Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 Page 1

Home , Lucy (chimpanzee), Oliver (chimpanzee)

June 2003 Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 Page 1

Volume 5, Number 1 June 2003

Editorial by Vernon Reynolds This is my first editorial written from the depths we’ve now had studies of all of retirement. I now live in Alfriston, a beautiful of our monkey species as well downland village in Sussex, and all Budongo folk are (blues, redtails, black and white colo- welcome! bus and baboons). We don’t yet know anything about Budongo still holds centre stage in my life. Nearly our pottos (does anyone know anything about pot- every day something Budongo-related comes my tos?). Nor do we know nearly enough about the other way. I like it that way, though not all the news is mammals, birds, and amphibians of the forest – though good (see Stop Press, page 2). a few species have been studied. The last newsletter came out in May 2001 so lots To mention some of our past directors and co- has been happening in the meantime. I’ll just men- directors, Jeremy Lindsell has got a job with the RSPB tion a few things that come to mind. in Sandy, Hugh Notman has finished his PhD in Live traps were mentioned in the last newsletter Calgary and is job-hunting, Mark Attwater has a job (under Latest News, page 3) in connection with our with GrASP – the Great Ape Survival Project, Nick training course for local farmers. Since then we have Newton-Fisher has a fellowship from the Leverhulme been working with Chris Byarugaba, who heads the Trust for a return to Budongo, Andy Plumptre is now Masindi District based in Kampala as the Di- Wildlife Management rector of the WCS Albertine Unit (otherwise Rift Programme, and Chris known as vermin Bakuneeta obtained his control) to install live PhD from Makerere and now traps in fields near vil- works in the Zoology De- lages in Budongo partment there. Sub-county. A num- Today Fred Babweteera ber of chimpanzees steers the Project along with have ven- great skill, and has recently tured into been involved in negotia- these traps tions for formal agreements Catherine O’Hara and been Bwoba crossing between BFP and both the released National Council for Sci- the Royal Mile (see photo). ence and Technology and It is truly ex- the Uganda Forest Department. These are excellent that cellent developments because, together with we have our role as Field Station for the Makerere Fac- been able to Chris Byarugaba ulty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, they Chimp released from a live trap achieve this help to build BFP into the institutional fabric break- of Uganda. through – the first ever as far as I know. We are still BFP itself continues to serve as the Field Station working on improvements to the project but if we for Makerere University’s Faculty of Forestry and have saved the lives of some chimpanzees (includ- Nature Conservation. This means we continue to ing two mothers with infants) that is cause for satis- serve the needs of Uganda, and this remains our pri- faction indeed. The fate of Kigere, the adult male mary aim. Our work should continue to remain rel- from Kasokwa forest who died of gangrene with a evant to Uganda and we strive to achieve this. As man-trap fixed on his hand, was so awful. And the mentioned above, we now have memoranda of agree- same fate befell another chimpanzee from the nearby ment with both the Forest Department and the Kasongoire forest. Both these forests are outliers of Uganda National Council for Science and Technol- Budongo, tentacles of forest amid the sea of sugar ogy. These are further milestones in the achievements that now covers the land to the south of Budongo, of Budongo Forest Project which started back in 1990 right up to the forest edge in many places. with Chris Bakuneeta and me occupying the Guest Our scholarship scheme proceeds well, with (at House at Nyabyeya Forestry College and making last) female as well as male beneficiaries. We have forays into the forest in a beaten-up Land Rover be- doubled the number of snare removers from two to longing to the Makerere Zoology Department. four. We still benefit from the support of National Thanks to Derek Pomeroy and Chris for all you did to Geographic for our chimpanzee work and are now get us off the ground! And thanks to Andy Plumptre working with four collaborators, Janette Wallis in for putting us on the map internationally. And last Oklahoma, Linda Vigilant in Leipzig, Leslie Knapp in but not least to all our staff and students, and our Cambridge, and Jenny Greenham in Reading. truly excellent current Assistant Director Sean We continue to have a steady flow of students to O’Hara, for your tremendous efforts to make the Budongo Forest Project Sonso, from Makerere and elsewhere. The emphasis Budongo Forest Project the exciting and wonderful is still on our Sonso chimpanzee community, but thing it is. Page 2 Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 June 2003 Kwa heri, Jambo

STOP PRESS All who have studied our Sonso community will be saddened It is truly shocking that this can happen today, with by the news that Jambo is dead. On May 6, 2003 I received all the efforts being made to ensure everyone in the an email from Sean O’Hara as follows: area, and in Uganda as a whole, understands that chimpanzees are endangered, and are fully protected “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but we found by law. We can only hope the culprits are found and Jambo dead today. He has been dead a couple of days punished. If final responsibility rests with the Kinyara and appears to have been speared. He may have been Sugar Works then that is a very serious matter in- in the sugar cane when it happened but made it out (a deed and we must hope they will address it respon- few metres) to the forest edge (or at least the elephant sibly and ensure that no chimpanzee ever again grass). We recovered comes to harm as a result of Jambo’s body this morn- raiding the sugar cane fields. ing and have now bur- Poor Jambo. – Vernon ied him in camp.” Reynolds

