Nature in the Republic of the Congo

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There is lots of wildlife in the Republic of the Congo. The highlight of course was one of the species of Great Apes, the Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest). But the African Forest Elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis, german: Waldelefant, french: Éléphant de forêt d'Afrique) and the African Forest Buffaloes (Syncerus caffer nanus, german: Rotbüffel, french: Buffle nain) were also impressive.

The African Forest Elephants are a bit smaller than the African Bush Elephants, their tusks are straighter and have a pinkish hue.

Pictures of birds in Congo and other nature pages are separate:

Bird Page for Congo

Other Nature Pages

All pictures are © Dr. Günther Eichhorn, unless otherwise noted.

Nature in Congo

Mboko from the air. There are termite mounds everywhere. (601k)

Rainforest near the Mboko Lodge. (866k)

Evening in the Congo. (567k)

The rapids in the Congo River between Brazzaville and Kinshasa. They make ship traffic impossible. (580k)

The rapids in the Congo River between Brazzaville and Kinshasa. (603k)

Flora in the Republic of the Congo

Red Witchweed (Striga asiatica). (921k)

Blue Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, french: Verveine bleue), an invasive species. (960k)

Flower of the Blue Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, french: Verveine bleue). (772k)

Flower. (808k)

Bleeding Glory Bower (Clerodendrum thomsoniae, french: Clérodendron grimpant). (904k)

Malabar Melastome (Melastoma malabathricum, german: Indischer Rhododendron, french: Rhododendron de Malabar). (667k)

Bolo Bolo (Clappertonia ficifolia). (730k)

Orchid. (781k)

Leopold's Jasmine (Leptactina leopoldi-secundi). (617k)

Bottle Brush (Syzygium giorgii). (830k)

African Custard-apple (Annona senegalensis, french: Pomme-cannelle du Sénégal). (895k)

Arrowroot plants (Marantaceae gen., german: Pfeilwurzgewächse, french: Marantacées). The Marantaceae Forest is the habitat of the Western Lowland Gorilla. (998k)

Flower of the Congo Berlinia tree (Berlinia congolensis). (707k)

African Corkwood Tree (Musanga cecropioides, german: Regenschirmbaum, french: Parasolier). (910k)

Toad Tree (Tabernaemontana elegans, german: Zierlicher Krötenbaum). (1179k)

Strangler Fig. (1102k)

African Elemi (Canarium schweinfurthii, french: Élémier d'Afrique). (1136k)

Small-leaved Dragon Tree (Dracaena mannii). (946k)

Navel Fruit Tree (Omphalocarpum procerum, french: Arbre à mamelles). Only elephants can break the hard fruit pods by skewering them with a tusk. This tree is endemic to the Congo basin. (1036k)

Ugandan Greenheart (Warburgia ugandensis)

Ugandan Greenheart Tree (Warburgia ugandensis). (1056k)

Fauna in the Republic of the Congo

Safari ants. (916k)

Raiding party of Matabele Ants (Megaponera analis, french: Fourmi Matabele). They go out in such a group of a few hundred ants, find a termite mound and break in, kill the termites and carry them back to their colony for food. (864k)

Communal spider web. There are hundreds of spiders in this web. (995k)

Snouted Harvester Termite (Trinervitermes trinervoides)

Mound of Snouted Harvester Termites (Trinervitermes trinervoides). (961k)

Large termite mound. This was about 5 m (16 ft) high. (815k)

Large wasp nest in a tree. (766k)

Common Earwig (Forficulinae gen.). (901k)

White Jumping Spider (Salticidae gen., german: Springspinnen, french: Araignées sauteuses). (787k)

Spider (Araneae fam., german: Webspinnen, french: Araignées). (748k)

Garden Orb Weaver (Argiope sp.). (828k)

Huntsman Spider (Barylestis sp.). (958k)

Robber Fly (Ommatiini gen.). (812k)

Third stage nymph of Assassin Bug (Harpactorinae gen.). (820k)

Mating Leaf-footed Bugs (Homoeocerus sp.). (834k)

Mating Orange-bordered Stink Bugs (Eysarcorini gen.). (816k)

Mating Orange-bordered Stink Bugs (Eysarcorini gen.). (778k)

Twig Wilter (Coreinae gen.). (770k)

Twig Wilters (Coreinae gen.). (811k)

Twig Wilter (Coreinae gen.). (779k)

Twig Wilter (Coreinae gen.). (766k)

Net-winged Beetle (Lycidae gen., german: Rotdeckenkäfer). (826k)

Small Praying Mantis (Polyspilota sp.). (877k)

Small Praying Mantis eating a small grasshopper. (898k)

Small Praying Mantis (Polyspilota sp.) eating a small grasshopper. (851k)

Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes sp.). (714k)

Butterfly (Lepidoptera fam., german: Schmetterlinge, french: Papillons). (804k)

Moth (Lepidoptera fam., german: Schmetterlinge, french: Papillons). (709k)

