By Gerald Tenywa

THE elephant population in Queen Elizabeth National Park has hit the level of three decades ago of about 3,000. According to a census report released by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the elephant population is about 2,959, up from 2,497 in 2004.

The population doubled between 2000 and 2004 when it increased from 1,100.
UWA’s head of research and monitoring Aggrey Rwetsiba attributed the growth to reduced poaching and increased migration of elephants from DR Congo.
The park’s management has also stepped up the protection of animals and instituted measures to fight poachers.

Queen Elizabeth is a transboundary park, with animals moving between the reserve and the nearby Virunga National Park in the DR Congo. It is also connected to Kibale National Park and Kasyoha-Kitomi forest reserve in Uganda.

“It is exciting to have the population of endangered animals like elephants increasing,’’ Rwetsiba said.

However, there was fear that the huge number could adversely affect the local population as reports indicate that the beasts have started destroying crops in gardens bordering the park.

But park authorities and conservationists are also worried about the occupation of the park by the Basongora pastoralists who returned from DR Congo last year.
UWA’s head Moses Mapesa said the pastoralists would affect animal population and distribution within the park.

Wild animals suffered a population decline due to poaching caused by a breakdown of law and order in the 1970s and 80s. The elephants had gone down to just 400.