The following accounts nity to have been killed by an were compiled by the employee of this sugarcane people on site at Sonso and outgrower since 1999. submitted by Sean O’Hara. The repercussions of such deaths are more far reaching On Tuesday 6th May, than the actual loss of life. Jambo, a healthy adult male Jambo was the 3rd ranking male chimpanzee of the Sonso of the Sonso community. In community of Budongo chimpanzee communities, males Forest, was found dead. He are closely related and bond to- had been killed by a spear gether in order to protect ‘their’ or an arrow through the females. If the number of males base of the neck and from within a community is artificially the apparent internal bleed- reduced (e.g., through anthro- ing the spear is thought to pogenic killings) the have penetrated as deep as community’s integrity and the lung. This suggests the longterm survival is put at risk. attack was from close range Jambo was part of a research and not accidental. The study group and thus was well body of Jambo was found known. He has been followed within 5 metres of an and observed daily for twelve

outgrower’s sugarcane plan- Melissa Emery years by the research assistants tation which has been of Budongo Forest Project. Over planted about 10 metres Jambo this time, BFP research assis- away from the forest edge. It is thought ertheless he is a Ugandan and should tants have watched as Jambo has ma- that Jambo was not killed outright but know that killing chimpanzees is illegal. tured into a strong, successful and vital that he managed to crawl a couple of Furthermore the joint owners of the member of his community. Thus, despite metres into the grass bordering the for- sugarcane should be fully cognizant being partially decomposed, the body est edge before dying. Estimated time with the law and should have taken mea- was readily identified by the research of death is 2-4 days before we found sures to ensure their employee did not assistant who found him. There are many him. break the law whilst carrying out his other chimpanzee communities whose The finger strongly points at the duty. They most certainly failed in this home ranges take them to the vicinity of guard of the sugarcane as the local vil- case. Their defence is that they did not sugarcane plantations and conse- lagers are both knowledgeable about tell the guard to kill chimpanzees. Yet quently it is highly likely that many chim- Ugandan law that protects chimpanzees neither did they tell him not to kill nor panzees become victims of similar kill- and tolerant of chimpanzees that some- did they instruct him how to go about ings. Unfortunately, however, these times come to take domestic crops. The protecting the sugarcane from wildlife. chimpanzees are not known or studied current guard of this sugarcane how- They argue that ‘everyone knows that.’ and therefore can disappear without a ever is said to not be a local and there- Obviously not everyone does. Or maybe trace. fore someone who may not be familiar it is not a coincidence that this is the Chimpanzees are already listed as with the behaviour of chimpanzees. Nev- second chimpanzee from this commu- endangered species and any further loss June 2003 Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 Page 3

