The Neuron Expedition returns to Congo
The Neuron Expedition council has approved support of CZK 500,000 for the continuation of research in Congo. The zoologists Tomáš Jůnek and Arthur Sniegon can therefore build on the Neuron Expedition Dzamba Ya Lobi of two years ago, continue their study of biodiversity and develop cooperation with the conservation organisations working in Congo.
"I am delighted and already looking forward to going back to Congo," says Tomáš Jůnek. "I will set off at the beginning of June to prepare the conditions for further research, and the other members of the expedition will join me later." The target will again be the territory between national parks on the borders of Congo, Cameroon and Gabon, where large animals live, including endangered forest elephants.
"Together with the World Wide Fund for Nature we will study their life at the salt licks, areas they maintain themselves," Tomáš Jůnek adds. "The aim is to have the area declared a protected territory. We want to ensure that, despite the planned dam, corridors remain here for the animals, so that they can move freely between the national parks and communicate with each other."
In 2019 the first expedition managed to establish cooperation with the WWF and prepare large-scale monitoring with camera traps. Basic mapping of the environment was carried out — which animals live in the area and where they move through the landscape. "We will show the data to the government or to the owners of the logging companies in order to convince them that the rainforest corridor for the animals must be preserved," Tomáš Jůnek explains in our interview.
Besides that, the Neuron Expedition Dzamba Ya Lobi united the Czech scientists working in Congo into a single body. "The contribution from Neuron will once again allow us to give unity and strength to the people working on the issues of Central Africa and Congo, biodiversity and environmental protection," Tomáš Jůnek adds.
