Megatransect - Congo trek - Part 1

The goal is to collect data about the region's still pristine forests. This is a joint scientific project of the wildlife Conservation Society and the National Geographic Society. In Central Africa they intend to explore the richest and least explored ecosystems on Earth. Many exciting experiences wait for them.

This journey has according to National Geographic (Magazine, vol. 198, no. 4, issued October 2000, and see also the website:www.nationalgeographic.com), taken years to plan. The chosen route goes through the middle of 13 linked forests.

They begun in Bomassa, Congo, and within 1 year they plan to reach the finale destination in Gabon. First contact So far after 13 days (according to the report), most things have gone fine. They have meet several pygmy tribes, and seen a lot of exotic animals as gorillas, elephants, and other strange creatures which probably are unknown for most people. To encounter wild life in its natural surroundings must be an incredible experience.

The chimpanzees of Goualougo Triangle are probably the last on Earth to have never seen a human. Exploit or Explore? Greedy people for timber and meat destroy the forests and animal life in Central Africa. As the expedition leader Fay says; "If we let this area be logged, we'll destroy our change to know this animal in its natural state". Since the elephants were protected in the area, they are increasingly trusting people.

This expedition is very risky in many ways. Threats as diseases, armed poachers, political disruptions are definitely real. We hope that they will stay away from such problems and achieve the ambitious goal to conserve Central Africa's dense green forests.

Stein Morten Lund, 27 November 2000

Additional information
Follow the expedition through the links below:

New photos and updated stories:
www.nationalgeographic.com/congotrek ww.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0010

You can also visit the Wildlife Conservation Society:
www.wcs.no