Update from the Chimpanzee Trust Uganda

We thank you for following us through the year, enjoy our November news highlights

The influential male chimps are still fighting for the top position in the group. This week Kalema seemed to be more established than the rest. He was observed settling a disagreement between Eddy and Kisembo. It all started when Eddy tried to throw a stone at caregivers but he was disciplined by Kisembo. This resulted into a fight between the two in which Kalema intervened and reconciled the two. The duo then settled for the feeding.

On another occasion, Mawa was seen bobbing for Kalema when the caregivers locked them in the same room and when it was time to release the chimps, Mawa and Asega showed their submission by holding on to Kalema and moving together to the race way.

During the recent Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees approved the 2013-2017 strategic plan on which the organisation will be administered for the next five years.

In the same meeting, Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust adopted a new short form; Chimpanzee Trust Uganda which has now replaced the initials of CSWCT.

The organisation vision and mission statements were also revised.
The Visions is; ‘Chimpanzee populations are secure in their natural habitats’.

The mission is ‘To promote Chimpanzee conservation and environmental management for sustainable development’

Forest cover in Bunyoro is being lost at a very high rate, a home to an estimated 60% of chimpanzees in Uganda. It is also estimated that 8,000 hectares of forest are lost per year and the forest cover left is 122,867 ha.

If nothing is done to curb this fast growing trend, Bunyoro will have lost all forests by 2025.

Since 2007, CSWCT has worked in Western Uganda particularly in Hoima and Kibaale districts to promote the conservation of chimpanzees, the environment and other wildlife in unprotected forest patches.

‘We setup a field conservation program that is trying to promote the protection of chimpanzee habitats, educate the public about the urgent need for conservation of the remaining forest patches as well as intervene in arising Human Wildlife conflicts’ says CSWCT’s Executive Director, Lilly Ajarova.

‘The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding with Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom is a big achievement as far as conserving the rich biodiversity of this region is concerned,’ the Executive Director adds.

In his speech,His Royal Highness Rukirabasaija Agutamba Solomon Gafabusa Iguru 1 pointed out that Bunyoro is keen on working with government and the civil society to protect chimpanzees. ‘Wildlife conservation and protection of the environment are a high priority for prosperity and tourism development,’ he said.

CSWCT board and management sign the MoU with the Bunyoro Kingdom officials at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

Plot 1, Bank Close, Entebbe Town
Tel: +256 414 320 662, Mob: +256 758 221 880

Email: info, www.ngambaisland.org

Sincerely,

Chimpanzee Trust Uganda