{"id":9037,"date":"2025-08-21T08:31:52","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T08:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/?p=9037"},"modified":"2026-02-20T10:27:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T10:27:56","slug":"invisible-bonds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/stories\/invisible-bonds\/","title":{"rendered":"Invisible Bonds"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Invisible Bonds - Central African Republic<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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by Luca Catalano Gonzaga<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Part of Wildlife and Community Survival<\/b> <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Suspended Balance on Peaks<\/a><\/h3>

Pakistan, 2025<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Faces of Gilgit Baltistan<\/a><\/h3>

Pakistan, 2025<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Invisible Bonds<\/a><\/h3>

Central African Republic, 2025<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Faces of the BaAka<\/a><\/h3>

Central African Republic, 2025<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Rewilding Cervo Italico<\/a><\/h3>

Ferrara, Italy - 2024<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Beyond the Nets<\/a><\/h3>

Italy, 2026<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"\"<\/a><\/figure>

Faces of Coexistence<\/a><\/h3>

Bhutan, 2025<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A Quiet Stability<\/a><\/h3>

Bhutan, 2025<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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In the remote forests of Dzanga-Sangha, in the country\u2019s southwest, the BaAka endure extreme poverty<\/strong>, marginalized and largely excluded from state services and economic systems<\/strong>. A nomadic hunter-gatherer people, they rely almost entirely on the forest for food, medicine, shelter, and cultural identity<\/strong>. For generations, their knowledge of plants, wildlife, and seasonal rhythms has shaped a deep and reciprocal relationship with the land<\/strong>. They share this threatened territory with western lowland gorillas, bound by an ancient coexistence<\/strong> rooted in observation, respect, and survival. Yet logging, poaching, and resource exploitation <\/strong>are tightening pressure on both communities and wildlife. As forests shrink and external interests expand, the BaAka face not only environmental loss<\/strong> but cultural erosion<\/strong>. Their future, like that of the gorillas, depends on defending a fragile ecosystem where human dignity and biodiversity<\/strong>remain inseparable.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman applies bark powder to her face, a gesture that invokes the ancestors and reinforces the spiritual bond with the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Every encounter with a western lowland gorilla is a fragile miracle: poaching continues to drastically reduce the population of this endangered species.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. With a hunting net and a long spear, a BaAka man enters the forest. The spear will be used to strike the animal trapped in the net during the communal hunt.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Limu, a silverback and leader of the group, moves through the dense vegetation. He is the protector of females and young, guiding, defending, and keeping the group united in the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. In the forest, a BaAka woman sets up a hunting net. Women also take an active role in collective hunts, helping to position the nets between the trees.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. BaAka men prepare for communal hunting with traditional woven nets. Hunting is central to BaAka culture, grounded in cooperation and deep knowledge of the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Balanced between sky and forest, a young gorilla watches the world from above.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka man prepares the net in the forest, guided by ancestral knowledge. Every detail matters for the success of the communal hunt.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Sitting in the forest, a BaAka woman listens to the world around her. For her people, the forest is more than a place, it is knowledge, presence, and spirit.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Hidden among the leaves, a young western lowland gorilla watches intently. In its eyes shines the quiet intelligence of the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. During the communal hunt, a BaAka man vocalizes to drive animals toward the nets. Sound, along with coordinated movement, is essential for a successful catch.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A sharp gaze, a sharpened spear, and the net held close: for the BaAka, every hunting expedition is an exercise in precision, cooperation, and ancestral memory.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Agile among the branches, young gorillas move through play, exploration and freedom, hidden in the forest's green.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. His upward gaze reveals focus and listening. In the forest, every detail can become a clue during the hunt.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka man prepares the net to be set among the forest trees. A daily gesture requiring focus and experience.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Life for western lowland gorillas flows slowly betwrrn food, rest, and deep bonds in the heart of the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman drinks water collected from a liana, a simple, age-old gesture rooted in forest life.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman walks through the forest with her child and hunting: net tradition, strength, and everyday life among the trees.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka man with net, ready for the hunt. The nets are used to catch small ungulates like duikers, as well as forest hogs and other wildlife.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Amid the dense forest branches, a BaAka woman works on setting the net. In hunting, every movement reflects shared knowledge.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman sets the net in the forest. Nets up to 100 meters long are stretched between trees to catch duikers, forest hogs, and other animals during communal hunts.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka hunter makes his way through the dense forest. For this community, the forest is a source of life, a hunting ground, and a place of cultural memory.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka tracker, deeply knowledgeable of the forest, monitors the movements of western lowland gorillas by watching the canopy and discerning sounds and noises in the jungle.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. The Sangha River flows through the Dzanga-Sangha forest, part of a continuous ecosystem shared by Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Congo, covering more than 1.5 million hectares.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. This clearing is an important gathering point for many species, including forest elephants, bongos, and buffaloes. Here, animals drink, feed on mineral salts, and can be observed at close range.