is likely to be highly detrimental. Uganda search - extends to the southern bound- It is illegal under Ugandan law to is one of only a handful of countries ary of the Budongo Forest Reserve, kill a chimpanzee, even if it is crop raid- that still has viable populations of chim- where it neighbours Nyakafunjo village. ing, as they are a protected, endangered panzees. They are thus both a major In 2000, a second crop of sugarcane was species. It is estimated only 5000 chim- tourist attraction and an important re- planted on a stretch of land extending panzees remain in Uganda, about ten search commodity for Uganda bringing behind the village, bordering the forest percent of which live in the Budongo in foreign currency to the country. Yet edge, with the intention of the crop be- Forest Reserve. Further north in the re- Uganda’s laws appear to fall serve is one of Uganda’s leading short of those necessary to pro- chimpanzee ecotourism sites, tect these rare and important which is partly funded by the EU animals. and is a big attraction to foreign There are no laws that tourists to Uganda. govern how close cash crops Until the sugarcane and other may be grown to forest bound- attractive and palatable crops are aries. Only waterways have removed from the forest edge, such protection. We are cur- chimpanzees will continue to crop rently reliant on the goodwill raid and they will continue to be and environmental awareness killed. A fifty metre clearing, act- of the large corporations that ing as a buffer zone between the buy cash crops to stop planta- forest edge and the start of the tions being pushed to the for- crops, is probably enough to dis- Janette Wallis est edge. They have the power This photo shows how close cane (right) is courage chimpanzees from enter- to stop such growth by refusing to buy grown to the forest edge (left) ing the crops, provided they are also crops that damage the environment and adequately guarded, as chimps are gen- threaten the wildlife. Unfortunately, not erally very nervous of large open spaces all corporations exercise their power in ing sold to Kinyara sugar works (KSW) where they cannot rapidly escape to the this way. Thus it is down to the govern- under their out-growers scheme when it safety of trees. ment to take control and put the appro- was harvested. In order to try and act on this, we priate laws in place. The Forest Depart- Since this time the adult males and arranged a meeting with Kinyara Sugar ment (FD) and the law enforcement occasionally some females have been Works as well as informing FD and agency of Ugandan Wildlife Authority observed leaving the forest and feed- UWA who should instigate legal pro- (UWA) have the power to arrest and ing on this commercial crop. The crop ceedings against the out-grower. KSW prosecute those found breaking the law owner has intermittently employed a were asked what they intend to do about by killing wildlife without permission. guard to chase the chimpanzees out of this situation (see below). They were However, this is already too late for the the sugarcane, but as he is not there also informed that this story would be dead chimpanzees. Prevention is better regularly the chimps have often man- offered to the New Vision (Ugandan than cure. Preventing conflict between aged to steal some of the crop. Press) and to international press as well. animals and land owners is what is re- quired. Let Jambo’s death be the catalyst for change and not just another Report of Meeting with Kinyara Sugar Works senseless loss of life. The Kinyara Sugar Works (KSW) General Manager (Jack Maclean) Jambo is estimated to be in his late and the Agricultural Manager (Paul Lloyd) gave us the following assur- twenties: a fully-grown adult male chim- ances at a meeting held at KSW on Tuesday 13th May 2003: panzee - probably the largest in the • To introduce a clause into all of their new out-grower contracts (with Budongo Forest Project study commu- immediate effect) that states that a crop should not be planted within nity in terms of body size. He is the third 50m of the forest and that this land be kept clear so as to not provide ranking male, so along with Duane and cover for chimpanzees in which to cross. Maani (the alpha and beta ranked indi- • To improve sensitisation at their out-grower workshops by the provi- viduals) forms the powerhouse of the sion of information about the legal status of chimpanzees and address community. There is now only one other issues such as how to reduce human-chimp conflict. male that can realistically be claimed to KSW had already assessed the out-grower site where Jambo was be fully grown and in his prime, with the killed prior to the meeting (that same day) and said a “mistake” had been remaining adult males being two who made; the cane was too close to the forest. Immediate action would be are rather elderly and five who still have taken to cut back the cane to a 50m distance from the forest and the cane a lot of growing to do to reach full body would be harvested early (at 15 mths rather than 18 or 19 mths) to alleviate size. Jambo’s death is therefore a very the immediate problem. (On 15/5/03 KSW informed us that this was sched- significant loss to the community, which uled for the next day. The burning actually took place on Thursday 15th could have disastrous consequences in May and cutting was being carried out on Friday 16th May). any potential inter-community conflict. KSW will carry out an assessment of the problem (to which BFP are The range of the Sonso Commu- invited to participate) so that the extent of the problem of out-growers nity of chimpanzees - the group habitu- growing sugarcane close to the borders of Budongo Forest could be un- ated by the Budongo Forest Project for derstood. Following this evaluation, steps – should they prove necessary scientists to follow and observe for re- – will be implemented. Page 4 Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 June 2003 Meet Mr. and Mrs. Fred Babweteera On Saturday, 3rd May 2003, Fred and lies. Also among the speakers was Dr. Caroline were married in St Francis’ John Kabagozza whose address was on Chapel, Makerere University, Kampala. behalf of the Project. Amongst the guests were Zephyr, Oliver After the speeches, Fred and Caro and Richard from the Project as well as cut the cake together and as is Ugan- Sean (Assistant Director), Catherine and dan custom shared their first ‘meal’ to- Lucy (current Ph.D. stu- gether by feeding each other dents at Sonso). Caro looked cake and Sprite (both being beautiful (albeit a touch ner- teetotal, of course). Then for- vous) as she walked down malities over, the dancing the aisle with her Uncle who was led off by the newly- was giving her away. Fred weds and suddenly everyone obviously agreed as he really relaxed and got into the stood beaming at her from swing of things (even the the altar as she approached. wazungu!). I’m not sure The service was a very what time the celebrations happy affair filled with talk ended, but as we left there of love and togetherness in was little doubt that the a marriage, with singing and guests were in full party dancing, and the couple mode. Thank you Fred and were enthusiastically ap- Caro for allowing us to share plauded and cheered as they your special day. – made their vows to each Catherine O’Hara. other. The reception was held at Hotel In- Mr. & Mrs. Babweteera ternational 2000, on Tank Hill, Kampala. The setting was wonderful with an amaz- ing view over Lake Victoria and the fet dinner and then Caro’s family were venue did justice to such a special oc- asked to speak. From the words spoken casion. Of course we were working on and the emotions visible during these Africa time but we were kept well enter- speeches, Fred and Caro are obviously tained by the MC and the disco. A few immensely loved and respected by their remarks were given by Fred’s family be- friends and family and were both equally Janette Wallis fore an excellent and well organised buf- warmly welcomed into their new fami- Caro & Fred share a moment after the Budongo Conference, Sept 2000

