Uganda Wild Animals Flee To DRC
Apr 02, 2004
THOUSANDS of Uganda’s wild animals have fled into the DR Congo after encroachers reclaimed their habitat in the Semliki Wildlife Reserve in Bundibugyo.
By Grace Matsiko
THOUSANDS of Uganda’s wild animals have fled into the DR Congo after encroachers reclaimed their habitat in the Semliki Wildlife Reserve in Bundibugyo.
The Refugee law Project (RLP) of Makerere University has as a result asked President Yoweri Museveni, the tourism ministry and other stakeholders to intervene.
The appeal was contained in a report released yesterday. It said about 8000 Congolese who fled their country at the height of the civil conflict there in 2002 had gone without relief aid for a year.
The report was written by RLP officials after a brief visit.
It said, “The depleted vegetation has severely jeopardised the existence of the wildlife. Since the wild animals cannot compete with the cows for vegetation and water, they have either died or migrated to the DRC,†the report said.
“Indeed, with the exception of the Uganda Kob and baboons, the RLP team did not see much wildlife,†it added.
It said, “The reserve also bore visible signs of deforestation, allegedly carried out by encroachers for making charcoal and constructing houses.â€
Ends
THOUSANDS of Uganda’s wild animals have fled into the DR Congo after encroachers reclaimed their habitat in the Semliki Wildlife Reserve in Bundibugyo.
The Refugee law Project (RLP) of Makerere University has as a result asked President Yoweri Museveni, the tourism ministry and other stakeholders to intervene.
The appeal was contained in a report released yesterday. It said about 8000 Congolese who fled their country at the height of the civil conflict there in 2002 had gone without relief aid for a year.
The report was written by RLP officials after a brief visit.
It said, “The depleted vegetation has severely jeopardised the existence of the wildlife. Since the wild animals cannot compete with the cows for vegetation and water, they have either died or migrated to the DRC,†the report said.
“Indeed, with the exception of the Uganda Kob and baboons, the RLP team did not see much wildlife,†it added.
It said, “The reserve also bore visible signs of deforestation, allegedly carried out by encroachers for making charcoal and constructing houses.â€
Ends