Lions, wild dogs, spotted hyaenas and leopards once roamed central Africa’s Plateau Batéké in great numbers. A unique wilderness of rolling savannas, complex river networks and large tracts of dense tropical rainforest, this biodiverse landscape is dominated by an ancient sand dune system that extends into Gabon, Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

These important keystone carnivores were eradicated from the region during Colonial times, where historically they shared this land with healthy populations of the Western Lowland Gorilla (CR), Forest Elephant (CR) and Chimpanzee (EN). Today, all of these species are in decline as the remaining habitat suffers from degradation and poaching threatens their lives.

Rainforest Trust and our partner, Panthera, are working to protect 861,642 acres to create the Ogooué-Lékéti National Park in the Republic of the Congo. This new park will connect with the Batéké Plateau National Park across the border in southeastern Gabon, a 502,000-acre refuge for the Congo Basin’s only remaining lions. It will wrap around three-quarters of that park’s southern boundary to create an all-important buffer zone for threatened species.

Create a 1.8 Million-Acre Swath of Protection for Large Mammals

In another current project, Rainforest Trust and our local partner, the Gabon National Parks Agency, are expanding the Batéké Plateau National Park by 344,460. In total, these protected areas will create an expanse of 1.8 million acres to shelter these suffering species and also be a refuge for the Slender-snouted Crocodile (CR), Giant Ground Pangolin (EN) and Grey Parrot (EN). There is also restoration potential for Lions (VU) and African Wild Dogs (EN). The combined acres will provide a range large enough for apex predators to safely return, roam and thrive.

End Criminal Poaching of Rare, Far-Roaming Species

The most urgent threat comes from the well-organized, criminal poaching syndicates seeking bushmeat and body parts of commercially high-value species like elephants and big cats. Once the park is established, park rangers will be trained and equipped to protect the rare wildlife targeted by poachers.