Important Events for the BFP Family

Babies born: Congratulations Fred Babweteera! Richard & Janet – boy, just arrived! (6/03) We are fortunate indeed to have the excellent leader- Ogen & Gina – Adam (4/03) ship of Fred Babweteera as Director of BFP at the present Zephyr & Ramula – Juliet (09/02) time. Fred first came to us when he was studying for his M.Sc. in Forestry at Makerere. He returned as Director Mary & Okello – Gladys (6/02) and has been a constant source of strength for the Project Joseph & Grace – Josephine (5/01) ever since. He obtained a scholarship to study at Oxford University in 2001-2002, obtained a distinction in the Kennedy & Marta – Sophia (11/00) Final Examinations, shared the Jubilee Prize for the best Geresomu & Evace – Vanessa (12/99) overall performance in the course, and won the Cooper’s Hill Memorial Prize for the best performance of any stu- James & Jeres – Harriet (12/98) dent. This prize constitutes a medal engraved with his name and was presented to him in Kampala in March 2003. Following these distinctions, Fred has been awarded a Clarendon Award to study for the D.Phil. at Oxford. He Marriages: will begin in October 2003. I think all who know Fred’s warm smile and his self- Monday is now married to Beatrice effacing manner will want to congratulate him and wish Fred & Caroline married May 3rd (see above) him well. On behalf of all of you, I do so now: CON- GRATULATIONS, FRED! – Vernon June 2003 Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 Page 5 Tipsy Chimps: A Reflection on Three Past Members of the Sonso Community by Emily Bethell In 1997, I was lucky enough to the cause of his death remains un- gated orange pips. The seeds were spend 10 weeks in the Budongo Forest known. rooted in a spongy pith and Magosi tore studying vigilance patterns among the Although I didn’t fully appreciate them out with his teeth. The fruit was so chimpanzees and mapping the forest the significance of the event I observed large he had to use both hands to hold trail system (vol 1:3, 1998). Since that at the time, I was struck by its peculiar- it while he did this. time, I have followed the comings and ity and took detailed notes at every Muga, who was sitting on Magosi’s goings of the Sonso Chimpanzee Com- stage (see Bethell et al, 2000). left was very interested in Magosi’s feast munity at a distance through second My field assistant James Kakura, and stared hard at his face, from no more hand reports. Geresomu Muhumuza, and I came than a foot away, for several minutes. When I re- across Muga walking Whether this was a tactic or not, it cently received an tri-pedally across one worked, and Magosi finally pulled off a updated list of the of the forest trails, clump of seeds and passed them to births, deaths, and clutching an enor- Muga. Muga took the seeds and new members of the mous fruit (roughly the Magosi gave a small grunt. Within sec- community I was onds Muga had consumed excited to see there the mouthful and peered in- had been a number tensely at Magosi and the of new-comers to fruit once more. Again the group and that Magosi passed a small the overall number of individu- clump of seeds to Muga, als was not so different to when grunting as he did so. These I had been there. However, episodes of passing food to around the same time, I heard another individual are con- that Jambo had been killed (see sidered to be full-blown Stop Press, page 2). The loss of cases of active food shar- this adult male comes as a blow ing as described for other to the future stability of the chimpanzee groups with group. meat. Since my time at Budongo, Following these ex- sixteen individuals that I changes Magosi tolerated had the privilege of Muga scrounging seeds off studying have either died the fruit as he continued to or disappeared. Among feed on it and, when he had those were three males I eaten about two-thirds, Magosi stopped observed engaging in a feeding. Muga reclaimed his prize and rather rare behaviour at started gorging himself as Magosi had close quarters. I am dis- before. Andy, who had been watching heartened to hear of the from a short distance away, then moved death of any chimpanzee closer to Muga and scavenged scraps and, of course, hearing from the floor around his feet. He was about animals you have obviously nervous about doing this and

had the good fortune to Photos: Vernon Reynolds repeatedly glanced up at Muga’s face observe on a daily basis as he stuffed the stray seeds into his is sadder still. So, I hope the following Andy, Magosi, and Muga mouth. Muga turned his back on Andy report will remind many of you of three and continued to feed while Andy males who were star players in the group size of a football) to his chest with his started to groom Muga’s back, for all of for many years. right arm - quite a feat given the loss of 6 seconds, at which point Muga placed The three chimpanzees in question his right hand and the size of the object. the remains of the fruit on the ground were Magosi, an old male whose dead He seemed to be struggling a little as he and Andy started feeding on what little body was found in the forest (on the 4th disappeared off into the bushes, but was was left. July, 1999); Muga, easily recognisable obviously determined not to lose his The whole episode lasted an hour, by the scar on his cheek and missing prized find. Despite all the impediments at the end of which we were left watch- right hand, who disappeared in March he still managed to lose us! ing three very well fed chimpanzees, 2000; and Andy, an adult male who had It was several minutes before we one of whom was hiccuping for Uganda. been sub-adult in 1997 and who I re- found Muga again and by this time he I have never before, nor since, seen member fondly for his boldness and had relinquished hold of the fruit (a fer- a chimpanzee get tipsy. great curiosity in everything going on menting Treculia africana) to Magosi. around him – he was certainly ‘one of Magosi was gorging himself on the Bethell, E., Whiten, A., Muhumuza, G. & Kakura, J. (2000). Active plant food division the lads.’ Andy’s body was found in the outer layer of large elipsoid seeds, and sharing by wild chimpanzees. Primate forest on the 28th July 2000, although which looked like something akin to elon- Report 56:67-71. Page 6 Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 June 2003 O’Hara Notes Many Changes as BFP Enters Its Second Decade by Sean O’Hara Last year Professor Reynolds in- troduced a period of quarantine for vis- Other developments include the vited me to take on the responsibility of iting students after arriving in the coun- continuation and growth of our commu- Assistant Director at BFP whilst carry- try before access to the research com- nity conservation education and other ing out my Ph.D. research at Sonso (Fe- munity is granted. Furthermore, in keep- outreach activities. Snaring remains a male Sexual Signalling and Male Violence ing with calls by the American Society problem in Budongo and we wish to in Chimpanzee Reproductive Strategies, of Primatologists and the International place greater emphasis still on tackling supervisor: P.C. Lee, University of Cam- Primatological Society(*) for improved this practice. To this end we are also ex- bridge). I took up this post in February health regulations at primate field sites, panding our snare removal programme, 2002. doubling our number of removal offic- Now well into a second de- ers to four and expanding the area cov- cade of research, BFP has achieved ered to extend beyond the range of the international recognition as a long- Sonso chimpanzee community. term chimpanzee research site. To No changes have been made to the this end, we focus our efforts to- field staff personnel but changes have wards remaining a progressive been made in terms of working prac- project at the cutting edge of re- tices. We have new data collection pro- search and at the forefront of good tocols that are yielding more data and a practices. We continue to critically revision of work scheduling means we review our working practices and are achieving greater coverage over the have recently formalised many day. At this time (despite the rain), we procedures. The website has a are conducting dawn to dusk follows new look and contains greater in- from Sunday afternoon through Friday formation, particularly for pro- afternoon. Challenges have been set to spective students. The ‘regs’ the Field Assistants and I’m pleased to document for applying students report they are rising to them. has been updated for 2003, again I’m looking towards the IPS con- with more details and practical in- ference which comes to Uganda in 2006

