In the heart of the African equatorial forest, in the southwest of the Central African Republic, lies the Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve, an extraordinary corner where biodiversity still survives strongly.
Here, among many animal species, particularly forest elephants and western lowland gorillas, live the BaAka, an indigenous people deeply connected to the forest, who for generations have known and respected every rhythm, sound, and secret of it. At Dzanga-Sangha, WWF has been working for years to protect this fragile ecosystem and promote sustainable coexistence between local communities and wildlife. It is one of the few places in the world where it is possible to observe up close the complex relationships between humans and these great mammals in a setting that is neither artificial nor separated from daily life. This forest is not just a habitat but a shared world. Humans and gorillas have coexisted for centuries in a silent relationship made of mutual observation, respect, and adaptation. The BaAka move nimbly through the forest, guided by orally transmitted knowledge, and often collaborate with WWF as expert trackers in wildlife monitoring missions. Gorillas, in turn, learn to recognize human presence not as a threat, but as part of the living and ever-changing landscape of the jungle.  “Invisible Bonds” tells this astonishing coexistence through images. It is a journey into the green heart of Africa, where survival is never solitary but collective.  Where every step in the forest leaves an echo that other living beings perceive, interpret, and accept. In a time when forests like this are threatened by deforestation, poaching, and increasing human pressure, the story of Dzanga-Sangha and its inhabitants, human and non-human, becomes a powerful example of possible balance. A precious model to listen to, protect, and tell. This reportage, part of a larger project called Wildlife and Community Survival, is promoted by Witness Image, funded by the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation. (Text by Luca Catalano Gonzaga).