CONSERVING THE CHIMPANZEES OF UGANDA Population and Habitat Viability Assessment for Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii 6 - 9 January 1997 Entebbe, Uganda Eric Edroma, Norm Rosen, and Philip Miller, Editors Sponsored By: Columbus Zoo, Copenhagen Zoo Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund - Europe Born Free Foundation, Primate Conservation, Inc. NOAHS Center / British Airways In Collaboration With: Uganda Wildlife Authority Uganda Forest Department The Primate Specialist Group (SSC/IUCN) The Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (SSC/IUCN) A contribution of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group in collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda Forest Department, and the IUCN Primate Specialist Group. The sponsors of the PHVA workshop were the Columbus Zoo, the Copenhagen Zoo, the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund-Europe, the Born Free Foundation, Primate Conservation, Inc., the CRC / NOAHS Center, and British Airways. Cover Illustration: Photo of adult and juvenile chimpanzees in Budongo Forest courtesy of Vernon Reynolds. Chimpanzee artwork courtesy of the Jane Goodall Institute. Edroma, E. L., N. Rosen and P.S. Miller (eds.). 1997. Conserving the Chimpanzees of Uganda: Population and Habitat Viability Assessment for Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii. IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group: Apple Valley, MN. Additional copies of this publication can be ordered through the SSC/IUCN Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, 12101 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124-8151, USA. Send checks for US$35.00 (to cover printing and shipping costs) payable to CBSG; checks must be drawn on a US Bank. Payment by Visa or MasterCard is also acceptable. CONSERVING THE CHIMPANZEES OF UGANDA (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) Population and Habitat Viablility Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary and Recommendations 3 2. Introduction Workshop Invitation 15 Opening Presentation: Dr. Eric L. Edroma, UWA 17 Opening Presentation: Minister, MTWA 21 History of chimpanzee studies in Uganda: Vernon Reynolds 25 3. Distribution and Habitat Working Group Report 33 4. Threats Working Group Report 47 5. Population Biology and Modelling Working Group Report 59 6. Ecotourism and Education Working Group Report 99 7. Captive Management Working Group Report 113 8. Closing Remarks and Workshop Participants List 131 9. Appendix I. Workshop Literature I. Forest conservation in relation to chimpanzees: F.W. Kigenyi 141 II. An overview of habitat viability for chimpanzees: J.M. Kasenene 151 III. An overview of chimpanzee conservation and management strategies: 156 R.W. Wrangham and T. Goldberg IV. Estimating chimpanzee populations: A. Plumptre 163 V. Chimpanzee general ecology in Uganda 167 VI. The chimpanzees of Budongo Forest: A case study 169 VII. Evaluation of management strategies for chimpanzees in protected areas 177 of Uganda: E.L. Edroma VIII. The viability of Budongo Forest Reserve for chimpanzees: 181 C. Bakuneeta and S. Khauka Uganda Chimpanzee PHVA Report v TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) IX. The Budongo Forest Ecotourism Project: Offering visitors ecotourism with an 183 opportunity to see chimpanzees in a natural forest habitat: C.D. Langoya and C.R. Long X. A survey of intestinal helminth parasites of a community of wild chimpanzees 189 in the Budongo Forest, Uganda: G. Kalema XI. Queen Elizabeth National Park Kyambura River Gorge Chimpanzee Project 195 G.M. Bwere XII. Rabongo Forest and its chimpanzees: P. Ezuma and D. Owen 197 10. Appendix II. IUCN Policy Guidelines 203 11. Appendix III. VORTEX Technical Reference 231 vi Uganda Chimpanzee PHVA Report POPULATION AND HABITAT VIABILITY ASSESSMENT FOR THE CHIMPANZEES OF UGANDA (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) Entebbe, Uganda 6 - 9 January 1997 Section 1 Executive Summary And Recommendations EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The current distribution of the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is thought to extend into approximately 21 countries throughout equatorial Africa. This distribution, however, has become considerably fragmented over the past few decades as human populations have rapidly expanded through economic and agricultural development. A primary example of this phenomenon occurs in Uganda, where about 3,000 to 4,000 chimpanzees of the eastern subspecies Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii are thought to exist in 12 isolated forest blocks. The capacity for natural exchange of individuals between these isolated subpopulations is very limited, thereby destabilizing the populations and ultimately putting them at considerably greater risk of local extinction. Development of a practical conservation management and research program for P. t. schweinfurthii has been hampered by a