formation. A new informative leaf- Photos: Catherine O’Hara and our goal from now is let for prospective Makerere stu- to increase the profile of dents has been designed, printed BFP both at the national and distributed at the University. In and international level. camp we have produced a practical Our task has to be to booklet for new visitors about camp life: make ourselves yet more a who’s whom and what’s what. Chim- relevant on both fronts. I panzee biographies and life histories think we have already be- have been created and updated. The site gun to do this. In Octo- has been decorated and rooms up- ber 2003, I hand over this graded. Power supplies (for laptops, mo- post to Dr. Nick Newton- bile phones etc.) are now available on Fisher and I wish him well each side of the two houses. The library in the continuation of and herbarium is catalogued and mu- this work. seum specimens mounted, labelled, and Sean O’Hara & BFP Staff Finally, I’d like to take well displayed. this opportunity to thank Fred Much has taken place on the re- - Christmas 2002 Babweteera, BFP Director, for his work search side also. With increasingly ha- and support; we are indeed lucky to bituated chimpanzees comes a respon- we now insist that students arrive with have him. In addition, thanks to sibility to update and review our proce- full vaccinations and inoculations, have Catherine O’Hara and Lucy Bates with dures and re-train our staff to keep pace them sign a declaration of good health whom my research time overlaps and with changes in habituation level. With on arrival, and also sign an agreement who have been equally vigorous in giv- reduced proximity the potential for bi- to comply with formal forest regulations ing up their time to facilitate progress at directional disease transfer and actual which we have drawn up before they can BFP. – Sean O’Hara, BFP Assistant Di- contact with the chimpanzees increases. go into the forest. We have also intro- rector Rather than becoming blasé about our duced a limit on the number of chim- interactions with these animals we panzee researchers at any one time to * For more information should show greater vigilance and ad- minimise potential negative impacts on on the ASP & IPS herence to regulations than previously. the research community. I strongly be- As such, weekly training sessions with lieve it is our responsibility as a project Policy Statements on the field staff feature topics such as “les- to have in place such procedures to Protecting Primate sons to be learned from other long-term minimise our impact here and to protect Health in the Wild, see: sites” and “bi-directional disease trans- the fauna and the integrity of the flora www.asp.org fer.” For health precautions we have in- which we rely on for our work. June 2003 Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 Page 7 Zephyr and Geresumu Say “Thank You” to Cleveland Zoo & Welcome All to Sonso! by Zephyr Kiwede After a two-year For- BFP now organises weekly train- estry Technician training ing sessions for the field staff in differ- course at Nyabyeya For- ent aspects of science, on a Thursday. estry College, myself and This is conducted by both the Director Geresomu are both very and his Assistant plus students and vis- thankful to Cleveland Zoo- iting scientists that are in camp at the logical Society for their fi- time. This has greatly improved the work- nancial support. Without manship of the field staff. This places this generous support, our BFP among the best and most experi- completing the course would enced centres for scientific field research

not have been possible. Our Photos: Janette Wallis where one would think of carrying out special thanks also to Pro- his or her research. fessor Reynolds for his hard To all students, both work in securing these funds Zephyr foreign and within Uganda, for us. This programme en- Kiwede wishing to come to Budongo, ables Budongo Forest you are warmly welcome. All Project to be one of the few your aims and objectives are scientific research projects achievable with the help of one might know of with well- our highly qualified and pro- skilled field staff who not Geresomu fessional field staff. Let you only know chimpanzees but Muhumuza witness yourselves but not a diversity of aspects of for- to be told. estry.

