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80-395: [REDACTED] The park lies west of the Bukavu town in South Kivu Province , covering an area of 6,000 km (2,300 sq mi). A small part of the park is in Mitumba Mountain range of the Albertine Rift in the Great Rift Valley , and the larger part is in lowland terrain. A corridor of 7.4 km (4.6 mi) width joins the mountainous and lowland terrain. The eastern part of

160-854: A Mbuti (Congo pygmy) man. In the late nineteenth century William Temple Hornaday , then director of the New York Zoological Park (now the Bronx Zoo ), carried out a direct-mail survey of wildlife conditions through the United States and publicized the decline of birds and mammals in the organization's annual reports. He was a prolific writer who published The Extermination of the American Bison and Our Vanishing Wildlife: Its Extermination and Preservation, among many other texts. Our Vanishing Wildlife , in particular, revealed an association between species extinction and

240-603: A chiefdom carries the honored title of " mwami " (king). The chiefdom is further subdivided into groupements (groupings), which extend the reach of traditional authority to regrouped villages ( localités ). Village heads and chiefs manage administrative and governance duties in their respective areas. Some of the notable chiefdoms and sectors in South Kivu: South Kivu is divided into 34 health zones ( zones de santé ). These are grouped into five health districts ( districts de santé ). These districts do not match

320-742: A considerable number of Congolese view the Banyamulenge as unwelcome intruders encroaching upon their native territories, thereby intensifying the deep-rooted animosity directed towards them. The UN estimates that in 2005, approximately 45,000 women were raped in South Kivu. It forms various armed groups, including the Rwandan-backed armed groups, Banyamulenge armed groups, Raia Mutomboki , Mai-Mai militias , ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) and FDLR. There have been numerous accounts and allegations of sexual violence perpetrated by members of

400-689: A coup d'état, President Laurent-Désiré Kabila relieved Rwandan General James Kabarebe of his position as Chief of Staff of the AFDL, while also issuing an order for the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) soldiers to withdraw from Congolese territory. In response, on 2 August 1998, a faction of Tutsi soldiers mutinied and, with the assistance of the AFDL, the Banyamulenge militias, the Ugandan army (Ugandan People's Defence Force; UPDF), and

480-533: A greater diversity of mammal species than any other national park in the Albertine Rift . Among the 136 species of mammals identified in the park, the eastern lowland gorilla is the most prominent. According to a 2008 status report of the DR of Congo, the park had 125 lowland gorillas, a marked reduction from the figure of 600 gorillas of the pre-1990's conflict period, and consequently the species has been listed in

560-473: A map of the world. This data is used to map wild areas, as well as natural resource distribution. Below are two examples of where WCS works around the world. WCS's global conservation approach is designed around landscapes and seascapes where "nature is strong: where ecological integrity is high." In 2001, in collaboration with the Madagascar Ministry of Environment and Forests, WCS launched

640-530: A mild mountain climate with a 3 to 4-month dry season from June to September. Cities like Bukavu and Uvira maintain an average annual temperature of 19 °C, while higher plateaus and mountains, such as Minembwe and Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, are even cooler, fostering layered and grassy mountain vegetation . Conversely, the central and western parts, including territories like Shabunda and Mwenga , feature an equatorial climate dominated by dense equatorial forests , with abundant rainfall throughout

720-554: A national campaign to reintroduce the almost extinct bison to government sponsored refuges. Hornaday, Theodore Roosevelt and others formed the American Bison Society in 1905. The Bronx Zoo sent 15 bison to Wichita Reserve in 1907 and additional bison in later years. The saving of this uniquely American symbol is one of the great success stories in the history of wildlife conservation. Hornaday campaigned for wildlife protection throughout his thirty years as director of