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Forest elephants and bongo antelopes gather in a muddy clearing. These natural open areas, known as \u201cbais,\u201d are vital for the ecosystem: they provide essential minerals and serve as meeting grounds for many species.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Two forest elephants meet in a bai, but poaching is severely threatening the species: over the past 30 years, the population has declined by 86%, with estimated annual poaching rates between 9% and 18%.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Forest elephants and bongos gather in a bai rich in mineral salts. Both species are increasingly threatened by poaching: elephants for their ivory and bongos for their meat and trophies. Despite the remoteness of the forest, illegal hunting remains a serious threat.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A family of forest elephants gathers at a bai, where they dig and drink water rich in essential minerals such as chloride, sodium, and sulfur. These clearings play a vital role by providing nutrients that the forest vegetation alone cannot offer.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. After hours in the forest, a BaAka tracker rests in his shelter.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Gathering branches and leaves to build a hut. For the BaAka, the forest is more than home: it is tradition, autonomy, and cultural transmission.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Preparing a mobile camp in the forest. The BaAka build temporary shelters before heading out to hunt.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Young BaAka mother with her baby in a forest camp.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman prepares leaves to complete a mongulu, the traditional forest hut. Beside her, a child helps build the temporary camp.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Searching for branches in the forest, a young BaAka woman clears the path with a machete. The wood will be used to build temporary shelters before the hunt.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Temporary BaAka camp set up in the forest, with completed mongulus. Around the huts, daily life unfolds, rest, smoking, preparations.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Smoking is a widespread habit among the BaAka mostly among men, but not exclusively. In camp, some women also smoke regularly, as part of daily and social life.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Three generations of BaAka women, mothers, gatherers, educators, and keepers of forest knowledge at the heart of community life.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Daily life in a temporary forest camp.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A Baka woman, her child strapped to her chest, navigates the daily challenges of foraging in the rainforest. For many Indigenous families, survival still relies on direct access to natural resources.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A young BaAka cuts down a tree to gather branches for building a camp. From an early age, they learn to live in the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A young Baka woman gathers branches to build a mongulu, the mobile hut used during hunting trips in the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Mother and child in the temporary forest camp during the communal hunting period.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. The BaAka weave branches and leaves to erect a mongulu, the shelter that embodies tradition, autonomy, and cultural wisdom in the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A young girl carries water to the temporary forest camp where the community stays during hunting periods.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. By the campfire, a BaAka woman stirs a cassava and forest leaf stew. Daily meals, built on a starchy base and wild greens, are central to the traditional meals.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. In the heart of the forest, a BaAka mother sits with her child beside the camp. Between generations and roots, life passes on in silence.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Resting at the forest camp: between family care and rest, daily life unfolds at an essential rhythm.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka child plays with water in the stream, a simple yet vital gesture. Growing up in the forest means learning early to cope with a life that is tough yet deeply connected to nature.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. In the rainy season, BaAka women build small dams in forest streams, drain sections of water, and catch fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. This communal technique, known as \u201cDam fishing\u201d, is central to their sociocultural practices .<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. BaAka children at a forest stream during the rainy season. These water-rich environments are vital to the community\u2019s daily survival.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman applies bark powder to her face, a gesture that invokes the ancestors and reinforces the spiritual bond with the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Every encounter with a western lowland gorilla is a fragile miracle: poaching continues to drastically reduce the population of this endangered species.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. With a hunting net and a long spear, a BaAka man enters the forest. The spear will be used to strike the animal trapped in the net during the communal hunt.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Limu, a silverback and leader of the group, moves through the dense vegetation. He is the protector of females and young, guiding, defending, and keeping the group united in the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. In the forest, a BaAka woman sets up a hunting net. Women also take an active role in collective hunts, helping to position the nets between the trees.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. BaAka men prepare for communal hunting with traditional woven nets. Hunting is central to BaAka culture, grounded in cooperation and deep knowledge of the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Balanced between sky and forest, a young gorilla watches the world from above.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka man prepares the net in the forest, guided by ancestral knowledge. Every detail matters for the success of the communal hunt.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Sitting in the forest, a BaAka woman listens to the world around her. For her people, the forest is more than a place, it is knowledge, presence, and spirit.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Hidden among the leaves, a young western lowland gorilla watches intently. In its eyes shines the quiet intelligence of the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. During the communal hunt, a BaAka man vocalizes to drive animals toward the nets. Sound, along with coordinated movement, is essential for a successful catch.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A sharp gaze, a sharpened spear, and the net held close: for the BaAka, every hunting expedition is an exercise in precision, cooperation, and ancestral memory.