lack of detailed information regarding current distribution, problems of protecting animals in remote areas, uncertain priorities and a persistent lack of funding to assist proper conservation action. Perhaps most importantly, a management plan must address the rapidly expanding human impacts resulting from five newly created chimpanzee tourist sites in Uganda. The Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) was officially invited by Dr. Eric L. Edroma, Director of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), to conduct a Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) for the chimpanzee in Uganda, 6-9 January, 1997. Mr. Norman Rosen, Department of Anthropology at the University of Southern California, worked closely with CBSG and Dr. Edroma in organizing the course and workshop, which was held at the Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel in Entebbe. The objectives of the PHVA course and workshop are to assist local managers and policy makers to: 1) formulate priorities for a practical management program for survival and recovery of the chimpanzee in wild habitat; 2) develop a risk analysis and population simulation model for the chimpanzee which can be used to guide and evaluate management and research activities; 3) identify specific habitat areas that should be afforded strict levels of protection and management; 4) identify and initiate useful technology transfer and training; 5) assess the current status of the captive program and assist in the formulation of future directions of this component of the overall conservation strategy; and 6) identify and recruit potential collaborators from Uganda, Africa and the greater international community. A total of 57 participants, including Ugandan biologists, researchers, wildlife managers, and many of the world leaders in the study of chimpanzee population biology and ecology, attended the 4-day workshop. Countries represented included Uganda, Kenya, Zaire, Gabon, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Briefing books were distributed to all participants on the first day of the meeting, and a preliminary draft report was prepared during the meeting with all recommendations reviewed and agreed upon by all participants. After a welcoming ceremony by a representative from the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and Dr. Edroma of UWA, a series of short presentations were made summarizing recent history and current knowledge of the biology, threats, and management of wild populations of the chimpanzee in Uganda. Many of these presentations are included in this report. A wealth of unpublished information was made available for use in the workshop discussions and many of the gaps in our knowledge of the species’ biology were identified. Uganda Chimpanzee PHVA Report 3 The participants were divided into five working groups reflecting their interests, expertise and the key problems for chimpanzee conservation. The majority of the tasks performed during the remaining three days of the workshop were accomplished by these groups. The groups included: Distribution and Habitat, Threats, Population Biology and Modelling, Ecotourism and Education, and Captive Management. Each group developed an outline of its tasks and then developed key areas with extensive review of the available information and a discussion of necessary actions. Each group presented the results of their work in three plenary sessions to assure that everyone had an opportunity to contribute to the work of the other groups and to assure that all issues were carefully reviewed and discussed by all workshop participants. This process allows for a full review of all of the recommendations that are a part of this Executive Summary and for agreement and acceptance by all participants. In this way, the following recommendations represent a concensus of the workshop participants. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS Wild Population Distribution and Habitat Priorities 1. Based on our current knowledge, we consider the following areas to have a high priority for chimpanzee conservation in Uganda: Budongo Forest Reserve, Kibale National Park, Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest Reserves, and Bugoma Forest Reserve. 2. The extent of forest cover status and numbers of chimpanzees in the following areas should be determined by transect nest counts in the following priority areas (listed in order of implementation schedule): Priority 1. Area: Kagombe-Kitechura-Matiri Forest Reserves and neighboring forests. Time: 6 months (July-December 1997) Costs: $1000 per block, estimated $4000 total. Priority 2. Area: Kasato Forest Reserve and neighboring forests Time: Six months (January-June 1998) Costs: $1000 per block, estimated $4000 total. Field direction: Dr. Gil Basuta Participants: Makerere University students Possible funding: Wildlife Conservation Society, IPS, IPPL, Australian Primate Society, WSPA, USAID / Biodiversity Support, Care for