800-704: A population of roughly 7,066,400 in 2020. The province's topography is an amalgamation of geographical features comprising mountains , forests , waterfalls , and plains . The area boasts an array of wildlife species , including mountain gorillas , chimpanzees , African Forest Elephants , lions , giraffes , and vervet monkeys . It also hosts African buffalos , baboons , clawed frogs , dwarf crocodiles , savannah monitors , gray duikers , common agamas , and endangered eastern lowland gorillas . The province's national parks and nature reserves , such as Kahuzi-Biéga National Park and Itombwe Nature Reserve , are UNESCO World Heritage Sites . South Kivu

880-656: A program to create the 372,470 hectare Makira Forest Protected Area. In 2017, WCS partnered with carbon-reduction platform Cool Effect to allow users to fund ongoing carbon-reduction projects directly supporting the Makira Natural Park . The Wildlife Conservation Society's Melanesia Program focuses on conservation in the Melanesian region of Oceania. The program works specifically in Fiji , Papua New Guinea , Solomon Islands , and Vanuatu . Melanesia contains

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960-530: A staggering loss of lives. Numerous rebel groups and militias emerged, further intensifying the violence and leading to pervasive human rights violations , including large-scale massacres and incidents of sexual violence . On August 6, 1998, factions of the ANC/RPA/FAB perpetrated a massacre, claiming the lives of numerous civilians in Uvira , in South Kivu. As civilians sought shelter or attempted to flee

1040-767: Is Munyamulenge (South Kivu Banyamulenge Tutsi) who broke with the Rwandan-backed Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) back in 2003. He was formerly commander of the 122nd Brigade in the Minembwe area, who in 2005 rebelled against the authorities in defence of the Congolese Banyamulenge, against harassment and physical abuse. Also previously former second in command of 4th Military Region in Kasai-Occidental . Africa Confidential said in 2011 that he 'clearly remains implacably opposed to

1120-566: Is a melting pot of various ethnic groups, including the Shi , Fuliiru , Bembe , Vira , Lega , Nyindu , Holoholo , Bwari , Hunde , Nyanga , Amba , Swaga, Shu, and Mbuti . The region is also home to a small fraction of Hutu and Tutsi agro-pastoralists who were transplanted by Belgian colonial authorities in the mid-20th century. Since the First Congo War , the region has been plagued by armed conflicts and civil unrest. During

1200-570: Is also rich in natural resources , including minerals like gold , coltan , tin , and tungsten . South Kivu Province is characterized by numerous rivers , lakes , and waterways that crisscross through its landscapes. The region lies in the center of the African Great Lakes , encompassed by Lake Kivu towards the west and sharing its border with the Virunga National Park on the east. The Ruzizi River , one of

1280-700: Is associated with the presence of lakes, including Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika , which are major features of the landscape in South Kivu Province. In addition to volcanic and rift valley formations, the province also contains sedimentary basins . These basins, such as the Lake Kivu Basin , are areas where layers of sediment have accumulated over time. They are important for their mineral resources , including deposits of diamonds , gold , copper , cobalt , tin , tantalum and lithium . The province's eastern mountainous region experiences

1360-515: Is to represent the state at the local level and oversee chiefdoms ( collectivités ). South Kivu Province is divided into eight territories: The city is a decentralized administrative unit with legal status. Cities are led by mayors appointed by presidential decree , as advised by the Ministry of the Interior and Security. The mayor has a deputy mayor , appointed in the same way. The mayor

1440-666: Is under the hierarchical authority of the provincial governor . South Kivu has three main cities of significance: Baraka , Bukavu (the provincial capital), and Uvira . The northern town of Minova expanded rapidly from 1994 to 2012 with a steady inflow of refugees following the Rwandan genocide as well as both First and Second Congo Wars , along with ongoing regional conflicts. The city of Bukavu has experienced an exponential urban growth since colonial times. Sadiki et al. (2010) report about 620,000 inhabitants for 2008. The population growth rate increased incredibly in 2002 due to

1520-454: The Albertine Rift montane forests ecoregion. Mountain and swamp forest grows between 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) and 2,400 metres (7,900 ft), bamboo forest grows between 2,350 metres (7,710 ft) and 2,600 metres (8,500 ft), and the summits of Mounts Kahuzi and Biéga above 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) have subalpine heather, dry savannah, and grasslands, as well as the endemic plant Senecio kahuzicus . The national park protects

