The Uganda Wildlife Authority in collaboration with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation translocated upto 15 giraffes from Murchison Falls National park so as to reintroduce the giraffes to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve.
The first batch of five male Rothschild giraffes was done on Monday October 28th while translocation of 10 females is in the process as funded by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation with an offer of USD37,000 (Shs137M) to ease the movement from Murchison Falls National Park.
The giraffes were captured by Uganda Wildlife rangers, Veterinary staff, University students and the Giraffe Conservation Foundation.
Dr Panta Kasoma who presided over the release session on behalf of the Chairman UWA board of trustees commented that the reintroduction of giraffes to Pian Upe reserve is in line with UWA’s strategic objectives among which is the reintroduction of extinct species.
He further revealed that the exercise addresses one of UWA’s key conservation objectives of restoring and managing viable populations of extinct or endangered species. He added that; ‘’We are happy and proud that we now have giraffes in Pian Upe Conservation reserve after very many years and we hope this translocation will further enhance tourism in the reserve.’’
Dr. Kasoma later added that in addition to increased tourism, other benefits such as employment, sale of crafts, food as well as accommodation, increased revenue sharing and other indirect economic benefits will be realized.
Dr Patrick Atimnedi, Senior Manager in charge of veterinary services at UWA said; ‘’the 15 giraffes being translocated include 10 females and 5 male, and in the second phase next year we shall translocate 25 giraffes. He further revealed that they are translocating the young giraffes for procreation purposes so that they grow, reproduce and boost population numbers in Pian Upe conservation reserve.’’
He also noted that translocation helps to introduce and reintroduce species into new and former habitats with the aim of diversifying species in locality and enhancing their survival rate’’. Dr Atimnedi well established it that, main threats to giraffes include diseases which include rinderpest, predators such as lions and Cheetahs, as well human factors like armed conflict, trophy hunt and poaching for meat where he spots that such cases led to local extinction of the giraffe in Pian Upe in the year 1996.
Current giraffe populations are recorded at; 49 in Kidepo Valley National Park, 24 in Lake Mburo National Park, and 1,500 giraffes in Murchison Falls National Park.
In the year, 2015, UWA translocated 15 giraffes from Murchison Falls to Lake Mburo National park, 19 giraffes were translocated in 2016 and in 2017, they translocated 17 giraffes to the southern bank of Murchison falls while in 2018, 14 giraffes were translocated to Kidepo Valley National park.
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