Testing, testing, testing by Kim Hockings I completed my undergraduate Zoology degree at the University of Liverpool in July ’02. I am currently conducting a 2 month pilot study (May/June ’03)in Budongo Forest regarding ‘Vocalisations between the chimpanzee sexes.’ I hope to be able to fill a gap in our knowledge of Baboons, anyone? vocalisations in this species, which would have considerable implications I want to issue a challenge to gen- for our understanding of the cognitive abilities of our closest living rela- erate more interest in the baboons of tives. Budongo. Although chimpanzees are my preferred species (as is true for most In brief, the vocal behaviour of focal females will be monitored by focus- readers of this newsletter!), my second sing on the type of male call that illicited the female response and the type favorite primate is the baboon. I’ve been of call the focal female used as a response, noting the corresponding amazed, therefore, to find so little inter- behaviours. Chimpanzee vocalisations are highly graded and involve est in their study in Uganda (apart from many different call types which I will be recording using a Mini- ealier work by Paterson & Alberts). Disc player and microphone, and noting on a checksheet. Many of you are aware of the On paper this seems a straightforward procedure, al- “problem” of baboons. Throughout though in places where the visibility is limited, iden- much of Africa, they are considered tifying which chimp vocalised and in what con- “pests” that raid crops, enter homes, and text provides an extra challenge! even attack when threatened. Some of us would argue, however, that it is often When I have completed my pilot study, as the human who is at fault. Planting well as answering my study questions, I crops near forests, being negligent want to have improved my data collec- about closing doors ... these are invita- tion techniques and to have a greater tions for the cheeky and bold baboon. understanding of the experiences of Our species is supposed to be smarter a field researcher. I hope my time at than theirs, right? So, please, let’s find Budongo will prove beneficial for ways to appreciate this “pest species” when I commence my Ph.D. in and improve our commensal existence. September 2003, at the Univer- Perhaps the presence of researchers will sity of Stirling. help the fate of Ugandan baboons – Janette Wallis Page 8 Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 June 2003 Endocrine Sampling at Sonso by Melissa Emery I first came to Budongo in the sum- amine changes in ovarian function in a Kibale. I will report further results in a mer of 2000 to find out if field work was single individual over time. Meanwhile, future newsletter. really something I wanted to do. After a I am in the midst of laboratory analyses I look forward to return visits to ten week visit, I knew I had to come Budongo to complete the project and to back. visit my dear friends, both human and I returned in September 2001 to chimpanzee. Zephyr has been particu- conduct the main body of my disser- larly valuable to me in maintaining the tation project. My project uses non- project while I am away; one could not invasive fecal and urine sampling for ask for a more responsible and produc- a comparative study of the ovarian tive research assistant. During most of function of chimpanzees in three com- my time at Budongo, I was the only chim- munities in East Africa: Kasakela panzee student researcher at camp. Ev- (Gombe), Kanyawara (Kibale), and ery day of work, we contacted chimpan- Sonso. My objectives are to under- zees (even if only a glimpse of Tinka’s stand what factors influence ovarian backside as he limped away from us). steroids and what effects this may have On days off, we often had the pleasure on the mating system. For instance, of the chimpanzees visiting us at one of do chimpanzees, like humans, show the beautiful figs around camp. Each different baseline day brought new, exciting, and some- ovarian steroid lev- Photos: Melissa Emery times trau- els in different popu- matic events, lations? If so, does such as the this relate to varia- arrivals of tion in diet? Can the several in- same influence be fants includ- seen within a popu- Clea, ing Clea’s lation as fruit utiliza- very first-born, tion fluctuates over pregnant the immigra- the year? Finally, do tion of three females experiencing adult females high ovarian func- into the com- tion exhibit larger Me, waiting to capture a munity, the urine sample sexual swellings and Duane, slow wasting do they receive more lounging in deaths of attention from males? All of this means I Bwoya and Ruda (whose complete post- spent a great deal of time staring at the the sunlight mortem examination was one of the first less attractive end of the Sonso chim- of its kind), a deadly snatching of a hu- panzees. It also meant that we all got on these samples, as well as more than man infant in nearby Kasokwa, and even repeatedly showered with the samples 3000 others from other field sites. Pre- a lion in camp. Though I selfishly rel- we tried to collect. liminary analyses of a small number of ished having the forest and the field as- With the help of the BFP field as- fecal samples indicates that baseline sistants to myself, I am very pleased to sistants, we have collected over 1000 ovarian function at Budongo may be see the research house full again. urine and 1000 fecal samples from 22 higher than at Kibale; this is in keeping Budongo has a lot to offer to our under- Sonso females in 16 months; we will ul- with the difference in interbirth interval, standing of the behavioral diversity of timately have a three-year dataset to ex- which is longer and more variable at chimpanzees. – Melissa Emery.

The current composition of the Sonso Community:

♦ 9 adult males ♦ 17 adult females Total number of ♦ 3 subadult males chimpanzees in the ♦ 4 sudadult females community = 57 ♦ 6 juvenile males (22 males:35 females) ♦ 6 juvenile females ♦ 4 infant males ♦ 8 infant females June 2003 Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 Page 9 Sonso Transitions.... compiled by Emily Bethell Births and other new arrivals in the Sonso Chimpanzee Community since 2000 There have been several new arrivals to the Sonso Chimpanzee Community since the New Millennium. We look forward to many more in the future…

Males born Zed (ZD) Zed was born in May 2001 to Zana. Clint (CL) Clint was born to Clea at the end of April 2002.

Zak (ZK) The son of Zimba, Zak was born in November 2002. Janette Wallis Monday (MD) First seen at 2-4 months of age at the beginning of February 2003. Monday’s mother is Mukwano. Kwera & Karo Females born Kumi (KM) Daughter of Kalema, Kumi was first seen on the 15th of September 2000. Helen (HE) First seen aged approx. 1 week old on 23rd February 2001. Her mother is Harriet. Karo (KR) Karo is the daughter of Kwera, and was first seen on 2nd November 2001, aged approx. 1 day. Ramula (RM) Ramula was born in September 2002 to Ruhara. Night (NT) Night was born on the 6th/7th February 2003 to Nambi.

