Status of chimpanzees in Uganda Wildlife Conservation Society 1 WCS’s Albertine Rift Programme Status of Chimpanzees in Uganda The WCS Albertine Rift Programme is working to conserve some of Africa’s most biodiverse sites for the future generations of Africans and the global community. The Albertine rift stretches from the northern end of lake Albert down to the southern end of lake Tanganyika and encompasses the forests, savannahs, wetlands and mountains to be found in the rift and on the adjacent escarpment in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo. This area of Africa contains 40% of all bird species and 25% of all mammal species on the African continent. Many species are endemic to this part of the world and it has been identified as being of global conservation importance by several global priority-setting exercises (it is an endemic bird area, ecoregion and a hotspot). The Albertine Rift Programme focuses on three main goals: · The provision of science-based information to enable protected area managers to better manage conservation sites within the region. · Building capacity of African nationals to be able to use a scientific method in their approach to protected area management, particularly focussing on staff of protected area authorities in the region (UWA, ORTPN and ICCN). · Supporting management authorities to manage certain sites within the Albertine Rift through financial support for the basic operating costs, planning, training, monitoring and research programmes. WCS is committed to site conservation over long periods of time because it recognises the need for long term support. To learn more about the programme visit: www.albertinerift.org JGI UGANDA In 1989 four chimps were confiscated by local authorities and brought to Entebbe Zoo. In September 1990, these four chimps disappeared overnight from Entebbe airport. In the summer of 1991 a representative of TRAFFIC in Rome discovered the whereabouts of the four chimps from a visiting Russian circus. Uganda's chimps had learned to ice skate during their world travels! Many weeks later, the chimps were once again confiscated and with the help of International Primate Protection League and the Jane Goodall Institute, were shipped back to Entebbe. Since 1991, the Jane Goodall Institute has been active in Uganda with a primary interest in the conservation of the endangered chimpanzee as well as the welfare of those brought into captivity. The Institute works closely with the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) (formerly Entebbe Zoo). Projects include: Ø Administration of Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. This 100 acres of forested island, 23 kilometres from Entebbe in Lake Victoria, was established in October 1998. It is currently caring for 33 orphaned chimpanzees that have been confiscated in Uganda. Ø Ongoing training and capacity building of Ugandan Nationals and other African nationalities in the care of captive chimpanzees, including rehabilitation and resocialization. Ø Habituation of primates in the Kibale National Park for eco-tourism activities that will increase revenue to the park to carry out its conservation work, in collaboration with the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). Ø Snare removal programmes in Kibale and Budongo Forests, in collaboration with Kibale Chimpanzee Project (KCP) and Budongo Forest Project (BFP) respectively. The PHVA workshop highlighted the problem of poaching with snares, with 25% of known chimpanzee research communities suffering from injuries related to snares. Ø Working with local communities to resolve conflicts with chimpanzees and their livelihoods Ø Environmental Education programmes for primary and secondary school children, particularly those found residing near chimpanzee habitat forests. Suggested Citation: Plumptre A.J., Cox, D. & Mugume, S. (2003) The Status of Chimpanzees in Uganda. Albertine Rift Technical Report Series No. 2. Wildlife Conservation Society Cover Photo: Mother and infant chimpanzee, Kalinzu Forest, I. Furuichi. Wildlife Conservation Society 2 Status of Chimpanzees in Uganda Albertine Rift Technical Reports No. 2 THE STATUS OF CHIMPANZEES IN UGANDA A.J.Plumptre, D. Cox and S. Mugume Published by Wildlife Conservation Society 2003 Surveys sponsored by: The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation USFWS Great Ape Conservation Fund Dan K. Thorne Foundation Crane Bank Total (U) Ltd UNDP/GEF through WWF Uganda Breweries Cleveland Metroparks Zoological Society Berggorilla and Regenwald Direkthilfe Wildlife Conservation Society 3 Status of Chimpanzees in Uganda Wildlife Conservation Society 4 Status of Chimpanzees in Uganda acknowledgements Many people contributed to the surveys during the period 1999-2002. We are grateful to