Posted on December, 10 2024

Can you tell us about the expedition in Salonga National Park — what was its objective, how was it organized, and what was your role?
The Salonga expedition took place between November and December 2022. It was conducted by a team of researchers from a Belgian organization called BICO (Biodiversity Inventory for Conservation), which had previously collaborated with us in Malebo in 2021. Given the success of that partnership, WWF decided to renew the collaboration for this mission in Salonga. My role was to coordinate the field mission.
The objective of the mission was to conduct a rapid biodiversity assessment involving various experts, as BICO has a diverse pool of specialists. The aim was to explore Salonga for not only the well-known large mammals but also other aspects of biodiversity that could serve as subjects for further research. The team included herpetologists, mammalogists, ornithologists, and even a spider expert, among others.
 
What was it like working in such a remote and challenging environment? Could you describe some of the logistical aspects of a scientific expedition in Salonga?
Conservation research is often conducted in remote areas, particularly in Africa's Congo Basin. In Salonga, logistics pose significant challenges. They accounted for approximately 40% of the budget—or even more—due to the need to hire a plane from Kinshasa to Mokoto to deploy the team. The team itself was large, comprising 18 people working deep inside the forest. Expenses included food rations, and payments for porters and guides. We are accustomed to working in such environments; in fact, as I speak, I am in the forest. This is our work, and we strive to adapt as needed.
 
When you first encountered this spider, did you immediately know it was something special, or was it only later confirmed as a new species? How did this process unfold?
I am not an entomologist, but in the field, we had several teams specializing in different disciplines. The spider specialist, Mr. Bruggand, using his trained scientific eye, noticed something unusual that caught his attention. He remarked, "This is something I have not encountered in the scientific community before." At that point, no confirmation could be made in the field, as we were only collecting data samples and preserving them in ethanol for further analysis in Belgium.
Among the three similar species collected, the one later named Salonga particularly intrigued him. The confirmation of this species came only after genetic analysis was conducted in a laboratory in Belgium. The findings were eventually published in 2023, though the process took a considerable amount of time. The lengthy procedure involved collecting data in Salonga, preserving the specimens in ethanol, transporting them to Belgium, and conducting detailed laboratory analyses.
 
What role did you play in the documentation or study of this spider, and how did the other team members contribute?
I am not the main author of this article, but I contributed due to my local knowledge of spiders. Being from Salonga, I have a good understanding of spiders and some wildlife species. My role was to oversee the general organization of the various field teams. While Mr. Bruggand was writing the article, he reached out to me for discussions and to ask questions, particularly to the local team members. We acted as a bridge between the team in Belgium, Kinshasa, and the field in Congo. We also documented the evidence that ultimately confirmed this new species. This contribution is why my name appears among the three authors of the article.
 
What makes this spider unique, and why is its discovery important for the biodiversity of Salonga and the Congo Basin?
I do not believe this spider serves any unique role beyond its natural function in the ecosystem. However, its scientific significance lies in its status as a newly discovered species, previously unknown to science, and found in Salonga. This is an exciting development for the scientific community, highlighting the rich biodiversity of the region. It motivates us to deepen our research efforts in Salonga, as it suggests there is still much to uncover. Collaborating with researchers from diverse disciplines and partnering with other research institutions will further enhance our understanding of this remarkable area.
 
Did you work with local communities during the expedition, and if so, how did they perceive the work being done?
We worked closely with the local communities, as it is impossible to carry out such an expedition without their involvement. The communities play a crucial role during these missions—they act as guides, trackers, and porters. Their participation also contributes to building local capacity. In the areas where the research was conducted, community members are now able to explain how the data was collected. Data were gathered both during the day and at night. The researchers collaborated with the community on techniques used to capture snakes and birds, which helped enhance their skills. Community members were compensated for their work.
 
What do you want readers to take away from this discovery, particularly regarding the importance of protecting remote areas like Salonga?
This discovery encourages us to continue our research. Salonga is a goldmine for biodiversity studies. While everyone is familiar with elephants and bonobos, there are still many species that remain unknown to us. Expeditions like this, conducted by BILCO with a team of seven experts from various fields, motivate us to keep searching for new discoveries in Salonga. We must continue collaborating with research institutions and universities to bring their expertise and knowledge, helping us uncover many unknown species, including small and large mammals, insects, plants, algae, and lianas. We simply need to establish strong partnerships and organize field research missions with local and international universities and research institutions.