Ngamba's dominant male chimp dies at 28
A postmortem was immediately carried out at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre animal hospital in Entebbe, where teams of veterinarians from Ngamba and the Uganda Wildlife Authority established that Asega died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Asega at Ngamba Chimpanzee sanctuary. (Courtesy Photo)
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary has lost one of its most iconic chimps, Asega, a dominant male chimpanzee, who died at the age of 28 years following what officials believe was an accidental fall inside the sanctuary's sleeping facility.
The Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust reports that Asega was found unresponsive on Wednesday, June 24th.
A postmortem was immediately carried out at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre animal hospital in Entebbe, where teams of veterinarians from Ngamba and the Uganda Wildlife Authority established that Asega died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Scientific research states that rescued chimpanzees at Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria can live for up to 60 years, exceeding their typical 45-year lifespan in the wild due to dedicated daily care, specialised diets, and consistent veterinary medical monitoring.
His extraordinary agility and fearless climbing displays made him one of the sanctuary's biggest attractions.
He could effortlessly scale fences more than three metres high, forcing sanctuary managers in 2023 to build a specially reinforced high-security enclosure for him and his close companion, Mawa, after repeated escape attempts highlighted both his intelligence and athleticism.
“Male chimpanzees typically swing from tyres and climbing structures inside their sleeping quarters, and Asega, renowned for his daring acrobatics, appears to have missed his grip before striking the concrete floor below."
"There were no signs of illness or distress the previous evening," sanctuary officials said, noting that Asega had returned to the sleeping facility in good health after another normal day on the island.
Dorothy Basemera, Communications and Marketing Officer at the Chimpanzee Sanctuary & Wildlife Conservation Trust, described Asega as much more than an animal under the sanctuary's care.
"His agility and spirit were unmatched, and his loss is deeply felt by everyone on this island who cared for him over the years. As we grieve, we are also reminded of how fragile life can be, even for an animal as strong and dominant as Asega."
His death marks the end of a remarkable journey that began nearly three decades ago when he was rescued as an orphan from Arua in northwestern Uganda after falling victim to the illegal wildlife trade.
Unable to return to the wild, Asega spent his entire adult life at Ngamba Island, where he rose through the social ranks to become one of the sanctuary's dominant males, a position earned through strength, intelligence and complex social alliances, as he was best known as "The Acrobat".
According to the sanctuary, beyond entertaining tourists, Asega played a far more important role within the chimpanzee community.
As the dominant male, he helped maintain order within the group, mediated conflicts and asserted leadership through alliances and displays of strength. His death is expected to reshape the sanctuary's social hierarchy as rival males compete to establish new leadership.