the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Uganda Forest department for permission to undertake the surveys and the support we obtained from the senior staff of these organisations in Kampala and in the field. In particular we would like to thank the District Forest Officer in Bushenyi, Levi Etwodu; Forest Officer of Kalinzu Forest Reserve, Moses Murrami; the Forest Officer of Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest Reserve, Tom Rukundo; the Chief Park Warden, Isaac Draani and the Warden for Monitoring and Research, Charles Tumwesigye, of Queen Elizabeth National Park; the Forest Officer of Budongo Forest Reserve, Peter Ongima; the Chief Park Warden of Kibale National Park, the late Michael Edigu; the Forest Officer of Bugoma Forest Reserve, Robert Esimu; the warden of Ruwenzori Mountains National Park, Ignatius Achoka, and his law enforcement officer; the Warden of Semuliki National park, Maseruka Sylvester; the Warden of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the late Keith Musana; and the Forest officer for Itwara Forest Reserve, Kamanyire Abubakra. We would also like to thank all the park and forest rangers and district officials for their assistance. We also want to thank Carole Mwinyihali and Scovia Kobusinge who worked tirelessly entering field data. In Semuliki National Park and Ruwenzori Mountains National Park the UPDF provided security and we would particularly like to thank Second Lieutenant Habib Kashim who helped organise security in RMNP. Several people helped with logistics, in particular: Cherie Montgomery (JGI), Isaiah Owiunji (WCS), David Nkuutu (WCS), Ellen Bean (WCS), and Fred Babweteera of the Budongo Forest project. Financial support was provided by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service Great Ape Conservation Fund, the UNDP/GEF Albertine Rift PDFb project implemented by the World Wildlife Fund, Cleveland Metroparks Zoological Society, Berggorilla and Regenwald Direkthilfe. We would like to particularly thank the following individuals who helped raise funds: Dan Thorne (Dan K. Thorne Foundation), Jean Claude 5 Wildlife Conservation Society Status of Chimpanzees in Uganda Boyadjian (Total (U) Ltd); Sudhir Ruparelia (Crane Bank), Charles Muhoozi (Ugandan Breweries). The following people were involved in the surveys and we are very grateful for their dedication and effort: Team leaders: Julius Kyamanywa, Richard Tumusiime, Fred Kaliba, , Nabert Mutungire, Sam Isoke, Solomon Musana, Stephen Baboineki, Sam Mugume, Jocelyn Murgatroyd, Vanessa Woods, Sean O’Hara , Edward Kaddu, Jeff Donne, Alfred Yampa, Silva Sahirwa, David Baluku Assistant field staff Alfred Tolith, Robert Bangirana, Timothy Akugizibwe, Balinda Joseph, Moses Goonya, Gabriel Ogwang, Johnson Ayebale, Gabriel Mutabazi, Johnson Ayebale, Byamukama Lawrence, Stephen Hatari Camp staff: John Rwagala, Deo Businge, Kareebi Obed, Kusemererwa Richard. Finally we are also grateful to all the trail cutters and porters who helped in the surveys. 6 Wildlife Conservation Society Status of Chimpanzees in Uganda contents Acknowledgements 2 Contents 4 Section 1:Previous surveys 6 · Introduction 6 · Chimpanzee communities 7 · Previous surveys of chimpanzees 8 · Censusing chimpanzees in Uganda 9 Section 2: Censusing chimpanzees 11 · Introduction 11 · History of chimpanzee census methods 11 · Standing crop and marked nest counts 12 · Methods in detail 13 · Data analyses 16 · Cost of census methods 17 · Reconnaissance walks 18 · Training programmes and data collected 19 · GIS – spatial distribution 21 Section 3:National survey results 23 · Introduction 23 · Density estimates from transects 23 · Correlations with reconnaissance walks 24 · Population estimates for all forest sites in Uganda 26 Section 4:Threats to chimpanzees 30 · Introduction 30 · Encounter rates of threats from surveys 30 · Other threats observed 40 · Threats analysis 41 Section 5: Conservation action 44 · Introduction 44 · Encroachment and forest loss 45 · Bushmeat hunting, fishing and animal collecting 46 · Local community use of plants 47 · Increased access to the forest 49 · Conservation activities 48 · Crop raiding 49 · Conclusions 51 7 Wildlife Conservation Society Status of Chimpanzees in Uganda Section 6: References 52 Appendix: Chimpanzee abundance within forests and threats analysis 56 · Budongo Forest Reserve 56 · Bugoma Forest Reserve 57 · Kagombe, Kitechura, Ibambaro and Matiri Forest Reserves 50 · Itwara Forest Reserve 61 · Semuliki National Park 62 · Ruwenzori Mountains National Park 63 · Kibale National Park 64 · Kasyoha-Kitomi, Kalinzu and Maramagambo Forests 66 · Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Echuya Forest Reserve 68 Albertine Rift Technical Reports 70 8 Wildlife Conservation Society Status of Chimpanzees in Uganda Section 1: Previous