Kinshasa, September 3rd, 2026 (CPA).- The discovery of an okapi in the Rubi-Tele Reserve, in Buta Territory in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been announced by the provincial government of Bas-Uele, according to a press release received on Thursday by CPA.
“Following the discovery of an okapi in the Rubi-Tele Reserve, in the Munganzulu chiefdom, Buta territory, Governor Mike-David Mokeni has dispatched a team to the field to raise awareness amongst local communities about the protection of this iconic animal of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” it is read. According to the document, this discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of Bas-Uele and opens up opportunities for the promotion of its natural heritage, notably through the development of nature tourism and the planned creation of the first provincial zoo with an educational and environmental focus.
The same source reports that the province’s various natural areas are teeming with a wide variety of species, including elephants, chimpanzees, buffalo, lions, leopards, hippos and crocodiles. For Bas-Uele, the source has explained, the challenge now is to transform this rich wildlife into a driver for tourism, job creation and sustainable development, whilst preserving the ecosystems that are home to it.
Indeed, the provincial authority has emphasized the need to strike a balance between the sustainable use and conservation of wildlife, by bringing together the ICCN, technical departments, traditional authorities and local communities, in order to transform this wealth of wildlife into opportunities for employment and sustainable development, whilst preserving ecosystems. CPA/