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Agile among the branches, young gorillas move through play, exploration and freedom, hidden in the forest's green.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. His upward gaze reveals focus and listening. In the forest, every detail can become a clue during the hunt.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka man prepares the net to be set among the forest trees. A daily gesture requiring focus and experience.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Life for western lowland gorillas flows slowly betwrrn food, rest, and deep bonds in the heart of the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman drinks water collected from a liana, a simple, age-old gesture rooted in forest life.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman walks through the forest with her child and hunting: net tradition, strength, and everyday life among the trees.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka man with net, ready for the hunt. The nets are used to catch small ungulates like duikers, as well as forest hogs and other wildlife.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Amid the dense forest branches, a BaAka woman works on setting the net. In hunting, every movement reflects shared knowledge.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman sets the net in the forest. Nets up to 100 meters long are stretched between trees to catch duikers, forest hogs, and other animals during communal hunts.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka hunter makes his way through the dense forest. For this community, the forest is a source of life, a hunting ground, and a place of cultural memory.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka tracker, deeply knowledgeable of the forest, monitors the movements of western lowland gorillas by watching the canopy and discerning sounds and noises in the jungle.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. The Sangha River flows through the Dzanga-Sangha forest, part of a continuous ecosystem shared by Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Congo, covering more than 1.5 million hectares.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. This clearing is an important gathering point for many species, including forest elephants, bongos, and buffaloes. Here, animals drink, feed on mineral salts, and can be observed at close range.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Forest elephants and bongo antelopes gather in a muddy clearing. These natural open areas, known as \u201cbais,\u201d are vital for the ecosystem: they provide essential minerals and serve as meeting grounds for many species.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Two forest elephants meet in a bai, but poaching is severely threatening the species: over the past 30 years, the population has declined by 86%, with estimated annual poaching rates between 9% and 18%.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Forest elephants and bongos gather in a bai rich in mineral salts. Both species are increasingly threatened by poaching: elephants for their ivory and bongos for their meat and trophies. Despite the remoteness of the forest, illegal hunting remains a serious threat.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A family of forest elephants gathers at a bai, where they dig and drink water rich in essential minerals such as chloride, sodium, and sulfur. These clearings play a vital role by providing nutrients that the forest vegetation alone cannot offer.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. After hours in the forest, a BaAka tracker rests in his shelter.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Gathering branches and leaves to build a hut. For the BaAka, the forest is more than home: it is tradition, autonomy, and cultural transmission.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Preparing a mobile camp in the forest. The BaAka build temporary shelters before heading out to hunt.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Young BaAka mother with her baby in a forest camp.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman prepares leaves to complete a mongulu, the traditional forest hut. Beside her, a child helps build the temporary camp.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Searching for branches in the forest, a young BaAka woman clears the path with a machete. The wood will be used to build temporary shelters before the hunt.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Temporary BaAka camp set up in the forest, with completed mongulus. Around the huts, daily life unfolds, rest, smoking, preparations.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Smoking is a widespread habit among the BaAka mostly among men, but not exclusively. In camp, some women also smoke regularly, as part of daily and social life.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Three generations of BaAka women, mothers, gatherers, educators, and keepers of forest knowledge at the heart of community life.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Daily life in a temporary forest camp.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A Baka woman, her child strapped to her chest, navigates the daily challenges of foraging in the rainforest. For many Indigenous families, survival still relies on direct access to natural resources.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A young BaAka cuts down a tree to gather branches for building a camp. From an early age, they learn to live in the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A young Baka woman gathers branches to build a mongulu, the mobile hut used during hunting trips in the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Mother and child in the temporary forest camp during the communal hunting period.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. The BaAka weave branches and leaves to erect a mongulu, the shelter that embodies tradition, autonomy, and cultural wisdom in the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A young girl carries water to the temporary forest camp where the community stays during hunting periods.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. By the campfire, a BaAka woman stirs a cassava and forest leaf stew. Daily meals, built on a starchy base and wild greens, are central to the traditional meals.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. In the heart of the forest, a BaAka mother sits with her child beside the camp. Between generations and roots, life passes on in silence.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Resting at the forest camp: between family care and rest, daily life unfolds at an essential rhythm.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka child plays with water in the stream, a simple yet vital gesture. Growing up in the forest means learning early to cope with a life that is tough yet deeply connected to nature.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. In the rainy season, BaAka women build small dams in forest streams, drain sections of water, and catch fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. This communal technique, known as \u201cDam fishing\u201d, is central to their sociocultural practices .<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"Dzanga-Sangha
Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. BaAka children at a forest stream during the rainy season. These water-rich environments are vital to the community\u2019s daily survival.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\u201cRwanda, i volti delle mille colline\u201d exhibition by Luca Catalano Gonzaga at \u201cDucrot space\u201d in Rome<\/a><\/h2><\/div>
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Invisible Bonds – Central African Republic by Luca Catalano Gonzaga Part of Wildlife and Community Survival Suspended Balance on Peaks Pakistan, 2025 Faces of Gilgit Baltistan Pakistan, 2025 Invisible Bonds Central African Republic, 2025 Faces of the BaAka Central African Republic, 2025 Rewilding Cervo Italico Ferrara, Italy – 2024 Beyond the Nets Italy, 2026 Faces of Coexistence Bhutan, 2025 A Quiet Stability Bhutan, 2025 Suspended Balance on Peaks Pakistan, 2025 Faces of Gilgit Baltistan Pakistan, 2025 Invisible Bonds Central African Republic, 2025 Faces of the BaAka Central African Republic, 2025 Rewilding Cervo Italico Ferrara, Italy – 2024 Beyond the Nets Italy, 2026 Faces of Coexistence Bhutan, 2025 A Quiet Stability Bhutan, 2025 In the remote forests of Dzanga-Sangha, in the country\u2019s southwest, the BaAka endure extreme poverty, marginalized and largely excluded from state services and economic systems. A nomadic hunter-gatherer people, they rely almost entirely on the forest for food, medicine, shelter, and cultural identity. For generations, their knowledge of plants, wildlife, and seasonal rhythms has shaped a deep and reciprocal relationship with the land. They share this threatened territory with western lowland gorillas, bound by an ancient coexistence rooted in observation, respect, and survival. Yet logging, poaching, and resource exploitation are tightening pressure on both communities and wildlife. As forests shrink and external interests expand, the BaAka face not only environmental loss but cultural erosion. Their future, like that of the gorillas, depends on defending a fragile ecosystem where human dignity and biodiversityremain inseparable. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman applies bark powder to her face, a gesture that invokes the ancestors and reinforces the spiritual bond with the forest. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Every encounter with a western lowland gorilla is a fragile miracle: poaching continues to drastically reduce the population of this endangered species. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. With a hunting net and a long spear, a BaAka man enters the forest. The spear will be used to strike the animal trapped in the net during the communal hunt. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Limu, a silverback and leader of the group, moves through the dense vegetation. He is the protector of females and young, guiding, defending, and keeping the group united in the forest. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. In the forest, a BaAka woman sets up a hunting net. Women also take an active role in collective hunts, helping to position the nets between the trees. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. BaAka men prepare for communal hunting with traditional woven nets. Hunting is central to BaAka culture, grounded in cooperation and deep knowledge of the forest. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Balanced between sky and forest, a young gorilla watches the world from above. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka man prepares the net in the forest, guided by ancestral knowledge. Every detail matters for the success of the communal hunt. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Sitting in the forest, a BaAka woman listens to the world around her. For her people, the forest is more than a place, it is knowledge, presence, and spirit. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Hidden among the leaves, a young western lowland gorilla watches intently. In its eyes shines the quiet intelligence of the forest. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. During the communal hunt, a BaAka man vocalizes to drive animals toward the nets. Sound, along with coordinated movement, is essential for a successful catch. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A sharp gaze, a sharpened spear, and the net held close: for the BaAka, every hunting expedition is an exercise in precision, cooperation, and ancestral memory. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Agile among the branches, young gorillas move through play, exploration and freedom, hidden in the forest’s green. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. His upward gaze reveals focus and listening. In the forest, every detail can become a clue during the hunt. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka man prepares the net to be set among the forest trees. A daily gesture requiring focus and experience. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Life for western lowland gorillas flows slowly betwrrn food, rest, and deep bonds in the heart of the forest. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman drinks water collected from a liana, a simple, age-old gesture rooted in forest life. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman walks through the forest with her child and hunting: net tradition, strength, and everyday life among the trees. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka man with net, ready for the hunt. The nets are used to catch small ungulates like duikers, as well as forest hogs and other wildlife. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Amid the dense forest branches, a BaAka woman works on setting the net. In hunting, every movement reflects shared knowledge. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka woman sets the net in the forest. Nets up to 100 meters long are stretched between trees to catch duikers, forest hogs, and other animals during communal hunts. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka hunter makes his way through the dense forest. For this community, the forest is a source of life, a hunting ground, and a place of cultural memory. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. A BaAka tracker, deeply knowledgeable of the forest, monitors the movements of western lowland gorillas by watching the canopy and discerning sounds and noises in the jungle. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. The Sangha River flows through the Dzanga-Sangha forest, part of a continuous ecosystem shared by Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Congo, covering more than 1.5 million hectares. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. This clearing is an important gathering point for many species, including forest elephants, bongos, and buffaloes. Here, animals drink, feed on mineral salts, and can be observed at close range. Dzanga-Sangha Rainforest, Central African Republic. Forest elephants and bongo antelopes gather in a muddy clearing. These natural open areas, known as \u201cbais,\u201d are vital for the ecosystem: they<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-stories"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9037"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9576,"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9037\/revisions\/9576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.witnessimage.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}