Years of ongoing conflict have left the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in turmoil, with both its human population and wildlife suffering in unprecedented ways.
As the war continues to ravage the country, the DRC’s rich biodiversity, including endangered species such as mountain gorillas, forest elephants, and okapis, is under grave threat.
The war has severely disrupted animal habitats, forcing displacement and limiting vital conservation efforts.
Illegal hunting, driven by the demand for bushmeat and survival needs, has soared in conflict zones. Armed militias and local poachers are increasingly targeting animals for trade, exacerbating the decline of species already facing habitat loss and deforestation.
Protected wildlife areas, once sanctuaries, are now battlegrounds where animals are caught in the crossfire.
As soldiers and militias fight for control, wildlife is pushed into perilous situations, where they face starvation, hunting, and displacement. Meanwhile, the environmental consequences of the war, including forest destruction and pollution of waterways, continue to compound the crisis for wildlife.
The disruption of infrastructure and the displacement of local communities further compound the issue, leaving animal conservation efforts sidelined and wildlife more vulnerable than ever.
The toll is not only on iconic species but on smaller creatures as well, all of which play vital roles in maintaining ecological balance.
Despite these overwhelming challenges, organizations like the Initiative for Progress and Protection (IPPE) are stepping up efforts to assist animals in need. Based in North Kivu, IPPE has been instrumental in supporting displaced domestic animals that are often neglected or left behind as people flee violence. Justin Lumoo Paluku, the executive director of IPPE, shared the dire situation in Goma, where animals are left to suffer in conditions of neglect and abuse.
“We’ve witnessed many animals in deplorable conditions, abandoned by their owners who can no longer care for them due to the insecurity,” Paluku explained in an interview with Africa Animal Media. “Some animals are even being stoned by people who view them as threats because of their appearance caused by hunger.”
Despite limited resources, IPPE has taken action to provide food, medical care, and rehoming for domestic animals in desperate need of assistance.
However, the organization is calling on international animal welfare groups to increase support, particularly for animals in displaced persons camps or those roaming the streets.
As the war rages on, the fate of the DRC’s wildlife and domestic animals hangs in the balance. Paluku stressed the urgency for greater international attention and intervention to protect these animals and ensure they receive the care they desperately need in such dire circumstances.
Without immediate action, both human and animal populations in the DRC may continue to face unimaginable hardship.
Stories by Ademu Idakwo