Other new arrivals Juliet (JL) Adolescent Juliet joined the group in January 2002, but has since disappeared (see below). Sabrina (SB) Sabrina and her juvenile daughter were first seen in November 2000, and periodically throughout & Sally (SA) 2001. They became regular group members in October 2001. Melissa (ML) Melissa and her son Mark, a juvenile, joined the Sonso group at the end of September 2001. & Mark (MR) Wilma (WL) Wilma joined the group with her son Willis in October 2001. She remains peripheral and shy. & Willis (WS) Flora (FL), Flora, who has a missing right hand, immigrated into the group in January 2003 with her two sons Fred (FD) (FD, a juvenile approx. 6-8 years old, and FK, an infant aged between 2-4). & Frank (FK) Chimpanzees who have died or disappeared from the Sonso Community since 2000 We are sad to announce the certain deaths or the long-term absence of several individuals from the Sonso Community since 2000. Adult Males th Andy (AY) Andy was found dead in the forest on 28 July 2000. The Janette Wallis cause of his death is unknown. Andy Muga (MU) ‘stump’ Muga was last seen on the 23rd March 2000. Bwoya (BY) ‘hairy’ A body (thought to be Bwoya) was found on the 24th December 2001 in block I19. Bwoya had suffered a long period of illness during which his health deteriorated considerably. Jambo (JM) ‘hullo’ Jambo was killed by a spear around the 4th May 2003. It is believed he was killed as a result of foraging in the sugar cane. (See page 2.) Adult Females Sara (SR) Sara was last seen on 29th February 2000. Ruda (RD) ‘stomach’ The mother of Bob and Rachel, Ruda’s death was observed in the forest on the 9th November 2001. The cause of her death was established by autopsy as peritonitis. Subadult Females Muhara (MH) Muhara, who joined the community in 1995 with her mother, Mama, has not been seen since 3rd April 2001 Juliet (JL) Juliet immigrated into the community in January 2002. She has since disappeared. Infants Ben (BE) Ben was born on the 13th or 14th September 2001 to Banura. He disappeared between the 31st October 2001 and 8th January 2002. Page 10 Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 June 2003 The Delights of Collecting Chimpanzee Data by Catherine O’Hara My thesis is major histocompatibil- receiving the material as a personal gift I am also looking at the Pabidi com- ity complex (MHC) diversity in wild chim- is a fine one. I know a number of you munity and ultimately hope to include a panzees and the implications for health, also have unenviable memories of be- third, more geographically distinct, reproduction, and survival. This entails ing victims of the odd direct hit! population to see how population- 15 months at Sonso collecting I am, however, enjoying the ben- unique MHC alleles and levels of het- behavioural data and (non-invasive) efits of well-habituated Sonso chimpan- erozygosity correlate with health param- biological material for DNA extraction zees which makes my job a lot easier eters in different chimpanzee communi- and molecular genetic analysis. I am also and the collection of behavioural data ties under potentially different health conducting parasite load analyses of all very exciting. stresses. Sonso adults to At Budongo, my field determine how assistant is Kennedy to these correlate whom I must extend a warm with individual word of thanks for his MHC profiles. unique approach to field Those of you work and for his enrichment who have also ex- of my time at Sonso through perienced the de- his instruction in Uganda lights of collecting culture! The education I faeces and urine have received here will be from wild chimpan- difficult to match. – zees will agree that Catherine O’Hara this is not a task for BSc.(Hons), M.Phil., Pri- the faint-hearted. mate Immunogenetics and The line between Molecular Ecology getting close (PrIME), Department of enough to identify Biological Anthropology, the ‘owner’ and ex- University of Cambridge, act location of de- UK, at Sonso Feb 2002 - Sean O’Hara September 2003 posit and avoiding Catherine O’Hara What makes the Budongo Forest Project such a great success? The answer, of course, is that BFP has GREAT people asso- ciated with it! The BFP Family is comprised of many dedi- cated and hard-working individuals. Pictured here are a few of the very special people we call friends and co-workers. We hope to include additional photos and stories about our Field Staff in future issues of the BFP Newsletter. Janette Wallis George Otai & Richard Kyamanywa are the BFP Field As- sistants who work in the Kasokwa CFR forest fragment. The chimps living in that small patch have been separated from the main forest block by human encroachment. Rich- ard & George collect data so we can compare this small community with Sonso and also carry out educational pro- grams. (See story in the May 2001 newsletter and look for future stories about Kasokwa.)

You’ve seen photos of Zephyr & Geresomu elsewhere in this newsletter (pg 7). Pictured here are their fellow Sonso Field Assistants. These guys work long hours and collect the very important data that help us know more about the chimpanzees of Budongo. Front: Gideon Monday, Raymond Ogen; Center: Karamagi Joseph; Back: Kakura James, Kennedy Andama. Sean O’Hara June 2003 Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 Page 11 Joseph Takes Nyakafunjo Youths to the Top of the League An interview with BFP field assistant Joseph Karamagi - by Sean O’Hara Joseph and Monday decided to find an outlet for youths of Nyakafunjo Village because many were becoming unruly as they lacked direction. What better than to form a soccer team for football-mad Ugandans? Through the team they hoped to engender a solidarity and unity and to use it to channel the message of conservation and sustainable forest use to these young men.

Q. Joseph, when did you form the Nyakafunjo foot- Q. After a year what ball team? progress have you made? A. We had the idea in late 2001 and started the team A. The reputation is now good and other teams now at the beginning of 2002. fear us and so we get a lot of invitations to play. We beat most teams we play or draw against the Q. What is the name of your team? strong ones. These days we even have parishes A. At first we were Nyakafunjo but we are now (rather than villages) asking us for matches since known as The Carp Group F.C., after Mark (Sean’s we are a strong team. brother-in-law in the U.K.) sent us a set of shirts, which have the name of the company he works for Q. What are the plans for the future? on the back. A. There are still boys that are disruptive and our aim is to keep working with them and give them some Q. Who from BFP plays in the team? direction. Mostly, however, we have been success- A. We have myself, Monday, ful. People think we are a good team and think Fred, and Sean. that one day we’ll make it to the district level.

