Population of elephants rising
Jul 20, 2011
POACHING is a blow to the recovering population of elephants in Uganda, currently estimated at 5,000. Following years of political turmoil and civil unrest, the population of elephants had reduced to 2,000 in 1982.
By Vision reporter
POACHING is a blow to the recovering population of elephants in Uganda, currently estimated at 5,000. Following years of political turmoil and civil unrest, the population of elephants had reduced to 2,000 in 1982.
The population is still below that of the 1960s, wildlife officials say, but the increase is attributed to breeding of more elephants due to improved conservation interventions.
About 20,000 elephants roamed Uganda’s large parks such as Queen Elizabeth, Murchison, Tooro-Semuliki and Kidepo in the 1960s.
“We have not yet recovered the numbers we had in the 1960s, but the numbers are increasing,†says Haruna Kirya, the assistant warden incharge of law enforcement at Queen Elizabeth National Park. “Many of the herds have young ones meaning they are reproducing.â€
Other Sources say the increased population of elephants in Queen Elizabeth is due to fighting in the DRC.
About 3,000 of the elephant population occupy Queen Elizabeth National Park covering 5,000 square kilometres. Queen Elizabeth lies at the heart of a chain of protected areas such as Kasyoha-Kitomi through Kyambura Wildlife Reserve and Kalinzu Forest, Maramagambo Forest, Kibaale National Park, Rwenzori national parks and the expansive Virunga in the DRC.
Other sanctuaries for elephants are Murchison Falls with 1,500; and the rest in Kidepo, Bwindi, Mgahinga and Sango Bay.
Uganda is party to the global convention protecting endangered species internationally.
The black market for ivory is still vibrant despite the ban on ivory trade.
According to CITES (Convection on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna) , elephants are listed as endangered species meaning that if ivory trade is not controlled, they will become extinct. The elephants also need vast land to breed and if such habitats are not protected, the large mammals will be driven into extinction.
Only half-a-million elephants remain, out of the 1.3 million that once roamed parts of different countries in Africa. Most of the elephants have perished at the hands of poachers.
“We need to work with our partners more because the targeted elephants for ivory trade are part of our population that get killed when they cross the border,†says Lillian Nsubuga, the spokesperson of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
POACHING is a blow to the recovering population of elephants in Uganda, currently estimated at 5,000. Following years of political turmoil and civil unrest, the population of elephants had reduced to 2,000 in 1982.
The population is still below that of the 1960s, wildlife officials say, but the increase is attributed to breeding of more elephants due to improved conservation interventions.
About 20,000 elephants roamed Uganda’s large parks such as Queen Elizabeth, Murchison, Tooro-Semuliki and Kidepo in the 1960s.
“We have not yet recovered the numbers we had in the 1960s, but the numbers are increasing,†says Haruna Kirya, the assistant warden incharge of law enforcement at Queen Elizabeth National Park. “Many of the herds have young ones meaning they are reproducing.â€
Other Sources say the increased population of elephants in Queen Elizabeth is due to fighting in the DRC.
About 3,000 of the elephant population occupy Queen Elizabeth National Park covering 5,000 square kilometres. Queen Elizabeth lies at the heart of a chain of protected areas such as Kasyoha-Kitomi through Kyambura Wildlife Reserve and Kalinzu Forest, Maramagambo Forest, Kibaale National Park, Rwenzori national parks and the expansive Virunga in the DRC.
Other sanctuaries for elephants are Murchison Falls with 1,500; and the rest in Kidepo, Bwindi, Mgahinga and Sango Bay.
Uganda is party to the global convention protecting endangered species internationally.
The black market for ivory is still vibrant despite the ban on ivory trade.
According to CITES (Convection on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna) , elephants are listed as endangered species meaning that if ivory trade is not controlled, they will become extinct. The elephants also need vast land to breed and if such habitats are not protected, the large mammals will be driven into extinction.
Only half-a-million elephants remain, out of the 1.3 million that once roamed parts of different countries in Africa. Most of the elephants have perished at the hands of poachers.
“We need to work with our partners more because the targeted elephants for ivory trade are part of our population that get killed when they cross the border,†says Lillian Nsubuga, the spokesperson of the Uganda Wildlife Authority.