1600-635: The Burundi army ( Forces Armées Burundaises ; FAB), launched a rebellion aimed at overthrowing President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Within a few weeks, this coalition formed the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD) and gained control over major urban centers in North and South Kivu, Orientale Province , North Katanga, and even managed to penetrate into the Équateur Province . The war resulted in wide-scale displacement, famine, and

1680-524: The Congolese army ( Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo ; FARDC) in eastern Congo. The 10th Military Region of the newly established Congolese military, led by General Pacifique Masunzu, whose undisciplined former factional soldiers are responsible for human rights violations due to a continuing culture of impunity for military personnel, compounded by challenging living conditions, inadequate remuneration, and insufficient training. Masunzu

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1760-678: The First and Second Congo Wars , it became a battleground for the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo-Zaire (AFDL), the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), and the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD). The presence of multiple armed groups in the area has led to insecurity, instability, and humanitarian crises. The conflict has resulted in the displacement of civilians , human rights abuses , and atrocities against

1840-637: The Mannahatta Project /Welikia Project, and the Last of the Wild . The Manhatta Project is an initiative on the historical ecology of the New York area in 1609, prior to colonization. The project illustrates the fifty-five different ecosystems that existed in the region through digital reconstructions. The Last of the Wild is a dataset showing different areas' relative Human Footprint , overlaid onto

1920-627: The Mitumba Mountains and the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park , which is home to endangered mountain gorillas and lush bamboo forests . South Kivu also boasts several notable lakes, including Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika . In addition to its mountains and lakes, the province also features a network of rivers and dense tropical rainforests . The major rivers in the province include the Ruzizi , which forms part of

2000-779: The Northeastern Congolian lowland forests ecoregion, with an area of transition forest between 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) and 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). The eastern mountainous sector includes continuous forest vegetation from 600 metres (2,000 ft) to over 2,600 metres (8,500 ft), and is one of the rare sites in Sub-Saharan Africa which demonstrates all stages of the low to highland transition, including six distinguishable primary vegetation types: swamp and peat bog , swamp forest , high-altitude rainforest, mountain rainforest, bamboo forest and subalpine heather . The montane rain forests are part of

2080-685: The Queens Zoo in 1992 and the Prospect Park Zoo in 1993. From 1994 through 1996 Archie Carr III of WCS helped establish the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize , a reserve for endangered jaguars . Today, WCS is working in nearly fifty nations around the world on more than five hundred projects designed to help protect both wildlife and the habitats in which they live. These projects range from

2160-638: The Rockefeller's sunbird ( Nectarinia rockefelleri ). The species of fauna listed under the IUCN Red List as threatened include: The species of fauna listed under the IUCN Red List as least concern or near threatened include: A 2020 survey of the freshwater fish in the park and its three drainage basins identified 147 species, 11 of which were found to be endemic to the Lowa River basin, and 7 of which were previously undescribed. Cyprinidae

2240-623: The Sange and Uvira , located in Uvira Territory . These regions experienced severe flooding, resulting in a sudden surge of water that overwhelmed the local infrastructure and communities. The force of the floodwaters led to the collapse of many houses, leaving families homeless and vulnerable. The aftermath of the flooding also led to the displacement of people who sought refuge in temporary shelters or with relatives in safer areas. Similarly, other areas in South Kivu Province also faced

2320-691: The 1960s and 1970s, the WCS took a leadership role in pioneering zoological exhibitions by seeking to recreate natural environments for the animals on display. Under the leadership of WCS director William G. Conway , the Bronx Zoo opened its World of Darkness for nocturnal species in 1969 and its World of Birds for avian displays in 1974. Eventually, New York City turned to WCS to renew and manage three city-run facilities in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. The redesigned Central Park Zoo opened in 1988, followed by