Q. What roles do each of you Q. What else would you like to see happen? have in The Carp Group? A. We would like to get a cup donated so that we can A. I am the captain and play de- come together and organise sides to enter into a fence; Monday is the man- challenge. We would also like to have BFP or ager and is a forward; BUCODO, for example, use the team to channel Fred is also a striker; and some of their activities that will engage these youths Sean is the goalkeeper. and this would also help us to raise funds to continue the team and progress further. Q. Who do you play and where? A. Initially there were no other teams except the Q. Finally, other than football, are there any other Nyabeyeya Forestry College (NFC) but our form- sports at BFP? ing a team was a catalyst for other villages who A. We used to have a strong volleyball team but that have now also formed teams. We have a village collapsed some time back; we are thinking of re- ground at Nyakafunjo but also play matches at the viving that team once more. We used to play the NFC. NFC and Kinyara, too. Zephyr, Geresomu and Moses – along with Fred – were all good players. Q. Do many people watch the games? We could try and put a side together again….. A. People here love football so there is a lot of interest especially when they heard we have a mzungu goalkeeper. At first well over 200 people came but now fewer supporters of other teams come as they think they won’t see their team score past the (Carp) mzungu goalkeeper!

Q. Is this true? A. Yes, we concede very few goals and other teams now fear us. Truthfully, we are a good side; we don’t have great individuals but have organised ourselves to play well as a team. Page 12 Budongo Forest Project Volume 5, Number 1 June 2003 Adopting a wild chimpanzee from the Budongo Forest contributes directly to Adopt a Wild Chimpanzee! the protection of that chimpanzee and from the BFP web site: www.budongo.org allows the events of its life to be studied by our researchers. This is your chance to help the re- How to adopt search and conservation efforts of the You can either take a share in a par- Adoptions can be taken out at any Budongo Forest Project. By adopting ticular chimpanzee, or become the exclu- time of the year, making them ideal birth- a chimpanzee, you contribute directly sive adopter of the chimp of your choice: day, Christmas, anniversary or even to the protection of that chimpanzee in Valentine’s presents! (please give plenty its natural habitat and to discovering Shared adoption of notice to allow time for your adop- more about its life. • Annual: £25 ($40 US) tion to be processed). Note that annual We maintain a year-round presence • 5 Years: £100 ($160 US) adoptions run for twelve months from in the forest. A team of Ugandan staff the date you request. (headed by Project Director Fred Ba- Exclusive Adoption To adopt one of the wild chimpan- bweteera, MSc) study the lives of the • Annual: £500 ($800 US) zees of the Budongo Forest, send a chimpanzees on a daily basis, mount • Lifetime: £2500 ($4000 US) cheque in sterling or US dollars payable snare removal patrols, and provide con- to The Budongo Forest Project, to: Dr. servation education and training for N. E. Newton-Fisher, Wild Chimpanzee Ugandan foresters and the local people. Adoptions, 32 St. Michael’s Park, Bristol, Such an intensive effort gives us an BS2 8BW, United Kingdom. (After 9/03, intimate view of the chimps, and pro- check the website for updated address.) tects their future, but is very expensive Remember to state the type of adop- to maintain. tion, the name of the chimp you wish to adopt (displayed on the BFP website), How we use your money and please print your own name and ad- Your money will be used primarily dress clearly along with your cheque so to employ more ex-hunters to remove that we can get back to you with your snares from the forest. These individu- gifts (see below). als currently have no money and they put snares in the forest to catch duik- Adopters receive: ers (forest antelopes) and other spe- • An adoption certificate signed by cies (pigs, porcupines, guinea fowl) to the Head of the Budongo Forest eat and to sell in the market. With a small Project, Professor Vernon Reynolds salary these hunters can be turned • A colour print (5" x 7") of your cho- around into snare removers (we already sen chimpanzee have four snare removers who are ex- • A colour brochure outlining the hunters). work of the Budongo Forest Project We want to increase the number of snare removers with the eventual aim In addition, exclusive adopters will Janette Wallis that the hunters will stop putting snares have their name displayed on this in the forest. Each snare costs a small website (unless you prefer anonymity). amount of money and we want to make Prof. Reynolds is currently writing a it uneconomic for the hunters to invest For more details about adopting a book about the chimpanzees in in snares, and to show them that it is a Sonso chimpanzee, please visit the Budongo, and signed copies will be sent waste of time and money putting their BFP web site: www.budongo.org to all exclusive adopters when this is snares in the forest. published.

The Budongo Forest Project Newsletter is edited by Janette Wallis, with special thanks to Emily Bethell. If you have comments or ideas for future issues, please contact: Janette Wallis at [email protected] or Emily Bethell at [email protected].

All other correspondence about Budongo Forest Project should be directed to: Professor Vernon Reynolds, Institute of Biological Anthropology, Oxford University, 58 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6QS, U.K. (E-mail: [email protected]).

Typically known as a crop pest, this beautiful grasshopper (Zonocerus variegatus) was seen lounging at the Budongo forest edge, near the sugarcane. Janette Wallis