$3,000 used to feed chimps
Sep 24, 2006
ABOUT $3,000 is spent on feeding each chimpanzee at Ngamba Island Sanctuary, every year, writes <b>Carol Natukunda.</b><br>The sanctuary, located on Lake Victoria, is a home to 40 orphan chimpanzees.
ABOUT $3,000 is spent on feeding each chimpanzee at Ngamba Island Sanctuary, every year, writes Carol Natukunda.
The sanctuary, located on Lake Victoria, is a home to 40 orphan chimpanzees.
The vet and sanctuary manager, Lawrence Mugisha, on Thursday said the chimps have four special meals a day, in addition to their natural feeds.
“We ensure that there are supplementary foods such as carrots, mangoes, pawpaws and bananas. A balanced diet is just as important for chimps as it is for people. The surrounding forest also provides meals essential in building strong bones, muscles and promoting health,†Mugisha said.
He said, however, the cost of looking after the chimps was far higher, considering the constant medical care provided to them.
Speaking to the area leaders after touring the sanctuary, the state minister for tourism, Serapio Rukundo, wondered why the neighbouring communities were not engaged in fruit farming.
“Buying fruits from Kampala and then transporting them to this island is a lot more expensive. You cannot buy in bulk either because they would go bad. But if people engaged in fruit production, it would not only help the chimps, but also in wealth creation in these communities,†Rukundo said.
He urged Ugandans to embrace touring physical and historical attractions across the country.
Ends
The sanctuary, located on Lake Victoria, is a home to 40 orphan chimpanzees.
The vet and sanctuary manager, Lawrence Mugisha, on Thursday said the chimps have four special meals a day, in addition to their natural feeds.
“We ensure that there are supplementary foods such as carrots, mangoes, pawpaws and bananas. A balanced diet is just as important for chimps as it is for people. The surrounding forest also provides meals essential in building strong bones, muscles and promoting health,†Mugisha said.
He said, however, the cost of looking after the chimps was far higher, considering the constant medical care provided to them.
Speaking to the area leaders after touring the sanctuary, the state minister for tourism, Serapio Rukundo, wondered why the neighbouring communities were not engaged in fruit farming.
“Buying fruits from Kampala and then transporting them to this island is a lot more expensive. You cannot buy in bulk either because they would go bad. But if people engaged in fruit production, it would not only help the chimps, but also in wealth creation in these communities,†Rukundo said.
He urged Ugandans to embrace touring physical and historical attractions across the country.
Ends