2400-535: The AFDL and RCD factions throughout the duration of the Second Congo War , have been subject to widespread disdain among many Congolese due to their alleged involvement in a range of nefarious activities. These accusations include launching assaults on refugee camps and densely populated villages , engaging in civilian executions , and orchestrating acts of terrorism targeting Zairian civilians across various regions of South and North Kivu. Consequently,

2480-644: The AFDL forces. Local people were coerced into burying the bodies in four large mass graves . In Kamanyola , on October 20, 1996, the AFDL forces killed an unknown number of refugees and Zairian civilians, disposing of their bodies in pit latrines . The AFDL persisted in launching attacks on South Kivu's refugee camps , rivers , airports , and densely populated villages . They carried out civilian executions and acts of terrorism against Zairian civilians in various locations, including Nyantende, Bukavu, Lwakabiri, Kashusha, Ulindi River , Kigulube, Ivela, Balika, Kavumu Airport , Lulingu , and Keisha. In May 1997,

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2560-799: The AFDL gained control over significant parts of the country and captured the capital, Kinshasa . Mobutu fled the country and Laurent-Désiré Kabila assumed leadership, renaming the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From late 1997 onwards, the relationship between President Laurent-Désiré Kabila, Rwanda and the Tutsi soldiers present in the AFDL deteriorated. Laurent-Désiré Kabila's government faced multiple accusations of marginalizing Tutsi political factions , excluding them from his administration, and displaying preferential treatment toward his Katanga clan. In July 1998, driven by fears of

2640-610: The ANC conducted a massacre resulting in 300 deaths in the village of Katogota in South Kivu. The war officially ended in 2003 with the signing of the Sun City Agreement , which aimed to establish a transitional government and promote peace and stability in the DRC. However, sporadic violence and conflicts in the region persisted even after the official end of the war. The Banyamulenge , who actively aligned themselves with

2720-468: The American Museum of Natural History. The city provided the land for the new zoo and some funding for buildings and annual operating costs. WCS raised most of the funds for construction and operations from private donors, and selected the scientific and administrative personnel. Hornaday's tenure was very significant for conservation, but he encountered controversy after the exhibiting Ota Benga ,

2800-682: The Bronx Zoo. Beginning in 1906, Hornaday featured Ota Benga , a member of the Mbuti from the Congo , in a zoo exhibit. In July 2020, the Wildlife Conservation Society apologized. Madison Grant and Osborn worked together with John C. Merriam , another eugenics supporter, in 1918 to form the Save-The-Redwoods-League . Together, they succeeded in convincing legislators to preserve many redwoods by comparing

2880-659: The Bronx Zoo: the Central Park Zoo , New York Aquarium , Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo . Together these parks receive 4 million visitors per year. All of the New York City facilities are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). WCS has a global program doing conservation work on the ground in more than 50 countries. The Wildlife Conservation Society was originally chartered by

2960-616: The Congo violated the human rights of Batwa people according to the African Charter , including by evicting them from ancestral territories without prior consent when the Kahuzi-Biega National Park was created. The case was filed in 2015 but the decision was made public in June 2024. South Kivu Province South Kivu ( Swahili : Jimbo la Kivu Kusini ; French : Sud-Kivu ) is one of 26 provinces of

3040-527: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Its capital is Bukavu . Situated within the Great Rift Valley , South Kivu is bordered by Lake Kivu , Burundi , and Tanzania to the east; Maniema Province to the west; North Kivu Province to the north; and Tanganyika Province to the south. Covering an extensive area of approximately 65,070 square kilometers (25,120 square miles), it is administratively divided into eight territories and boasts

3120-803: The First Congo War with a massacre in the Lemera groupement (grouping) of South Kivu, on October 6, 1996. The massacre claimed the lives of several dozen individuals. In a hospital massacre , 37 individuals, including two medical personnel , were killed. On October 20, 1996, the AFDL forces killed an unknown number of refugees and Zairian civilians in Rubenga, a village in South Kivu. Another attack occurred on October 21, 1996, in Lubarika village, where an unknown number of Rwandan and Burundian refugees, along with Zairian civilians, were killed by

