Claudia Olejniczak: The Gorillas of Mbeli Bai

Gorillas were once thought to avoid water. Here, one of Mbeli's regular visitors, Curious George, stands waist-deep in the stream running through the bai. He is feeding on the rhizomes of Hydrocharis chevalieri.

A young solitary silverback enters the bai near a group of forest buffalo.

Anthropologist confers with a member of the local Project staff.

My research focuses on the behavioral ecology and conservation of the African apes. Early in 1992 I began working with another graduate of this department (Dr. J. Michael Fay, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's, [WCS] Congo Forest Project). Our goal was to develop a long-term study of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, northern Republic of Congo.

I am currently writing up my dissertation which describes the social system of western lowland gorillas at Mbeli Bai (a large, marshy clearing) in the park. The open nature of the bai offered the opportunity to take a novel approach to the study of western lowland gorilla behavior.

Our first step has been to collect data at this clearing, letting the gorillas come to us. During my two-year study, I was able to identify 19 different groups and 9 solitary silverbacks (168 gorillas in all); systematically collect behavioral data; as well as document several rarely observed events among western lowland gorillas (e.g. the formation of a new group; what happens to a group that loses its silverback male; and the birth of a white infant). The majority of groups are now well habituated to the presence of observers on an observation platform.

Having worked as an Animal Keeper at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, another of my interests is to ensure that what we learn in the field is shared with the zoo community. In 1997, I participated in several international workshops, a lecture series and planning sessions sponsored by zoological parks. The site is partially funded by an on-going grant from Busch Gardens, Tampa Florida. They will continue to fund qualified researchers as long as possible.

The site is partially funded by an on-going grant from Busch Gardens, Tampa Florida. They will continue to fund qualified researchers as long as possible.

For further details on the site and what we have accomplished thus far, visit the Gorilla Conservation News website. I have published reports here in Volumes 8, 10 and 11.