated group, belonging to the silverback Buka, was habituated more recently and contains fewer females. However, Buka’s group is an easy group to visit, as their home range is much closer to the research camp at Mondika, and so the group are often located only a few minutes’ walk from the camp, and even visit the camp from time to time.