3200-631: The Rwandan government.' His deputy Colonel Baudouin Nakabaka is a former Mai-Mai fighter with close links to the FDLR . In July 2007, United Nations human rights expert Yakin Erturk called the situation in South Kivu the worst she has ever seen in four years as the global body's special investigator for violence against women . Sexual violence throughout Congo is "rampant," she said, blaming rebel groups,

3280-473: The area is 18 °C (64 °F) while the minimum is 10.4 °C (50.7 °F). The earliest reserve, Zoological and Forest Reserve of Mount Kahuzi, was created on 27 July 1937 by the then Governor General of the Belgian Colonial administration. That reserve has been part of the Kahuzi-Biega National Park since November 1970. Five years later, the park was extended to cover 6000 km2. The park

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3360-441: The area, leading to displacement, human rights abuses, and the disruption of essential services. At the outset of the First Congo War , South Kivu played a key role as a battleground for the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila . Its plateaus and hills served as strategic strongholds for the advancing AFDL forces, who aimed to pursue Hutu refugees , particularly

3440-412: The armed forces and national police. Her statement included that "Frequently women are shot or stabbed in their genital organs, after they are raped. Women, who survived months of enslavement, told me that their tormentors had forced them to eat excrement or the human flesh of murdered relatives." In June 2014, around 35 people were killed in an attack in the South Kivu village of Mutarule . The attack

3520-572: The birds. Beebe's field work also resulted in the creation of the Society's Department of Tropical Research, which Beebe directed from 1922 until his retirement in 1948. From 1930 to 1934, off of the coast of Bermuda, Beebe conducted research in an undersea vessel called the bathysphere . The vessel made thirty-five dives in total, taking him half a mile deep and along the ocean floor. During the dives, Beebe made observations on bioluminescent fish, as well as identifying several new species. This expedition

3600-565: The border with Burundi , and the Ulindi River , which flows into Lake Tanganyika . The rainforests of South Kivu are part of the Congo Basin , one of the world's largest tropical rainforest systems. These forests are teeming with biodiversity, housing a wide variety of plant and animal species . They provide habitat for endangered wildlife , including chimpanzees , forest elephants , and various species of primates . The region

3680-449: The chairman of the executive committee. William Temple Hornaday operated as the founding Director and General Curator of the park itself. Together, these leaders wrote hundreds of works promoting preservationist values. According to environmental historian Miles A. Powell, their writings and arguments were foundational for conservation but partially motivated by racial discrimination, hyper masculinity, and an association between protecting

3760-723: The combat zone, they fell victim to the FAC in confrontations, resulting in hundreds of fatalities. Moreover, on the same day, members of the ANC, the armed wing of the RCD rebel, killed 13 people, including the chief of the Kiringye area, in the village of Lwiburule in South Kivu. Another massacre unfolded as elements of the ANC/RPA claimed the lives of 15 individuals in the vicinity of Kivovo, Kigongo, and Kalungwe, all situated in South Kivu. The victims suffered from dagger wounds or were shot near

3840-536: The communities living around the park and employment of the Twa people to enforce park protection was pursued by the park authorities. In 1999, a plan was developed to protect the people and the resources of the park. In a survey conducted between 2015 and 2016, the national park rangers reported a low level of satisfaction with the job, highlighting low salaries, lack of support from the authorities, and poor living conditions. Illegal artisanal mining of Coltan happens in

3920-406: The conservation of gorillas in Africa, tigers in Asia, and macaws in South America. In recent years, WCS has actively worked in conflict areas like Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Myanmar, where agreements on wildlife resources have contributed to peace and stability. More than 4 million people visit WCS's wildlife parks in New York City each year. WCS has backed numerous digital projects, including

4000-457: The decline of the white race in America. In 1897, Hornaday hired field researcher Andrew J. Stone to survey the condition of wildlife in the territory of Alaska. On the basis of these studies, Hornaday led the campaign for new laws to protect the wildlife there and the United States as a whole. In 1901, a small herd of American Bison were gathered in a 20-acre meadow just off what is now the Pelham Parkway roadway. Starting in 1905, Hornaday led

