Following the release of the first batch of 5 Rothschild giraffes into Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) as part of the reinstatement exercise that will see a total of 15 giraffes (5 male and 10 females) reintroduced into the reserve, folks foresee an improvement to the tourism at the wildlife reserve.
The translocation exercise that is targeted mainly to address one of the key conservation objective(s) of restoring and managing viable populations of extinct or endangered species commenced early this week. Speaking about the exercise, Dr. Panta Kasoma, a representative of the Chairman of the UWA Board of Trustees who presided over the release of the giraffes into the wild said that the authority was happy to have giraffes in Pian Upe after very many years. “We hope this will further enhance tourism in the reserve,” he added.
Dr. Kasoma further added that in addition to increased tourism, other benefits such as employment, sale of food and crafts, as well as accommodation, increased revenue sharing, and other indirect economic benefits will be realized.
According to UWA Communications Manager Hangi Bashir, the giraffes were shifted from Murchison Falls National Park.
Present at the event were members of UWA Board of Trustees including Mr. Leonard Wamakote of UWA management, leaders of districts neighboring the reserve, and community members.
Also, speaking at the occasion, on behalf of the Executive Director, the UWA Deputy Director of Field Operations, Mr. Charles Tumwesigye, said that in a bid to improve the tourism potential of Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, UWA last year brought in 92 impalas into the reserve. He added that UWA’s efforts to protect the wildlife in the reserve has also resulted in increasing the numbers of roan antelope, eland, zebra, hartebeest, and cheetah among others.
The Pain Upe Wildlife Reserve is the largest wildlife reserve and the second largest protected area (after MFNP) in Uganda, covering an area of 2,043 km2. It was established by a Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 220 of 1964 and amended by SI No. 136 of 1965 as a reserve. It is located in Nakapiripirit and Amudat districts and bordered by Napak, Katakwi, Kumi, Kween, Bulambuli, and Bukedea districts.
The translocation is being undertaken with support from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and Chayenne Mountain Zoo in the United States. Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) and Makerere University are also participating in the exercise.
The translocation activity has been routinely under taken because history has ocassionally not been kind to the wildlife in Uganda. Giraffes being a case study, rinderpest wiped out the giraffe population in the Ankole region (western Uganda), while in the north and northeast, the population decimation was largely a result of armed conflict, trophy hunting, and poaching for meat. These incidents led to local extinction of giraffe in Matheniko by the end of 1968 then Bokora and Pian Upe by the end of 1996. These threats have now been greatly reduced by law enforcement in the protected areas, and through significant veterinary monitoring and improved community relations.
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