A former poaching camp transformed: Etate evolves into an established research station

Today, Etate is a safe haven for bonobos and elephants threatened by poaching. But it wasn’t always this way.  

In 1997, current SCI board member Bila-Isia Inogwabini, along with researcher Ellen VanKrunkelsven and park authorities, on behalf of the Zoological society of Milwaukee, were among the first researchers to explore the northern region of Salonga National Park. During this expedition, one of the local community members, Edmond Isomana, showed the group a poaching camp on the shores of the Salonga river. It was called Etate. They decided that the former poaching camp would make a good base for the park ecoguards and a base camp for future research teams. Years later Edmond explained that the word Etate referred to a hook in the river current that creates a bay. 

The poaching camp where Etate now stands burns while Edmond looks on. 

Etate's location 

SCI’s Etate Research Station is located within Salonga National Park (SNP). Salonga National Park is a mosaic of swamp, land, and rivers. There’s not a lot of dry land making it hard to set up camp, let alone a research station. 

The national park is divided into five administrative sectors (map). Etate is in Watsi Kengo Sector in the north block. The Etate Research Station is on higher land located along the Salonga River making it accessible to settlement. Etate is located in the park and is very isolated - the closest major town to Etate is about 50 kms down river. The boat journey from SCI’s headquarters in Mbandaka to Etate is measured in days making the first sighting of Etate’s port a welcome treat. 

Loaded pirogue with equipment making its way to the Etate river port

After several days of travel by boat, Etate's port is a welcome sight 

Edmond didn't just suggest the location. He helped build it. He led construction of the first thatched houses that helped transform the site into a base camp for research.