4080-621: The endangered list. The park is the last refuge of this rare species. According to the census survey of eastern lowland gorillas reported by the Wildlife Conservation Society in April 2011, at least 181 gorillas were recorded in the park. Other primates include the eastern chimpanzee , and several Cercopithecinae , Colobinae and owl-faced monkey . Some of the mammals include the bush elephant, bush buffalo, hylochere and bongo , eastern needle-clawed galago , Maclaud's horseshoe bat , Ruwenzori least otter shrew , and Alexander's bush squirrel . Two species of genet (animal) that live within

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4160-400: The entry of massive population from Goma after the Nyiragongo eruption of 17 January 2002. Traditional authority is vested in chieftaincies , also known as collectivities ( collectivités ) and sectors. The selection of the powerholder within a chiefdom or sector is determined by ethnic traditions and later recognized or formalized by the state, following traditional norms. The leader of

4240-484: The ex- FAR / Interahamwe , while simultaneously seeking to overthrow Mobutu 's government. This response was prompted by the mistreatment of Tutsi civilians under Mobutu's regime, which subjected them to arbitrary arrests and detentions conducted by Zairian police and soldiers . The AFDL's pursuit of Hutu refugees led to widespread violence and atrocities. The AFDL forces, resorting to indiscriminate killings , mass executions , and acts of torture , initiated

4320-441: The extensive arms of state administration, functioning as representatives of the central government . Each territory within the province is led by a Territorial Administrator and two Assistant Territorial Administrators. Recognizing the vastness of the territories, administrative management positions are established, headed by resident assistant territorial administrators or administrative management position leaders, aiming to bridge

4400-404: The first president of the society but was replaced by Levi P Morton after Green resigned due to declining health. Henry Fairfield Osborn , who was the curator of the American Museum of Natural History and the founder of the American Eugenics Society , was Morton's successor. Madison Grant , popular eugenicist and author of The Passing of The Great Race , acted as the society's secretary and

4480-430: The gap between governance and the governed. Appointed by the Ministry of the Interior and Security , territorial officials are included in the state's budgetary provisions. While they directly report to the Ministry of the Interior, they are also accountable to the governor , who acts as the representative of both the President in the province and the Ministry of the Interior. The primary role of territorial administrators

4560-539: The geography of the territories. Wildlife Conservation Society The Wildlife Conservation Society ( WCS ) is a global 501(c)(3) non-governmental organization headquartered at the Bronx Zoo in New York City , that states its mission as saving "wildlife and wild places across the globe". Founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society ( NYZS ), the global conservation organization is, as of April 2, 2024, led by Interim President and CEO Robb Menzi. WCS manages four New York City wildlife parks in addition to

4640-412: The highland regions of the park alone. Because of its varied topography and habitat types, Kahuzi-Biega National Park is also a hotspot of plants and vertebrate endemism for. The park's swamps, bogs, marshland and riparian forests on hydromorphic ground at all altitudes are rare worldwide. The western lowland sector of the park is dominated by dense Guineo-Congolian wet equatorial rainforest , part of

4720-410: The larger Virunga Mountains , which stretches from Uganda through Rwanda and into the DRC. The province also includes parts of the Albertine Rift , a branch of the larger East African Rift System . This rift valley is characterized by tectonic forces that led to the stretching and thinning of the Earth's crust , resulting in the formation of deep valleys and steep escarpments . The rift valley

4800-479: The late 1950s, WCS began a series of wildlife surveys and projects in Kenya, Tanganyika (now Tanzania), Uganda, Ethiopia , Sudan, Burma, and the Malay peninsula. In 1959, it sponsored George Schaller 's seminal study of mountain gorillas in Congo. Following that expedition, Schaller went on to become recognized as one of the world's preeminent field biologist, studying wildlife throughout Africa, Asia, and South America. Conservation activities continued to expand under

