DRC Begins Major Rebuild of Kinshasa Zoo

Construction is underway to transform the long-neglected Kinshasa Zoological Garden into a modern centre for wildlife conservation, scientific research and public recreation.

The rehabilitation project is being implemented through a partnership between the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation, known as ICCN, and Vantara, an Indian wildlife rescue and conservation organization.

Work started in mid-June and has initially focused on two new multi-storey buildings. One will house the zoo’s administrative services, while the other will become a veterinary hospital for treating and monitoring animals.

Congolese contractors are carrying out the construction with technical support from Indian engineers, according to reports from the site. Excavation and foundation work is currently in progress.

Architect Steve Nsasu, who is overseeing the construction, said the team will begin building new animal enclosures after completing the two initial buildings.

The full rehabilitation programme is expected to take approximately two years. 7sur7, Actualite.cd

Modern enclosures planned for Congolese wildlife

Project officials say the rebuilt zoo will eventually feature enclosures designed around international animal-welfare and conservation standards.

The animals are expected to live in larger, semi-open environments instead of the small and deteriorating cages that previously characterized parts of the facility.

Plans include bringing some of the DRC’s most recognizable species to the zoo, including bonobos, okapi, elephants and Congo peafowl.

The okapi, bonobo and Congo peafowl have particular national importance because their natural ranges are closely associated with the forests and ecosystems of the DRC.

New recreational areas and educational routes are also planned for visitors. The goal is to make the zoo more than a place where animals are displayed by turning it into a centre for biodiversity education, scientific research and family recreation.

Bruno Matata, director of the Kinshasa Zoological Garden, said the project could help residents rediscover the country’s wildlife in conditions that respect animal welfare.

He wants the rebuilt facility to become a reference for zoological conservation in Central Africa.

Animals temporarily moved to N’Sele

Animals previously kept at the Kinshasa site have been transferred to another ICCN facility in the N’Sele area while construction continues.

Veterinarians and technicians are caring for them there. Some members of the zoo’s staff also completed three months of training at Vantara in India, covering animal care and wildlife management.

The training programme is intended to prepare Congolese personnel to operate the new veterinary facilities and manage animals when they are gradually returned to the rebuilt zoo.

A potential tourism boost for Kinshasa

The rehabilitation could restore one of Kinshasa’s best-known but long-neglected landmarks.

A modern zoo would give families, students and visitors another major recreational destination in the capital. It could also provide schools with a practical space for teaching children about the DRC’s exceptional biodiversity.

According to 7sur7, tourism officials have also discussed the possibility of eventually connecting the zoo with the botanical garden located opposite it. That would create a larger tourism, nature and recreation complex in central Kinshasa.

Such a development could support local employment in construction, tourism, animal care, hospitality and facility management.

ICCN wants occupied land returned

The rehabilitation is also bringing renewed attention to land belonging to the zoo.

ICCN officials say some sections of the protected site have been occupied by private individuals, informal businesses and government services.

Matata said the institution had begun recovering those areas to create enough space for the expanded zoo. This process may become an important test of whether the authorities can protect public land while treating occupants fairly and transparently.

Key questions remain unanswered

The visible construction marks important progress, but several details have not yet been made public.

The reports reviewed by XTRAfrica do not provide the project’s total budget, a detailed breakdown of the financing supplied by ICCN and Vantara, or a public schedule for completing each construction phase.

Authorities should also explain how the new enclosures will be independently assessed, which specialists will approve the return of animals and how long-term operating costs will be covered after construction ends.

Public disclosure of the financing, animal-welfare safeguards and project-governance structure would help build confidence in the rehabilitation.

If the two-year plan is completed as promised, Kinshasa could regain a major public attraction while giving Congolese wildlife a more visible place in the capital’s cultural and educational life.