In the dense canopy of Central Africa, few humans have adventures and wildlife are largely invisible, and a remarkable photographic project captures few eyes witnessed – the elusive creatures of the pristine rainforest of Congo in stunning high definition clarity.
This African golden cat is rarely recorded in its natural habitat for the first time in the Congo’s HD cat habitat, and is photographed in high definition along with other rare mammals, one of the most mysterious and mysterious ecosystems on Earth.
“Rainforests are not easy to give up secrets,” explained Emma Stokes, vice president of wildlife conservation at WCS. “You can spend years walking through these forests for a few years without seeing the many extraordinary wildlife that live there. You only know the sign it leaves there.”
Throughout 2023, British photographer Will Will Burrard-Lucas is an expert in high-definition camera capture, deploying five complex camera traps at four different locations in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. A one-year project supported by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) aims to document the park’s infamous camera shy residents.
Behind the vegetation veil
The Congo Basin contains the world’s second largest rainforest, a dense ecosystem with visibility usually extending several meters in any direction. This impenetrable nature makes it particularly challenging to observe wildlife, even for researchers who have spent decades studying the region.
“Where you go, you can feel wildlife lurking behind the veil of vegetation,” said Burrard-Lucas. “The cameras trapped in an environment like this are very exciting because you never know what you will be walking along these narrow forest paths and there are very few species to see.”
Although scientific camera traps often monitor wildlife populations in parks, these cameras often produce functional images, mainly used for data collection. Burrard-Lucas’s professional equipment provides professional-quality photos that reveal the animals in unprecedented detail.
The most famous achievement of the project was when Burrard-Lucas captured images of male leopards – the apex predator of the forest and one of the most secret residents.
“For me, the ultimate thrill was filming the predator, and my dream was filming on Nouabalé-ndoki’s Apex Predator,” Burrard-Lucas said. “These cats are very secretive and can hardly see the thick rainforest.”
“It was an incredible moment when I went back to a camera and found the most impressive pictures of the male leopard I’ve ever seen!” he added.
Local knowledge proves essential
The success of the project depends heavily on local expertise, especially those who understand the patterns and behaviors of forest wildlife from a lifetime.
“Selecting attractions for my camera, I rely on the knowledge and experience of researchers and trackers who have been studying park wildlife for many years,” Burrard-Lucas explained.
Seraphin Ngouna, a member of the native indigenous group in the forest, played a crucial role in maintaining the camera once deployed. The device faces the ongoing threat of elements, curious elephants and falling branches in a dynamic forest environment.
“These pictures are amazing and I’m really happy, thanks to these cameras, we were able to take pictures of animals that are hard to spot,” said Ngouna, who was born in the forest where he is now working. “I’m even more happy to know that these pictures will be published for others to see.”
Protection via connection
Apart from their artistic value, these images have a deeper purpose in their conservation efforts. By providing intimate glimpses of animals that few humans encounter in person, these photos create emotional connections that can inspire protection.
“That’s why it’s so beneficial to see these incredible images, gradually revealing some of these secrets and better understand these forests to protect them,” Stokes noted.
The photography project is part of the Nouabalé-ndoki tourism development program, in partnership with Africa Camba Africa and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Sabine Plattner, the owner of Kamba Africa, the first tourist company to run in the park, praised the results: “Will’s photos are truly breathtaking, he captures the beauty of the animals in the forest and is delighted to see some of the rare species living in the Congo Basin. Through these images, visitors can see life in the forest and the types of living in the forest.”
Protecting success stories
The vibrant biodiversity captured in the photographs of Burrard-Lucas is a testimony to the success of conservation in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. Over the past three decades, WCS has partnered with the Government of the Republic of Congo to manage the park, creating a shelter where wildlife can thrive despite pressure on similar ecosystems elsewhere.
Many recorded species remain severely threatened within their range, making these protected areas increasingly important for their survival.
As tourists and conservationists marvel at these rare glimpses of the Congolese forest world, these images are a powerful reminder of the dangers that still exist in the ongoing efforts to protect the wildest parts of the planet, that the entire ecosystem is largely beyond human sight and can be seen through life and without encountering one person.
However, through the lens of Burrard-Lucas, we see them. Maybe when we see them we can better understand why they should be protected.
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