4880-444: The leadership of William G. Conway , who became director of the Bronx Zoo in 1962 and President of WCS in 1992. Active as a field biologist in Patagonia, Conway promoted a new vision of zoos as conservation organizations, which cooperated in breeding endangered species. He also designed new types of zoo exhibits aimed at teaching visitors about habitats that support wildlife, and encouraged the expansion of WCS's field programs. During

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4960-472: The local population. Additionally, the region's rich natural resources , such as minerals and timber , have been a driving factor for some of the conflicts. South Kivu Province was created from Sud-Kivu District in 1989, when the existing Kivu Province was divided into three parts (South Kivu, North Kivu and Maniema ). For three decades, the region has been plagued by armed conflicts and violence. Various armed groups and militias have operated in

5040-512: The longest rivers in the world, flows along the province's eastern edge. Meanwhile, its tributaries—the Sange , Kavinvira, Kavimvira, Luvimvi, Luvungi, Luvubu, Luberizi, Runingu, Mulongwe, Kiliba, Kalimabenge, and Lugulu Rivers—run through the verdant terrains, nurturing the surrounding ecosystems and supporting farming activities . The province is home to several lakes, including Lake Tanganyika which serve as critical sources of freshwater and habitats for diverse aquatic species . While

5120-411: The nation's wildlife and the nation's white population. Other notable figures involved in the Society's creation include George Bird Grinnell , founder of the Audubon Society and editor of Forest and Stream Magazine and members of the Boone and Crockett Club . The Bronx Zoo (formerly the New York Zoological Park) was designed along the lines of other cultural institutions in New York City, such as

5200-482: The organization. Guests were allowed to bring their own cameras into the Bronx Zoo. Beginning with the African Plains exhibit in 1941, animals were grouped by continents and ecosystems, rather than genetic orders and families. After World War II, under the leadership of Osborn, the organization extended its programs in field biology and conservation. In 1946, WCS helped found the Jackson Hole Wildlife Park, which later became part of Grand Teton National Park in 1962. In

5280-439: The park are endemic to the Congo Basin: the aquatic genet and the giant forest genet . Of the 349 bird species identified within the park, at least 42 of them are endemic to the region, including the threatened Albertine owlet . Other native bird species include the Yellow-crested Helmet-shrike ( Prionops alberti ), the Congo peafowl ( Afropavo congensis ), the African green broadbill ( Pseudocalyptomena graueri ), and

5360-585: The park is the smaller mountainous region measuring 600 km (230 sq mi); the larger part measures 5,400 km (2,100 sq mi) and consists mainly of lowland stretching from Bukavu to Kisangani , drained by the Luka and Lugulu rivers which flow into the Lualaba River . Two dormant volcanoes are set within the park's limits and lend their names to it: Kahuzi (3,308 m (10,853 ft)) and Biéga (2,790 m (9,150 ft)). The park receives an average annual precipitation of 1,800 mm (71 in). The average maximum temperature in

5440-416: The park, thus damaging the deep forest cover. In 2019, national park rangers allegedly engaged in violence against Batwa who returned to the park in 2018. This included the alleged killing of a number of residents, the burning of villages, as well as the use of sexual violence against indigenous residents. In 2022, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights ruled that the Democratic Republic of

5520-477: The primary port in Kalundu and at the facilities of SEP Congo. On August 24, 1998, RCD forces and Rwandan soldiers unleashed a massacre in Kasika and neighboring villages in South Kivu, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,000 people, as reported by the United Nations Mapping Report . The majority of the recovered bodies, predominantly women and children , were discovered on the 60-kilometer journey from Kilungutwe village to Kasika. Prior to their murders,

5600-423: The province is rich in natural resources , it is also fraught with challenges and dangers. The area is susceptible to periodic floods , particularly during the rainy season , which cause disruptions to both the community and infrastructure. Over the last few years, parts of the province have been ravaged by flooding. In March 2020–23, torrential rains and the overflow of nearby tributaries inundated homes, including

