DR CONGO ~ Kahuzi-Biega National Park - UNESCO ~

... FanTasTic new African National Park postcard nr2💙... this park is famous as one of the largest and last refuge of the highly endangered Eastern Lowland (Grauer's) Gorillas... the largest of all gorillas... it was a nice surprise to discover that the park was established by Adrien Deschryver, a Belgian photographer and conservationist who ranks alongside Dian Fossey as one of the great protectors of the world’s endangered gorilla population... gorilla trekking is one of the park's most popular attraction🦍... on encounter with the gorillas on the trek, visitors are allowed 1 hour to enjoy the mighty creatures... unfortunately due to many years of violence in the region, logging in the forest, illegal mines and poaching of these animals is reducing the population of this already critically endangered species...Thanks a million Deo and Mike!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

"There is more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging a glance with a gorilla than with any other animal I know."                                                                                              Sir David Attenborough

Kahuzi-Biega National Park lies near the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo next to Lake Kivu in the town of Bakavu. The park measures about 6,000 sq km, one of the largest national parks in the DR Congo and was established in 1970.

This National Park is made up of two great extinct volcanoes of Mount Kahuzi and Mount Biega.The park consists of two sections, the lowland (closed for visits) and the highland (open for visits).

The eastern lowland gorilla, also known as Grauer’s gorilla, is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies. It is distinguished from other gorillas by its stocky body, large hands and short muzzle. Despite its size, eastern lowland gorillas subsist mainly on fruit and other herbaceous materials, just like other gorilla subspecies.

The park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in1980.

Stamp:

Campaign Against AIDS
(Issued 2005)

DR CONGO ~ Salonga National Park - UNESCO ~

... No better way to start the week than with this little African gem💚... first of two fantastic new National Parks coming from DR Congo... amazing aerial view of elephant herds🐘... it's  the largest forest national park in Africa and one of the last remaining intact tropical rainforests in the world... even larger than Belgium!!!... a natural treasure in the heart of the Congo Basin... the park is very isolated and only accessible by water... tragically, forest elephants have never been more threatened... poaching are a highly lucrative business, due to the skyrocketing ivory prices on international markets... Central Africa is losing its elephant population at an alarming rate, and Salonga is no exception😢... Thanks a lot Deo for sending and Hééééél Erg Bedankt Mike for arranging this swap for me...❁◕ ‿ ◕❁

Salonga National Park was established in 1970 and is situated in the heart of the Congo Basin, south of the Congo River. It spans over 33,350 km². It consists of two large blocks (“north” and “south”) separated by a corridor of about 45 km wide.

The Park is the habitat of many endemic endangered species, such as the dwarf chimpanzee, the Congo peacock, the forest elephant and the African slender-snouted or "false" crocodile. Salonga is also the only National Park in bonobo range. It potentially holds 40% of the world bonobo population.

Forest elephants are a smaller subspecies of the African elephants, they have been referred to as "forest gardeners" due to their significant ecological role: many plants only germinate after their seeds have passed through an elephant's digestive tract. Further, forest elephants disperse more intact seeds over larger distances than any other species.

Since 1984 the park has been listed as an UNESCO World Natural Heritage.

Stamp:

Campaign Against AIDS
(Issued 2005)

DR Congo ~Garamba National Park - UNESCO ~

...No better way to start the week than with this little gem ♥...new country! new national park! new UNESCO site!...just an amazing view... but so sad to read on the Internet that civil war, unrest and the prevalence of highly militarised terrorist groups within the park have placed it under immense pressure, with rampant ivory and bushmeat poaching having a devastating impact on wildlife population...
Thanks a million Maick!!☺ (A Journey of Postcards )

Garamba National Park, located in the north-eastern corner of the DR of Congo was established in 1938. One of Africa's oldest National parks, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Garamba is (or at least was) the home to the world's last known wild population of Northern White Rhinoceros. Due to poaching of the rhinos within the park, it was added to the list of World Heritage in Danger in 1996.

From backside postcard:
The park's immense Savannah's, grasslands and woodlands interspersed with gallery forests along the river banks and the swampy depressions, are home to four large mammals: the elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus and above all the white rhinoceros. Though much larger than the black rhino, it is harmless; only some 30 individuals remain...

Stamp:

Joseph Kabila
(Issued 25-10-2002)