Chimpanzees are one of the primates that can be found in the tropical rainforest areas of Uganda. They are mainly located in Kibale national park, Kyambura gorge, Kalinzu forest reserve, Toro – Semuliki wildlife reserve and Budongo forest. These are wilderness areas but chimpanzees can also be found in private sanctuaries like Ngamba Island Sanctuary and Uganda Wildlife Education Centre in central Uganda.
Chimpanzees are human cousins sharing 98% of blood DNA and it is believed to be the most intelligent animal among primates. This is because it’s normally seen performing tasks like the use of its opposable thumbs to help in using tools like sticks and stones in extracting termites or cracking nuts.
Research.
Andrew Plumptre on chimpanzee populations says that, in Uganda, there are 5000 individuals of chimpanzees, making the pearl of Africa have the highest number compared to other countries, followed by Democratic Republic of Congo and then Tanzania with 2700 individuals, Rwanda 350 and Burundi have 350 and 450 individuals respectively. The number keeps changing due to deaths and births all the time.
Also, chimpanzees are like humans in a way of making infants after 3-4 years and at the age of 9-12 years, they become sexually mature. Chimpanzees are the most attractive primates and this has pulled different travellers from all corners of the world to come and watch them, either for a half day experience – chimpanzee tracking or fully day – chimpanzee habituation experience. Through this, travellers get into contact with the primates as they move, feed, play among others.
Threats of chimpanzees.
There are some threats to the survival and conservation of chimpanzee populations in Uganda such as the accidental snaring wires in the forests. Also, diseases are a threat to chimpanzees because these chimps are prone to human diseases like cough, flu, cholera, Ebola among others. Thus, the biggest threat of chimpanzees are people who neighbour the protected areas where chimpanzees inhabit.
Some chimpanzees in Uganda are killed for their “prestigious” meat while others hunt them down because of human –wildlife conflicts and other differences.
This has called for direct government support with a help of the local/private organization in collaboration with the international bodies to conserve these rare primate species. Initiatives can be done through different ways like educating the local people about importance of conservation, and starting up chimpanzee sanctuaries like the Ngamba island sanctuary that is used to the home of the rescued chimpanzees, or orphaned chimpanzees.
Therefore, in a way of conserving the chimpanzees, there are different projects that were started up mainly in Kibale national park and these are Kibale health and conservation Projects, Kibale chimpanzee Projects, Kasiisi project, UNITE for environment, New Nature Foundation among others. Protecting these primates comes along to the adventure of chimpanzee trekking by daily visitors, where the locals earn income through employment as guides, cooks, porters, house helpers among others.
Up to 20% of income generated from all entrance fees back to the local communities neighbouring the national parks. This is used to start up different projects that can help the community as a whole like clean water projects, beekeeping among others.
The privately owned Ngamba Island Sanctuary, is located in the middle of Lake Victoria in Mukono district seated on 100 acres of rainforest near the equator. The island inhabits 52 abandoned chimps that are rescued from poachers who sell them off as illegal pet and for bush meat in the international markets. Chimpanzees are given a safe home as the tourists are educated about the chimpanzees and can even make a donation to support this project.
Uganda as a country has extended numerous conservation practices to the endangered chimpanzees and the number of chimpanzees is increasing every year and so their conservation is of great priority.