5680-405: The provinces of North Kivu to the north, Maniema to the west, and Tanganyika to the south. To the east, it shares borders with Rwanda , Burundi and Tanzania , forming part of the African Great Lakes region . The province is predominantly mountainous , with the western side of the Albertine Rift Valley running through its territory. This creates a series of peaks and valleys, including

5760-471: The state of New York on April 26, 1895. Then known as the New York Zoological (also reported as "Zoölogical") Society, the organization embraced a mandate to advance native wildlife conservation , promote the study of zoology , and create a first-class zoological park that would be free to the public. Its name was changed to the Wildlife Conservation Society in 1993. Andrew H. Green was

5840-419: The trees to a race in danger. Local communities sometimes saw the attitudes of Grant, Osborn, and Hornaday as being elitist compared to those of poorer citizens and nonwhite citizens. William Beebe , the first curator of birds at the Bronx Zoo, began a program of field research soon after the Bronx Zoo opened. His research on wild pheasants took him to Asia from 1908 to 1911 and resulted in a series of books on

5920-721: The women were subjected to rape followed by brutal disembowelment using daggers . From December 30, 1998, to January 2, 1999, RCD forces committed another massacre , claiming the lives of over 800 civilians, primarily belonging to the Babembe community , in the small village of Makobola in South Kivu. Many victims endured machete attacks or were shot at close range, while others met their demise through burning or drowning in nearby rivers. Infants and young children were callously thrown into deep pit latrines, left to perish, while adults who dared to disobey orders and attempted to escape were met with bullets . On May 14, 2000, members of

6000-593: The wrath of floods, including Nyambasha , Bushushu, Rambira, and Nyamukubi in Kalehe Territory . These communities, situated in low-lying areas near rivers and water bodies , are particularly susceptible to the destructive impact of flooding. Heavy rains and rising water levels overwhelm local infrastructure and defenses, causing homes to collapse and forcing residents to flee for safety. The province houses many volcanoes , including Mount Kahuzi , Mount Muhi and Mount Kabobo . These volcanoes are part of

6080-641: The year. The Ruzizi Plain , however, presents a unique micro-climate —a tropical climate with a dry tendency and lower rainfall (± 1,000 mm/year). The region's vegetation is characterized by a grassy savannah with thorns and Myrtillocactus geometrizans , most notably in the Kahuzi-Biéga National Park. South Kivu Province, like all other provinces, is administratively divided into territories and cities . Further subdivisions of territories are: chiefdoms or sectors , groupements (groupings), and villages. Territories serve as

6160-612: Was apparently part of dispute over cattle. On 7 August 2015 the 2015 South Kivu earthquake , a magnitude 5.8 earthquake, struck 35 km (22 mi) north-northeast of Kabare at a depth of 12.0 km (7.5 mi). One policeman was killed. On July 16, 2020, the Ngumino and Twiganeho militias of the Banyamulenge community perpetrated the Kipupu massacre , which claimed the lives of 220 people in South Kivu village of Kipupu, as reported by provincial lawmakers. South Kivu borders

6240-486: Was by far the largest family represented. The park, under the management of the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature , has a basic management and surveillance structure. However, the park's 1975 expansion, which included inhabited lowland areas, resulted in forced evacuations with about 13,000 people of the tribal community of Shi, Tembo and Rega affected and refusing to leave. Cooperation by

6320-541: Was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, under Criterion (x) for its unique habitat of rainforest and diversity of the mammal species, particularly the eastern lowland gorillas, Gorilla beringei graueri . The park has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. As of a survey conducted in 2003 by the Wildlife Conservation Society , it protects roughly 349 species of birds and 136 species of mammals. Over 1,178 plant species have been observed in

6400-690: Was significant, as it was the first time humans observed the bottom of the deep sea and its creatures in their natural habitat. The bathysphere is currently displayed at the New York Aquarium . During the World War II era, Henry Fairfield Osborn, Jr was elected president of the NYZS and Laurance Rockefeller was elected as executive committee chairman. A best-selling writer on conservation and son of WCS founder Henry Fairfield Osborn , Osborn embraced changes that represented new thinking within

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