Katydid (Tettigoniidae gen., german: Laubheuschrecken). (822k)

Cone-head Katydid (Conocephalinae gen.). (752k)

Green cicada. (426k)

Giant Burrowing Cricket (Brachytrupes sp.). (968k)

Bare-bellied Sparklewing (Umma longistigma)

Mating Bare-bellied Sparklewings (Umma longistigma). (569k)

Dragonfly (Anisoptera fam., german: Großlibellen). (861k)

Dragonfly (Anisoptera fam., german: Großlibellen). (670k)

Large Round-backed Millipede (Juliformia ord.). (912k)

Banded Leaf-toed Gecko (Hemidactylus coalescens). (807k)

Speckle-lipped Mabuya (Trachylepis maculilabris). (632k)

Female Red-headed Rock Agama (Agama agama, german: Siedleragame, french: Agame des colons). (944k)

Red-legged Sun Squirrel (Heliosciurus rufobrachium, german: Rotfüßiges Sonnenhörnchen). (775k)

Red-legged Sun Squirrel (Heliosciurus rufobrachium, german: Rotfüßiges Sonnenhörnchen), carrying a twig. (715k)

African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata, german: Pardelroller, french: Nandinie). (848k)

Southern Needle-clawed Bushbaby (Euoticus elegantulus, german: Südlicher Kielnagelgalago, french: Galago élégant). (839k)

Putty-nosed Monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans, german: Große Weißnasenmeerkatze, french: Cercopitèque hocheur). (1091k)

Western Guereza (Colobus guereza occidentalis, german: Mantelaffe, french: Colobe guéréza). (1006k)

Two female Kéwel Bushbucks (Tragelaphus scriptus, german: Buschbock, french: Guib harnaché). (950k)

Male Kéwel Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus, german: Buschbock, french: Guib harnaché). (998k)

African Forest Buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus)

Herd of African Forest Buffaloes (Syncerus caffer nanus, german: Rotbüffel, french: Buffle nain). (717k)

Bachelor group of male African Forest Buffaloes (Syncerus caffer nanus, german: Rotbüffel, french: Buffle nain). (785k)

African Forest Buffalo with baby (Syncerus caffer nanus, german: Rotbüffel, french: Buffle nain). (936k)

African Forest Buffalo baby (Syncerus caffer nanus, german: Rotbüffel, french: Buffle nain). (913k)

Male African Forest Buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus, german: Rotbüffel, french: Buffle nain). (771k)

Close-up of African Forest Buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus, german: Rotbüffel, french: Buffle nain). (1111k)

African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis)

African Forest Elephant family (Loxodonta cyclotis, german: Waldelefant, french: Éléphant de forêt d'Afrique). (984k)

Female African Forest Elephant with baby (Loxodonta cyclotis, german: Waldelefant, french: Éléphant de forêt d'Afrique). (863k)

African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis, german: Waldelefant, french: Éléphant de forêt d'Afrique). (1032k)

Male African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis, german: Waldelefant, french: Éléphant de forêt d'Afrique). Note the fairly straight tusks with the pinkish hue. (688k)

African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis, german: Waldelefant, french: Éléphant de forêt d'Afrique). Note the fairly straight tusks with the pinkish hue. (818k)

Close-up of an African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis, german: Waldelefant, french: Éléphant de forêt d'Afrique). (809k)

Close-up of an African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis, german: Waldelefant, french: Éléphant de forêt d'Afrique). (933k)

Close-up of a feeding African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis, german: Waldelefant, french: Éléphant de forêt d'Afrique). (856k)

African Forest Elephant drinking from the river. (837k)

Nighttime elephant encounter. (502k)

Video clips

Stampeding African Forest Buffaloes (Syncerus caffer nanus, german: Rotbüffel, french: Buffle nain). (131.5M)

Feeding African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis, german: Waldelefant, french: Éléphant de forêt d'Afrique). (211M)

African Forest Elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis, german: Waldelefant, french: Éléphant de forêt d'Afrique). (211.2M)

Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest) in the Republic of the Congo

From the Western Lowland Gorilla entry in Wikipedia:

The Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest) is one of two subspecies of the western gorilla that lives in montane, primary and secondary forests and lowland swamps in central Africa in Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It is the nominate subspecies of the western gorilla, and the smallest of the four gorilla subspecies.

Unfortunately, something was wrong with my camera, so all gorilla pictures are slightly blurry.

Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest), in the middle is the silverback Neptuno. (968k)

Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest). (997k)

Western Lowland Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest). (963k)

Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest). (959k)

Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest). (984k)

Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest). (964k)

Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest). (928k)

Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest) eating the fruit of a Junglesop Tree (Anonidium mannii). (954k)

Western Lowland Gorilla silverback Neptuno (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest). (923k)

Western Lowland Gorilla silverback Neptuno (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest). (895k)

Female Western Lowland Gorilla with baby (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest). (950k)

Young Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla, german: Westlicher Flachlandgorilla, french: Gorille des plaines de l’Ouest) in a tree. (989k)