ZOOLOGY 231 



kept as a place for scientific study, than as an economic asset. This 

 attitude, however, is being modified now that the area is becom- 

 ing easy of access by road. A comfortable hotel has been erected 

 on the shore of Lake Kivu close to the park boundary, and travellers 

 are realizing the interest of the place. The southern section, with 

 the exception of the gorilla habitat on the Birunga mountains to 

 which access is strictly limited, is comparatively uninteresting 

 bush-covered lava plain with little animal life. In the northern 

 section immediately south of Lake Edward, where antelopes in 

 variety abound, lions are plentiful and hippopotami swarm in the 

 shallow water, only a small rest-camp is maintained by the park 

 authorities. 



Since the creation of the park in 1925, much scientific work has 

 been carried out. Excellent topographical surveys have been made 

 under the direction of Lt. -Colonel Hoier. Faunistic surveys are 

 being undertaken by Dr. G. F. de Witte of the Congo Museum at 

 Tervueren and by M. H. Damas of the University of Liege. R. P. 

 Schumacher has completed an ethnographical survey among the 

 pygmy inhabitants, and M. L. Hermans, of the University of 

 Liege, is making a magnetic map of the area. Dr. Schouteden 

 (1932), Director of the Congo Museum, has already published an 

 extensive work on the birds. 



The Pare National de la Kagera is situated in Ruanda-Urundi, 

 along the Kagera River. It was instituted in November 1934, and 

 includes as total reserve nearly 190,000 hectares and as partial 

 reserve nearly 80,000 hectares. In addition the Uele Reserve 

 (some 4,000 square miles) and the Reserve ^oologique et Forestiere de 

 la Region des Lacs in the Katanga have recently been raised to the 

 status of national parks. Such appropriation of large areas natur- 

 ally involves difiiculties when the land is actually in use. Belgian 

 policy is to reserve the entire area for wild life. Except for the pig- 

 mies who are allowed to remain in the national parks, the native 

 inhabitants are awarded compensation and given land of equal 

 value elsewhere. Land in European occupation is also expro- 

 priated. On the other hand, experience in British colonies indi- 

 cates that a resident native population is not always inimical to 

 the interests of a national park or game reserve; in certain circum- 

 stances it may even prove beneficial. 



